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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

DP just isn't interested in DS

581 replies

Karma1387 · 06/02/2026 17:31

I'm not sure if this is a AIBU or just looking for advice.

I have an almost 2 year old son and another due in a few weeks. My partner is just so unengaged with him. They don't get to spend a lot of time together due to DP working nights and having sleep apnea so he needs plenty of sleep in the day.

Whenever I try to give them some time together I am constantly having to nudge him to talk to DS or play with him. He usually ends up staring into space or reading on his phone or falling asleep. It makes me a bit sad he isn't more interested in him as he doesn't get a lot of time with him to bond.

DP is going to be on toddler duty full time for 6 weeks when DC2 is born due to me having an elective C section. I am worried about if DS is going to get enough attention and engagement or if I am going to have to try to juggle DS and the baby whilst recovering from the C section whilst DP has 6 weeks off work.

Is this normal for dads with young children? Does it get better as the kids get older and they find mutual interests? He just doesn't seem to be able to engage or doesn't know what to do with him. He struggled with initial bonding when dc1 was born due to depression so I'm not sure if thats caused an impact.

I feel bad nagging him about spending time with DS as he is the main/ only earner so ai appreciate hes tired but I want my kids to have a good relationship with their dad.

So I guess am I unreasonable to keep nagging about his lack of interest? Or do I need to just accept that they wont have as close relationship with him as they do me?

OP posts:
Cherrytree86 · 09/02/2026 09:02

Nichonn · 09/02/2026 07:55

A good friend of mine who has 3 sons had no hobbies she was interested in at the time but used to pretend she had a class every Thurs for an hour to show the boys mammies werent just mammies and also to force her husband to be home on time and do something round the house!!! She sat in the car and relaxed for the hour. She was too worn out to think of any outside interests at the time, she had almost forgotten who she was. That hour helped, and she did join a mum's football team later on

@Nichonn

couldnt she have just gone for a coffee or walked to a pub for a glass of wine or whatever, rather than just sit in her car?!

Nichonn · 09/02/2026 09:50

She lives in a small town, she would have been spotted!

MusicMakesItAllBetter · 09/02/2026 11:32

Karma1387 · 06/02/2026 18:11

He came off his anti-depressants I think 4-5 months ago as he said he felt better (i have kept checking this is the case before DC2 arrives as I don't want it to trigger a relapse) and he has a CPAP machine which has helped a lot with the sleep apnea although he still gets very tired quickly or falls asleep if he isnt enagage in something. But he can at least be awake enough to drive/work.

He said he wanted DC2. He also knows how much I want more kids so its never 100% clear.

I apologise as I see you have replied 192 times so I only got this far before wanting to say (and again, apologies if this has already been discussed) but my first thought was, is he depressed?
Then I read that he's come off his anti-depressant and boom goes the dynamite 🧨💥
He felt better because the medication was working. Same thing happened to my friend when she came off hers initially because she didn't want to take depression drugs for the rest of her life.
One month later or less, crash.

For me, I made friends (if you like) with my mental health illness and accepted that to be able to function in a decent condition, I have to take these tablets.
Would I like to come off them?
Of course! But I know it will be a messy experience and I don't know how long I will be messy for and it scares the shit out of me because in the past I've been a ticking time bomb of all emotions but it's something I do plan for my future.

Anyway I digress, he needs to continue with the medication and/or have therapy to release the reason(s) why he has to have it.

Secondly, when my kids were little I took my DC1 to children's centre's and playgroups.
Have a look at your local churches (Methodist churches usually have something) and your local childrens centre's can be found on council websites for timetable access.
Leisure centres usually have a toddler soft play.

Third and final point (I think), I get that he finds it difficult to interact with your DS, but my DS was so happy to play by himself and I often felt guilty for not being on the floor with him (I did play with him also ftr) but I did communicate with him and gave encouragement.
But I enjoyed watching him do things as I was amazed by the evolution and how clever their brains are and how they work.

Educational programmes on TV if needed (taught my son a lot):

Number/alpha/wonder blocks
Hey Duggee
Blaze and the monster machines

Nowadays, Bluey.

