Bonding ideas for dad & 8 month old dd

[mummy2lola]

Hi there,
I'm writing this on belaf of my husband, who I think is a bit unconfident of his ability with 8 month old dd at the moment.

He's a fan dad, makes bottles, we work as a team, changes pooey nappies & any duties... Nothing phases this man!!! We go for weekend walks, out and about etc.
He makes dd smile and laugh, but often puts himself down if she refuses milk or food, or cries when he's doing something for her. He always says that she hates him & prefers me, but I know that's not true.... She loves her dad to bits.

I've been thinking of some ways in which they can bond more. He works full time & gets home in time for bedtime bottle, which he gives her, and I'm a stay at home mum.

I've suggested he get down to her level and play with toys with her- she loves watching, playing together- any other ideas to help them bond closer & help hubby feel like the fantastic dad he is!

Would be greatly appreciated!

Do they get much time together without you there? It's easy for him to pass her to you if she grizzlies when you're around but perhaps he doesn't realise that you have strategies for dealing with her when she is grumpy/won't eat etc and he needs to develop some for himself. I found that my DH and DD really started to bond around this age because I started leaving them alone more.

Mine loves the swings, and going down slides at that age. Would he take her to the park?

Do you do much messy play? Would he like getting the paint out - on a big scale - my 2 (boys) loved getting a big sheet of paper (wall paper backs), and painting on it - rolling paint covered balls, cars etc over the paper, and that seems to appeal to Daddy interests more than small scale stuff?

I also started talking through what I was doing when things got tough - explaining to DS, but so DH could overhear - so "oh, your not hungry tonight, have you had lots to eat already today? No, you didn't really have a big snack, so you really should be hungry, you've had this before, so I know you like it blah blah blah"

DH finally caught onto the fact that I didn't know the answers just cycled through likely problems til I hit on a solution.

Send them to the playground together? A bucket of water and some cups in the garden? A picnic in the park? Swimming? Local pet shop?

About 8mo was the age I started regularly sending DH out with DD so I could have a break. He says it was hard at first but soon found his own way of entertaining her.

I'd second the idea that they go out and about for quality time just the two of them - the park, the ball pool, local museums or galleries with kid friendly interactive exhibitions... Anywhere they can have a proper play together.

Also, just to add my DH is a loving, attentive father but my DD will still sometimes go through phases of asking for and clinging to me... It's worth reassuring your DH that it's normal for little ones to go through phrases of favouring one parent over the other - not through anyone's fault.

i went back to work ft when dd1 was 10 months & dh went pt & sahd. prior to that he was the same but being forced to take it on they are now (dd1 2.8)'thick as thieves. DD2 is only a month old & he is complaining he doesn't have a proper bond with her.

Find some activity they can do together on a Saturday morning - park, swimming, children's centres often Do a dads group, soft play & send them on their way. he'll figure it out & you have some "me" time.

My dh always did bath time and then story. I didn't join in at all. As they got older, he would take them to the library as a part of this.

He used to carry dc in a sling whenever he could too. Hoovering etc.

My neighbour has a baby and he has him in the bouncer when he is outside doing the garden or washing his car.