Just Curious....

M.,

I think that you husband is right - your home with her all day, you do the disciplining, you do the bathing and the feeding, but daddy isn't there all the time so it's exciting when he is and it is usually all play. Why wouldn't she be excited to be around someone who is all play?

My little girl doesn't pay attention to whoever is holding her - if I'm holding her she wants her daddy and vice versa when my husband is holding her (she is 11 months old). My son (who is 4 years old) has learned to give attention to the one that will usually give him his way. So sometimes he's all about me and sometimes he is all about his dad.

If this bothers you try an experiment - go out one night and leave her with your husband - see how she reacts to you when you return home - and ask your husband how she was while you were gone. When I first went out without my daughter I would call home to see how things were going and my husband would tell me that she has been crying since I left. So maybe your daughter has never had the chance to miss you to get excited about seeing you again.

take care,
Mel

I noticed just yesterday that my 4 month old baby girl has a huge grin on her face and follows her daddy with her eyes all around the room. I was a little sad at first because it is not that easy for me to get her to pay attention to me but at the same time I am very grateful that he is so involved in helping me. I think it would be very difficult if she would only come to me or was only happy with me then I would never have a break. I am also very glad that they are building a basis for a healthy and happy relationship!

I do understand your feelings though but be happy that you have a well balanced family and a foundation of happiness.

Hello M.,
I have 2 girls and they're daddy's girls. Dads for some reason are more entertaining. Moms fuss. Moms give baths. And I'll bet you since he's not home during the day you do most of the disciplining. So in her mind mom is the enforcer and dad is the entertainer.
It doesn't bother me really because I know when they need comforting or they're hurt, it's all about mommy.

M.,
My daughter is 7 months old and she did the same thing for quite awhile. I was very hurt when I first realized what was going on because I felt that I was the mother, the one who had the "natural" parenting instincts and should be the one who could comfort her and make her smile.

I spoke to my OB/GYN and she said that my daughter was probably "bored" with me since I was home with her all day, every day. When I took my daughter for her 6-month well-baby visit last month, the pediatrician told me it's actually a phase and that babies, boy or girl, will alternate who their "favorite" parent is.

I know it's heard, but there will be a time when it's the exact opposite and your husband might feel the same way you're feeling now.

Hope this helps!
Sarah

Hello M.,
I have a daughter who is 3 and a son who will be 2 in January. Their father is currently residing in Georgia and the last time he saw them was like a month ago....anyways my daughter always tells me I am mean and constantly cries for her father...it irks me so much b/c he is never around, I dont get why she would act like that...but i have gotten over it, I know she loves me and I think your husband is right it is because she is around you all day and so she acts like that towards you and not him. If the situation was reversed I am sure that her attitude would be too. Don't worry its nothing your doing wrong,its that whole "Daddy's Girl" thing little girls go through. Good Luck!

I don't think you should be to worried. I have 2 daughters one is 6 and the other is 1. They both love me, but they are 100% daddy's girls. They just melt as soon as he gets home or starts to play with them. I also get the "jealousy factor" too. I can't give him a hug or kiss or sit with him with out (especially the baby) getting mad that she isn't getting all the attention from him. Sometimes it's frustrating and sometimes it's funny. Good luck and don't feel so bad, your baby loves you. Kids always feel different about their dads and their moms.

My son did the same thing. He still gets big belly laughs with his dad and just giggles with me. I think they get bored looking at the same person all day (just like I do sometimes, too), and dads interact with them differently. I spend all day tending to him, but my husband spends more time roughhousing with him and playing. I did notice that when he's hurt or sick, he still wants his mommy. When he wants to play though, it's all daddy.

Classic "Daddy's Girl" behavior. When my daughter was a newborn, all she did was scream! I would bathe her, change her, feed her, rock her and sing to her. It didn't matter, all she would do is wail.But her Dad would come in the room,pick her up and she would stop. This lasted until she was three months old. Her Dad was a truck driver while she was growing up, and whenever he got home it was all about Daddy. This is completely normal behavior. She is 14 now, and I am "way cooler" than her Dad! They are still close. Make sure she gets some "just Daddy" time. Go out and do something for yourself. She will be glad to see you when you get home! Good Luck!

Hello M.,

I had the very same problem with my daugher when she was a baby. I thougt she did't like me or something. I would just cry. I wasn't supposed to be able to have a child and she was my baby.
It turns out she could feel that I was nervous and upset when holding her. She could pick up on any feeling I was having at all. She was always happy baby for everyone else. I just didn't understand why she was always so happy for eveyone but me.
Now that she is two she wants me all the time. She knows who is there for her when she sick and other times. It will all work out.