Good luck with the C-section and sending you lots of love x

averythinline · 09/02/2026 12:42

Cannot he not just take him to the park /playground.. everytime no matter the weather . Could get one of those push along bikes .. then on the swings and stuff
Not organised activities but fresh air and a bit of a walk is good for all.. its not exciting but just builds engagement... maybe look for signs of nature or go to the odd farm... Or go feed ducks or something like that...
Toddler play can be dull.. but so much scope on a walk... And pushing swings is a necessity and easier to build on at that age we had a couple of regular playgrounds...

Or could he do crafty stuff -gluing sticking painting? Building stuff can look up projects on line..if he likes more practical things than imaginative play..

Toddler football/dance/gym starts about age 2 here ... But appreciate booked classes are day specific

I think your right to be concerned now as hes potentially going to have a great opportunity to improve bond whilst he's off ... I think lead up time is useful so he has todo 1 thing with DS on his day off that is not sofa related.. even if that's something you would usually do ..

If there's something physical that you can drop and he can pick up?

Superscientist · 09/02/2026 12:47

It reads to me that the series of decisions you have made as a couple have meant you have arrived at a situation where there isn't a lot of give to your life. It's a pretty impossible situation and if it continues as it is I don't think you are going to make much progress in the situation.

The change to your employment, whilst didn't cause your partner to need to work nights, means that now there is a significant barrier for your partner changing jobs.

The night shifts are having a negative impact on his wellbeing. Definitely pursue a review on the sleep apnea, suggest restarting the antidepressant but also research SAD and maybe look into getting a SAD lamp and tips and resources for improving SAD in shift workers. I'm bipolar and this time of year does a number on my mood. The days and days without sunlight really kick my mood.

As he is working nights, struggling with the lifestyle changes this brings, as well as, and I say this as kindly as possible, your strong desire to be present and always there mum means that his role of dad is squeezed into 12-20h a week. Some of the language you use alongside your critique of his interactions couples with a person that is susceptible to depression I can see how your partner might then struggle with the being a present parent. Defaulting to "my" son and saying he will "ruin" bedtime. I have a poor sleeper, I get it, but can you also see that how the negative language perpetuates the perception that what your partner does isn't going to be right and I can see how it would then be harder to initiate play that you are going to be judged on. Your son will be aware of the dynamic too and you won't be equal, you will be the person that answers 97% of his needs and daddy is the person he tolerates the day you aren't there.

I struggled with playing with my daughter due to severe pnd and one of the things I found helpful wasn't the big activities and the dedicated play time but doing more of the day to day activities and learning to be a bit more playful in those brief moments. It meant that my daughter saw me more playfully and we could bring those bits of play into activities. I had some therapy with the infant parenting service and they did some recordings about aspects of parenting and we then looked at clips and photos showing those aspects of parenting. It was really helpful and allowed me to slowly get out of my head. I really struggled with letting loose and being childish as it felt so false.

My eldest is 5 and a poor sleeper, I have a 5 month old and I think you are quite naive in thinking that you are going to be able to carry on as you are. We had to start trying to get my daughter to sleep for my partner around the age of 2 as I found myself in a & e with my mum after she fell down a flight of stairs fracturing her back in two places. It was bed time and I needed to be in the hospital for my mum but also at home for my daughter. For two weeks I left the house every other night at bedtime so that dad could do bedtime. There were lots of tears the first few nights but she quickly accepted daddy at bedtime. I then did another two weeks every other day being " busy" at home and after that she has accepted both of us for bed time. It was liberating for me, knowing that if something happened I could be somewhere else and it strengthen my daughter and partners relationship. We have had to change her routine since our second arrived in September. She was still quite reliant on us for sleep but then when baby was 5 weeks my partner had a meeting in the US. His parents came up to help, in the first few weeks I had been able to feed the baby and get him to sleep and then do bedtime with my daughter but at 5 weeks we started with witching hour at my daughters bedtime. We had 4 days of my in-laws trying to do bedtime with my daughter but her wanting me, my son needing me too. We were playing pass the parcel with the baby and me trying to do as much of my daughters routine as possible. Then the day my partner got back I had a him with horrific jet lag having been awake for 32h, a screaming baby and a 5 yo that wanted mum to sit with her to go to sleep. I couldn't give anyone what they needed. The 5 yos bedtime routine had to change and ever since she has gone to bed on her own and dad has done most of them. We had hoped to change her bed time routine before baby arrived but I got so unwell in pregnancy I had 2 assessments for preterm labour, twice weekly blood tests and two hospital admissions before being rushed into hospital for induction at 36+6 weeks. I was too unwell to look after her during the day so had to prioritise her being ok with others during the day to worry about the night time

There's not much that can be changed whilst you are on maternity but afterwards could you adjust the balance a bit, would there be opportunities for you to do an extra shift and your partner do a day less? You might find that extra day makes the difference to his energy levels and resilience.

