Toddler doesn’t like me

[Poppetjohn]

Posting here hoping for more responses.

I’m always wary of posting on MN because of how unkind some of the responses have been, which has been horrible on my MH, but I’ll give it a go. I’m hoping someone can reassure me!

My daughter is nearly 2. From the beginning I struggled to bond with her. In the early weeks, especially when I was struggling to breastfeed - a horribly stressful experience for both of us - I admit I didn’t like her at all. Now, however, I adore her. The thing is, she has still never warmed to me. Unlike her older brother, she has never wanted me to read to or play with her and she will get angry and scream or lash out if I try. I have backed off a little but I keep gently trying because it has never felt right to just ignore her completely even if that’s what she wants.

She is not the same with her dad. When I’m alone with her she just says “Daddy” all day. When he’s there she absolutely refuses to have anything to do with me, screaming her head off and pushing me away. It’s so disheartening.

In September she is starting full-time nursery and it makes me feel like I have lost her, before I have even had the chance to get to know her.

Did anyone else have a child like mine? Did it turn out OK when they gree yokkkk

That should have said “when they grew up” - sorry I fell asleep at the keyboard!

My eldest didn’t like me at 2 my sisters eldest was the same. Was an upsetting stage for both of us that passed and now respectively lovely teen and 9 year old. Hang on in there

What was she like?

My 2 year old boy didn’t like me until I had a second and all of a sudden he decided he loved me (by the time he was 3)

From others I spoke to it seemed to be common and everyone said that it did pass

It was awful at the time though and I would often cry and wonder what the point of having me around was

What made you think he didn’t like you?

My second was like this. Girl too. She is very independent anyway and just needs less cuddles than our others. She prefers her dad, although from 3 onwards, she goes through phases with us both, still more if a daddy's girl though.
I was the same tbh. Still love my mum loads and need her in many ways more than I do my dad. Your daughter loves you, try not to worry (even tho I did when my LG was that age)