Only Mommy All the Time!

We have the exact same situation right now. My son is 26 months old, and I am 7 months pregnant, and only I can put him to bed, soothe him, etc. As you described, he loves being with Daddy, but if I am in the house, he needs me there too. My husband says, however, that he is perfectly fine and happy when I am not there. Like you, I am getting really frustrated and tired from all this. So we're going to try having my husband do all the night time routine up until tuck-in, when I'll come back and cuddle with my son. I may try to head out to the gym for quick 30 minute workout, or run to the grocery store or Starbucks for the first few nights, so the boys are home alone together. Of course, none of this plan has been tested yet. Good luck!

It will last forever and it is totally normal. Seriously... it's the curse and joy of being Mommy, I'm sorry to say. It does get better... my 3 1/2 yr old son has some days where he loves Mommy and some days where Daddy is his best friend. My 19 month old daughter is all Mommy all the time. I can't remember when it changes, but it does. In the mean time, send him off for some Daddy time and reclaim some of your sanity. As long as you're out of sight he's fine, I assume.... so maybe the trick is to send DH and your son someplace ELSE while you do whatever you need to.

I think it's a normal phase. My DH used to feel awful. But my son is now almost 7 and for several years now it's been ALL about Dad! :-)
Can your hubby take him to grandparents for a visit? Do his super special toy he LOVES? Take him on a special outing?

My son is doing the same thing. One thing that helps to give him daddy-time (and me a bit of a break) is if I'm out of the house or hidden when he wakes up from his nap. Then all is he sees is daddy and he's quite happy (until he suspects that I'm lurking somewhere around the house...)

Good luck! It is a phase. I've heard that around the age of 4, they become Daddy-fascinated.

-M.

Hi J.,
We have a similar situation at our house. If my husband asks our son if he needs a clean diaper, he will shout, "NO! Mommy do it!!" I don't mind changing his diapers or putting him to bed, but I know that deep down it is killing my husband! I know how he feels, because if my mom is around, then my son only wants Nana. My poor husband is "Daddy," but he's ranked 3rd!!
I agree with some of the other moms who suggested that your husband should try taking your son somewhere. My son usually loves going out with his dad, whether it is a 10 minute trip to Home Depot or a 2 hour visit with his grandparents. Sometimes just the idea of getting out of the house and going somewhere in the car appeals to little kids! My main concern at this point is that our husbands don't give up hope, and they keep trying! I'm afraid that by the time our son really wants to spend time with his dad, his dad will have lost interest.
I'm sure when your new baby arrives, he will just have to get used to having his dad help him with everything. Good luck!

Hi J.,
It is normal for kids to go through "preferred parent" stages. Is it that your son is upset because he is with daddy, or because you are leaving? There is a difference. It may not be that he's with daddy, but that you have left. I would turn the scenario around on him for a while, rather than "Bye guys, see you later" and you leaving, have THEM go. Bye mom, we're going to the park/Baskin Robbins/etc. Gives him a little control and less sense of "abandonment"
Good luck! This stage will pass