To expect my 2 yr old to want her dad!

[sunnyeve]

Why won't my 2yr dd not go to dh!?? She's 2 1/2 in Dec and she just doesn't seem to like him at all!! it's heartbreaking watching him try to bond with her and her scream nooo and leave the room or run to me!!

He works long hours so rarely sees her in the week but is there every weekend and she will go to other people (inc men) and she sees them less!!

Do you think this is normal? my ds didn't do this and they have a great relationship. Just want her to dote on him like little girls can do with their daddies and I feel really sorry for him. Plus it leaves me having to do everything with her and he and ds go off having fun, be nice to swap occasionally!!

Anyway, am new on this site and am enjoying reading all the threads.

And just to put in my pennyworth. I like to dress up sometimes even at toddler groups! I wouldn't mind my dc watching the odd dvd at school and I think MIL's can be notouriously rude and a pain in the backside!! :O

No advice, but just wanted to say welcome

my dd has jsut turned 3 and is the same as yours.
she has to be in his company for a good 2 hours before she will feel that she can go to him, or even leave the room without me.
my dh too works really long hours and he doesnt se much of her during the week.

i hope it will get better as she gets older cause i too am ready for a little break!

YANBU. I think this is normal - because my ds1 is exactly the same. Kids can be sooo mean! Ds2 adores dh, thank goodness so he does get a lot of affection there at least.

I totally understand your frustration. To my shame I have bribed ds1 with maltesers to say things like, I love you daddy just to see his face light up.

She will dote on daddy later on and then that will probably be just as hard on you!

And also, welcome. (I can't believe you dress up at toddler groups, have you no shame?! )

I think all children go through these stages so dont worry.
When my dd did she was a bit younger but I realised that I had probably made the situation worse by going along with her.

Try to gently but firmly ignore her attempts to come to you instead of him and it should get better.

Oh and welcome.

Thanks, nice to know I'm not alone! Think will use this as an excuse to go shopping and leave them together to get on!!?

I don't DRESS up for toddler groups - it was a reference to another thread - feel silly now!

yes, i find it makes it worse if i feel liek i have to stay in with them just to keep her happy.

i occasionally have a baby free day and go out, i know perfectly well that no harm will come to her if she cries for half an hour after i leave, and they do usually have a nice day once i am gone.

although when she was younger, i had to come home from several places cause she would just cry and cry till i came home. dh didnt know what to do with her.dont feel silly, i knew what you ment

DD1 was like this adn has her moments now, if she wants something from him she will always ask me first rather than him, so I just tell her to ask him for it and tell ehr what to say (she is 2.9) then it normally dissolves into tickling and silliness.
It has got better now that he involves her in things he is doing, he takes her to the shops on his own etc.
DD2 is much the same, she would prefer me but he does play with her as much as she lets him, if I am in the room she tends to choose me so I leave them to it as much as I can.
I wouldn't worry about it too much, they have their stages, it did really upset him but he can see why she was like that now (he works long hours and I am SAHM)

Oops, I knew what you meant too! I guess sarcasm doesn't translate well when typing!

I think this is a normal stage. What your dh has to do is just to carry on regardless, being loving and doing things for her, but not pushing her for a response. Sooner or later the boot may well be on the other foot, and she'll only want him. And then you have to carry on regardless. The calmer you can both stay, the better.

My ds1 was like this, but has since grown out of it. Was hard on dh getting the brush-off all the time but he did persevere and now that ds is 5 they have some great times together.