DD doesn't like public shows of affection

[Mum2Ela]

Does that make sense?

DD (17 months) starts to scream and tense up her face of me and DH, or her gradndad and her auntie (my sister), or my sister and her boyf - anyone in the family really - either have a cuddle, or a kiss etc. In fact, she has started to cry sometimes.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Is it just a normal attention thing?

She is a very cuddly baby so its not like she just doesn't like people touching.

Thanks for any thoughts.

x

Actually, just read back the title to the thread - its not really 'public' affection, its just people being affectionate in general.

My dd, almost 17 months, doesn't get upset by other peoples displays of affection, but she doesn't like it much. She never smiles and kind of tries to break it up by forcing herself into the middle of whoever it is. When dp and I have been having a hug and she's started to rip our legs apart, dp has lifted her up and brought her into the cuddle and she looks as though she 'tolerates' it but isn't really keen! Weirdly, she is in heaven if I make any of her teddies hug each other or if I hug them.

Thanks Evita, sounds like my DD. Its nice to know its not just me! Its just that its actually quite embarrasing as family think its odd!

Yes, I wonder what it means ... I haven't seen what my dd would be like if any other members of my family hugged, I'll try it out. They don't hug all that much unfortunately.

Evita - could let me know what happens when you try it out? I'm sure its just a phase but it can get tiresome when we are out of the house and me and DH are holding hands and DD starts shouting / growling at us!

Mum2Ela, well already from that description I can say that dd isn't that bad, she doesn't mind at all if we hold hands or touch each other, it just seems to be if we're standing up having a cuddle and she's down on the ground. I will see what she's like with other family, I'll have to bribe them to hug each other though . Does your dd like it if you make her toys cuddle etc.? My dd loves that and immediately cuddles something herself.

Evita, my DD likes her toys to cuddle and will happily cuddle them herself. I think it might be that she just wants to be 'involved' in the cuddling that is going on, like she is missing out, or more obviously, that she hasn't got the attention for that moment.

Some people really like their space... Sorry, this topic was one of the many bones of contention between me & my mom; she was very tactile, seemed to force touching on me, but I like my space. Apparently I went like that when I was 2yo. Even now I'm the most 'leave me alone' person in the household, which is dreadful since 2 children & husband always seem to want cuddles off of me! I remind myself the kids will one day scream "I hate you!!" for weeks on end as teenagers, then leave home and probably live the other side of the world.

my dd 20 months has never liked me or dh hugging. She tries to separate us and is very upset about it. If we r on the bed and have a cuddle she goes mad and starts pushing dh away from me. once she smacked his forehead, it was funny, dh was not amused though. It's like she does't want anyone to touch me and god forbid i hold another child or even talk to one; she is on the floor kicking away. They say that is quite common though, first feelings of jealousy.

When she was younger, i used to play with her cuddly toys and again she snatched it out of my hand and and threw it away. Once i kissed the toy, never again - she just went mad!! Gosh aren't they funny?

She has never seen any other members of the family cuddle , so it will be interesting to see what response we get.