2 Yr Old Daughter Very Bashful with Dad

I think it's a normal reaction for a little one who doesn't see much of him. Please work with him to build a better relationship with her. He can spend more time on the floor---kids love to wrestle around, even girls. He can also work on less "no,no" with her. Alot of times, that's used instead of getting up and walking over to the kid to stop what they're doing. We yell "no!" from across the room, then wonder why they tell us "no!" when we ask them to do something. He can spend more time reading and snuggling with the older one, too. This will bring the younger one in to "share Daddy". Since he's not around much, you need to make sure that you don't rely on him to dicipline them. Let him be the fun one for now.

It's a phase but at the same time I used to respond to my Dad the same way. I grew out of being scared but to this day if he has that look it disturbs me. In addition to background in my own family, my son responds more to my husband. Don't know why but there it is. My MIL has this magic about her that all 3 of her 6 foot and higher boys fear disappointing this 5'2" lady. It is the most histerical thing=) Everyone is different. You can't compare the children they have two different personalities. Don't worry so much about it.

No experience with this other than wondering this: If you don't every say "No, no" to your daughter, then she understandably not understand "no's" coming from your husband. I think that children should be taught to deal with the "no's" of the world.

Sometimes she should be home alone with dad so she recognizes him as her one source of help, comfort, fun, etc. He can also take her out for fun, eating, etc.

Your husband does need support through this. I can't imagine how bad that would feel. Something needs to change for sure. If your husband is a disciplinarian or talks down to her loudly from standing up position, then he may want to follow your lead in changing his way of communicating to her.

Is there some other man that she's scared of? When I was a toddler I was terrified of all men except my father & grandfather. Teenage boys who lived next door walking down the street would send me screaming in to the house, my uncle used to scare the daylights out of me becuase he was so very tall (6'5"). It probably is a phase. Maybe your husband needs to get on the floor and not look so large and intimidating to your daughter. Once when I was lying in bed my husband reached over the bed to pull my covers up over me and he looked enormous from that angle - and his face looked distorted in the dark. I could see how he would appear scary to a little one - particularly if he's not around the house much.

My husabnd works odd hours, lots of evenings and when the kids were little they had a very clear preference for me - just becuase they were used to me. It was tough for my husband. Maybe you can all sit together on the couch and your husband can read a new special book to her while you read your own magazine, or do something else?

This will pass

I'm guessing it's just a phase and will soon pass. Our daughter did the same thing recently with her Nana whom she sees every weekend. It really hurt Nana's feelings (and I'm sure it's much harder for a parent to not take it personally), but for our daughter it only lasted a couple of weeks.

Hope it passes quickly!

My daughter loves and adores her daddy, but when it comes to anything regarding sleep -- going to sleep or waking up, she wants only me and will kick up an insane fuss if daddy interferes. She doesn't take discipline or strong words from him either. We both accept that she has different roles for each of us. She is little (only 3). It will probably change as she grows.