I'd look into things you can do for yourself once a week for half an hour. I think it does a person good to have time when they aren't parent/partner/child. I started an online pilates class. I'm not a gym goer and can't stand group classes but the online class just feels like me and the instructor and it helps me breathe properly for 45 minutes a week. I have previously gone running and swimming just a bit of time where I'm not having to be or do anything, just be me feeling the beat of the pavement or the flow of the water. I have got back into reading since having my daughter and when I was working I would sit and read on the train to work but now I'm at home I try to have a bath and read for half an hour.

In the long term you need to look into both of yours employments to work at what the right balance is for your family as a whole.
In the medium term you need to look at improvements to your partner and your health and wellbeings
In short term look at giving your partner more time to be default parent, step back a bit and let him do some figuring out for himself. Play doesn't have to be structure activities and for hours at a time look at the small moments too and there are some more immediate things regarding his health that want looking at sooner.

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 13:25

Superscientist · 09/02/2026 12:47

It reads to me that the series of decisions you have made as a couple have meant you have arrived at a situation where there isn't a lot of give to your life. It's a pretty impossible situation and if it continues as it is I don't think you are going to make much progress in the situation.

The change to your employment, whilst didn't cause your partner to need to work nights, means that now there is a significant barrier for your partner changing jobs.

The night shifts are having a negative impact on his wellbeing. Definitely pursue a review on the sleep apnea, suggest restarting the antidepressant but also research SAD and maybe look into getting a SAD lamp and tips and resources for improving SAD in shift workers. I'm bipolar and this time of year does a number on my mood. The days and days without sunlight really kick my mood.

As he is working nights, struggling with the lifestyle changes this brings, as well as, and I say this as kindly as possible, your strong desire to be present and always there mum means that his role of dad is squeezed into 12-20h a week. Some of the language you use alongside your critique of his interactions couples with a person that is susceptible to depression I can see how your partner might then struggle with the being a present parent. Defaulting to "my" son and saying he will "ruin" bedtime. I have a poor sleeper, I get it, but can you also see that how the negative language perpetuates the perception that what your partner does isn't going to be right and I can see how it would then be harder to initiate play that you are going to be judged on. Your son will be aware of the dynamic too and you won't be equal, you will be the person that answers 97% of his needs and daddy is the person he tolerates the day you aren't there.

I struggled with playing with my daughter due to severe pnd and one of the things I found helpful wasn't the big activities and the dedicated play time but doing more of the day to day activities and learning to be a bit more playful in those brief moments. It meant that my daughter saw me more playfully and we could bring those bits of play into activities. I had some therapy with the infant parenting service and they did some recordings about aspects of parenting and we then looked at clips and photos showing those aspects of parenting. It was really helpful and allowed me to slowly get out of my head. I really struggled with letting loose and being childish as it felt so false.

My eldest is 5 and a poor sleeper, I have a 5 month old and I think you are quite naive in thinking that you are going to be able to carry on as you are. We had to start trying to get my daughter to sleep for my partner around the age of 2 as I found myself in a & e with my mum after she fell down a flight of stairs fracturing her back in two places. It was bed time and I needed to be in the hospital for my mum but also at home for my daughter. For two weeks I left the house every other night at bedtime so that dad could do bedtime. There were lots of tears the first few nights but she quickly accepted daddy at bedtime. I then did another two weeks every other day being " busy" at home and after that she has accepted both of us for bed time. It was liberating for me, knowing that if something happened I could be somewhere else and it strengthen my daughter and partners relationship. We have had to change her routine since our second arrived in September. She was still quite reliant on us for sleep but then when baby was 5 weeks my partner had a meeting in the US. His parents came up to help, in the first few weeks I had been able to feed the baby and get him to sleep and then do bedtime with my daughter but at 5 weeks we started with witching hour at my daughters bedtime. We had 4 days of my in-laws trying to do bedtime with my daughter but her wanting me, my son needing me too. We were playing pass the parcel with the baby and me trying to do as much of my daughters routine as possible. Then the day my partner got back I had a him with horrific jet lag having been awake for 32h, a screaming baby and a 5 yo that wanted mum to sit with her to go to sleep. I couldn't give anyone what they needed. The 5 yos bedtime routine had to change and ever since she has gone to bed on her own and dad has done most of them. We had hoped to change her bed time routine before baby arrived but I got so unwell in pregnancy I had 2 assessments for preterm labour, twice weekly blood tests and two hospital admissions before being rushed into hospital for induction at 36+6 weeks. I was too unwell to look after her during the day so had to prioritise her being ok with others during the day to worry about the night time

