Baby Prefers Dad

Hey lovely, I know that babies don’t realise you aren’t one person until 4/5 months when they start to realise you are a separate person. I’ve linked it below but may ease your mind to google it a bit. I would focus on taking some deep breaths and really start to do some of the “fun” stuff. Take 10 mins out of every wake window and play with your baby. Smile and dance around and try and be super engaging (without worrying if she looks to her dad) The more you pull away the more baby is likely to engage with dad, even as an adult if someone is being super quiet in the corner and then you have a big personality engaging with you, you are likely to engage with the big personality. Try and also see how wonderful it is that she loves her dad, it’s often hard for dads to bond in the early months as the mum tends to be more of the primary caregiver. Once you embrace it hopefully you can https://www.babycentre.co.uk/a6577/developmental-milestones-separation-and-independence-in-babies

Start to enjoy those moments as a family

I sometimes find our baby giggles more with daddy :) I think this is a nice thing, and feel it helps dad to get involved with more enthusiasm, and I find it quite endearing. How about when the dad holds the baby, does she look more at you then? My husband thinks he's invisible to the baby when he is actually is the one holding him lol, at those times I get to enjoy the baby watch me more :)

Hello, it’s completely normal to feel how you are. It’s true babies don’t really recognise mum as a separate person so it’s common for babies to look like they are having more fun with dad because dad is the first separate person they recognise. Your her mummy and she loves you so much! Are you breastfeeding? If so This is your special time together.

My 7 month old is like this, no matter who he’s with myself included when he see his dad he lights up immediately wants to go to him & even cries. Now I just joke & say I’m the day time babysitter. But this is pretty normal don’t take it too personal

Good morning, @Laura Joe - I totally empathise with you. And experienced this with my 1st born child a daughter. And I had terrible anxiety taking her to stay and plays as she’d crawl away from me. Try to remember this is your first time as a parent and your baby has zero comprehension. The thing is to your baby. You’re home and a safe place. She has been kept safe by you all day. And it’s exciting for her to see a second consistent person. Which is your partner and her father. But he isn’t the one interacting with her as regularly as you. In fact she’s sharing with him all the things you have taught her. Please don’t internalise your feelings- share them with your partner. And perhaps you can arrange to have an afternoon or two for a few hours away from your daughter. And you’ll experience the delight of being seen with fresh eyes from her vantage and excitement. She’s only teeny still. My daughter is now 15 and I’m her most favourite person and she adores me. xx

Please don’t be embarrassed.. I’ve definitely had these moments, our LO is 15months now and I’ve seen the swings and roundabouts.. sometimes it changes by the day, week or month as to who is favourite.. sometimes one of us barely has to do anything to get some laughs other times we’ll work our buts off trying for nothing. I also second the baby not really seeing themselves as separate from you being a thing, almost like the bond with you is there and so secure they don’t feel the need to nurture it as much in that moment than with Dad. I found it most difficult when it feels like you’re doing all the tough caregiving and they just swoop in and take all the smiles which should be your reward for all the poop / tears / feeding and sleep challenges you’ve juggled. Stay kind to yourself!

I’m in the same situation right now. My little one is 7 months old. The first few days of her life, it was Dad predominantly looking after her as I was so poorly, and I think that this is why they have bonded so much! She is currently going through a phase where she only wants him, and this is extremely hard as my partner is on nights all week this week, so she’s pretty much in my care 24/7 for now😩x

It's completely normal and will swap and change overtime, also I'm guessing she spends most of her time with you? So probably it's just realising it a change of face etc. please don't take it to heart xx