Toddler Showing Preference for Me Instead of Dad

It's normal. Joke with her and tell her SHE needs to "teach Daddy how to brush HIS teeth and show him where she keeps her jammies b/c he is a silly daddy and daddies need a lot of help"! LOL Have him play into it by using his toothbrush on his ear, her nose, etc....get out a dress instead of her jammies, etc.

yes, this is very normal. we have the same issues in our house.

I honestly feel really badly because both kids want me when I'm around, but my husband does almost all of the heavy lifting day-to-day (taking the kids to day care and back, doctors' appointments, etc). His work schedule is much more flexible than mine, and I feel like I've really dropped the ball.

Have you considered just not giving her the option? We have an every-other night routine with our kids. Last night was Mommy's night with our 3.5 year old. Tonight will be Daddy's turn. We have different things we do with them.

I'd also suggest starting a Daddy/Daughter day once/week or every other weekend. Just something special the two of them get to do alone - go to the park, go to the library, go to Starbuck's and draw together.

Soon, it will change, and they'll prefer him. It's all cyclical in the end.

I think what your child is doing is very normal. I have raised three now and all three go through spurts where they are clingy to one parent or the other. Your husband is doing just what he needs to do by let her know he loves her too and wants to spend time with her. Soon she will be a daddys girl and mom will be on the outskirts. But with kids, one day they are one way, the next another. We used to make a game of it with my son who is now almost 6. He would say he wanted mommy instead of daddy, and I would get wide eyed and ask him, "Can I have daddy then?" well its almost like when you tell him he cant have something, he wants it. Not to discourage you, but my oldest is 20 now, and Ill take the toddler back and forth over those teen years of back and forth, trying to play you against each other. lol Good luck and hang in there. The good outweighs the bad.

It is a phase that she is going through. I beleive it is because you have a four month old son that she probably feels like is not getting the attention from you that she used to. I would tell you husband not to be upset by it. May be you can tell her if you let daddy brush your teeth i will put you in bed or if you let daddy get your pyjamas on i will read you a story or vise versa. I wish you luck.

I think the new baby may have a lot to do with this, especially if you are breast feeding making you the primary for the baby. I would just tell her that Dad loves to do some of these things with her and that he feels sad he can not, keep it simple so she can understand since child her age do not know how to empathize yet. My son was the same way when L. brother came, he was jealous of our time together. What really helped was when we started having my husband handle some of the feedings.

Personally, I wouldn't give her a choice. But I would take time to evaluate if there is a specific reason she is clingy that day. (Have I spent enough one on one time?)

I think this is perfectly normal. Particularly if you are a SAHM. My eldest went through this as well. We didn't do anything "special" to combat it... but remember that she is old enough to "explain" things to... very simply...
Daddy is going to help you__. I know you prefer that Mommy help you, but this time Daddy is going to do it.

It isn't easy.. and if you are available it might make things go more smoothly.. but you don't want to give in too much. Let her have some choices about other things and it might help.
Daddy is going to help brush your teeth this time.. do you want Daddy to brush them first or you? Do you want to brush in THIS bathroom or THAT one?

Daddy is getting you out of bed this morning. Would you like to get out NOW, or later?

That sort of thing.
Good luck.. she will be past this stage before you know it if you don't make it too big of a deal and let her see how upsetting it is for you/your husband. She wants some power and control and upsetting you IS within her power, if you let it be.
;)

I have the same situation, but my two year old is a daddy's girl. If I go get her in the morning (they sleep in the same bed) she clings onto him and tells him "Help!", indicating she doesn't want me. OUCH! lol I try to remember she was "mine" when I was nursing, and now this is just another phase. I like Denise P's advice. :)

My L. girl has always shown a preference for me and at times it can be very exhausting because I have a baby as well who "needs" me. While she "wants" me. We have a routine every night and there are things my husband does and things I do. We try to stick to that. My husband does the bath and gets her dressed while I do the baby and I then comb her hair. Then he takes her downstairs and does snack and books while I put the baby to bed. Then I take my daughter upstairs to bed and do teeth brushing, potty and into bed. If she says, "I want mommy!" we just stick to the routine and my husband usually says, "I always do your bath. I like spending time with you and mommy will be right back."
I never thought about it being an assertion of independance but I can see how that is possible. I think too she has always gone to me for comfort.
My husband has gotten used to it and he is loving how his baby boy is a daddy' boy! That has helped!

My daughter does this...she has gone through phases. When she was around 2 all she wanted was me...then it changed and all she wanted was her Daddy. I hear she'll keep switching as time goes on. It's nothing personal against either parent. :)