There's not much that can be changed whilst you are on maternity but afterwards could you adjust the balance a bit, would there be opportunities for you to do an extra shift and your partner do a day less? You might find that extra day makes the difference to his energy levels and resilience.

I'd look into things you can do for yourself once a week for half an hour. I think it does a person good to have time when they aren't parent/partner/child. I started an online pilates class. I'm not a gym goer and can't stand group classes but the online class just feels like me and the instructor and it helps me breathe properly for 45 minutes a week. I have previously gone running and swimming just a bit of time where I'm not having to be or do anything, just be me feeling the beat of the pavement or the flow of the water. I have got back into reading since having my daughter and when I was working I would sit and read on the train to work but now I'm at home I try to have a bath and read for half an hour.

In the long term you need to look into both of yours employments to work at what the right balance is for your family as a whole.
In the medium term you need to look at improvements to your partner and your health and wellbeings
In short term look at giving your partner more time to be default parent, step back a bit and let him do some figuring out for himself. Play doesn't have to be structure activities and for hours at a time look at the small moments too and there are some more immediate things regarding his health that want looking at sooner.

Thank you for such a long detailed response!

Unfortunately my partners work doesn't allow a 4 day week so there isnt an option of hin doing that and me picking up an extra shift. Our career dynamic is probably not going to be able to change until both kids are out of nursery.

Thankfully the doctor has already approved his prescription to go back on his meds this morning so hopefully they will be ready by the end of the week!

OP posts:
Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 13:29

averythinline · 09/02/2026 12:42

Cannot he not just take him to the park /playground.. everytime no matter the weather . Could get one of those push along bikes .. then on the swings and stuff
Not organised activities but fresh air and a bit of a walk is good for all.. its not exciting but just builds engagement... maybe look for signs of nature or go to the odd farm... Or go feed ducks or something like that...
Toddler play can be dull.. but so much scope on a walk... And pushing swings is a necessity and easier to build on at that age we had a couple of regular playgrounds...

Or could he do crafty stuff -gluing sticking painting? Building stuff can look up projects on line..if he likes more practical things than imaginative play..

Toddler football/dance/gym starts about age 2 here ... But appreciate booked classes are day specific

I think your right to be concerned now as hes potentially going to have a great opportunity to improve bond whilst he's off ... I think lead up time is useful so he has todo 1 thing with DS on his day off that is not sofa related.. even if that's something you would usually do ..

If there's something physical that you can drop and he can pick up?

They do need to get out and about more on his day off. DS isnt a fan of parks so they need to find somewhere DS is happy to have a run around. Hopefully we can find some good places whilst he is off for 6 weeks.

We are signing him up to toddler football once he turns 2.

I don't think there is anything practical he can pick up on a regular basis but hopefully a bit more time outside with DS on his day off will help them both!

OP posts:
Goldwren1923 · 09/02/2026 14:46

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 13:29

They do need to get out and about more on his day off. DS isnt a fan of parks so they need to find somewhere DS is happy to have a run around. Hopefully we can find some good places whilst he is off for 6 weeks.

We are signing him up to toddler football once he turns 2.

I don't think there is anything practical he can pick up on a regular basis but hopefully a bit more time outside with DS on his day off will help them both!

What do you mean your DS is not a fan of parks
?

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:01

Goldwren1923 · 09/02/2026 14:46

What do you mean your DS is not a fan of parks
?

He just isnt interested in them or the one near us anyway. Its not very toddler friendly.

We would need to drive somewhere else to find a park more suitable. Once the weather improves.

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:05

What does an average day at home look like for your DS @Karma1387

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:19

sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:05

What does an average day at home look like for your DS @Karma1387

Whilst I have been pregnant and its been winter an average day looks awful!

We mainly have the tv on and read, try to do puzzles, sing songs, I roughouse with him as much as I can. In the summer it was a lot better as we could mooch between the garden and the house

His day consists of 2 5 hour wake windows and he naps for between 2-4 hours.

He goes to nursery 3 days a week. We usually try to see my dad every Sunday if we can, currently he goes out with my mother every other saturday but that is changing to once a month from March.

And then he has 1 day with dad at home which recently has been swimming lessons and then playtime/tv at home. Afternoons mainly tv and a bit of playing usually with me since I have been on maternity as its been getting dark by the time he has woken from his nap and eaten.

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:25

What do you mean by roughhouse?

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:28

sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:25

What do you mean by roughhouse?

He likes to be thrown around, jump off the sofa onto my back, lay on my back and lift him up and down. Chase him around the living room on my hands and knees being a monster

OP posts:
MusicMakesItAllBetter · 09/02/2026 15:31

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:28

He likes to be thrown around, jump off the sofa onto my back, lay on my back and lift him up and down. Chase him around the living room on my hands and knees being a monster

Dad could throw him around.
Dad could walk around with him on his back.

Maybe watch Bluey for interactive dad tips

WhatNoRaisins · 09/02/2026 15:41

It may be that dad needs to take him out more. Different parents are different but our family has never coped well with days in. Even a walk with the buggy or around the shops on a rainy day would be something.

There are some limited home activities that work ok for this age but I've never found them enough to fill a whole day. It's also easier once they are 3, I remember getting a lot of suggestions in lockdown for home activities that just didn't work for 1-2 year olds at all.

It sounds like dad could do better but days in like this are hard to pull off.

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:42

MusicMakesItAllBetter · 09/02/2026 15:31

Dad could throw him around.
Dad could walk around with him on his back.

Maybe watch Bluey for interactive dad tips

He does try but he is struggling with really engaging with it. He lets him jump on his back off the sofa and will try and roughouse for a bit but he does find it hard to do for long.

But hopefully once he starts his medication again he will feel a bit more happy and full of life to play for longer.

OP posts:
Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:43

MusicMakesItAllBetter · 09/02/2026 15:31

Dad could throw him around.
Dad could walk around with him on his back.

Maybe watch Bluey for interactive dad tips

We have watched lots of bluey. Its a firm favourite!

OP posts:
Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:45

WhatNoRaisins · 09/02/2026 15:41

It may be that dad needs to take him out more. Different parents are different but our family has never coped well with days in. Even a walk with the buggy or around the shops on a rainy day would be something.

There are some limited home activities that work ok for this age but I've never found them enough to fill a whole day. It's also easier once they are 3, I remember getting a lot of suggestions in lockdown for home activities that just didn't work for 1-2 year olds at all.

It sounds like dad could do better but days in like this are hard to pull off.

They do need to go out more. DS already doesn't like his pram which makes it a little harder. But we are buying him a leash/harness and a toddler sling to make it a bit easier.

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:50

Why doesn’t he go outside? He needs fresh air (even if raining)

WhatNoRaisins · 09/02/2026 15:51

Good idea. See it as a project and build up the distances then there's more that you will be able to do. Even just looking at random stuff on the street and the letters on road signs is interactive.

sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:53

If you are signing him up to toddler football why not just kick a ball about outside? You don’t have to sign up to an activity to do that

sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:54

Can you walk to shops, library etc? He needs to see the world outside his home

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:56

sittingonabeach · 09/02/2026 15:50

Why doesn’t he go outside? He needs fresh air (even if raining)

Unless you are driving quite far and going to something like the zoo DS has no interest in being outside in the wet and cold!

Hes slowly getting more tolerant so its a work in progress. Hopefully by next winter he wont mind being out in drizzly weather.

OP posts:
Goldwren1923 · 09/02/2026 15:57

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:01

He just isnt interested in them or the one near us anyway. Its not very toddler friendly.

We would need to drive somewhere else to find a park more suitable. Once the weather improves.

im confused. What does “interested” is in your opinion in a 2 year old? Or “not interested”?

Goldwren1923 · 09/02/2026 16:00

Karma1387 · 09/02/2026 15:56

Unless you are driving quite far and going to something like the zoo DS has no interest in being outside in the wet and cold!

Hes slowly getting more tolerant so its a work in progress. Hopefully by next winter he wont mind being out in drizzly weather.

How do you know?

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