This problem has gone on since LO was 10 mths old and shes 16 mths old now. In the week shes fine with me but as soon as daddy comes home in the evenings and especially at weekends she becomes so attached to him its disturbing. She wont let me do anything for her, she wont let me hold her or play with her and it makes me feel so rejected and hurt. Its so hard not to take it personally but if shes hurt or sad or ill she only wants him and I cant do anything to settle her. She holds her arms out to him and wriggles and writhes around in my arms and screams to get back to him, then she sits in his arms looking so miserable and moody.
She was ill at the weekend with a high temp and she only wanted daddy. It was so hard because all I wanted to do was to hold her and comfort her but she didn't want me. Whenever she falls and hurts herself I run to her to pick her up and she just arches her back and screams hysterically until her dad picks her up and she instantly calms down.
I just don't know what ive done wrong to make her like this. I feel like its all my fault and even start thinking did I give up BFing too early? Is it because she had a traumatic delivery? Is there something about me she doesnt like? Ive read that's its a normal part of development to have parent preference and it will swing back round to the other parent eventually but its gone on for 6 months now, every single weekend, evening and any holidays he has. I dread him being at home because she will be so miserable and reject me the whole time. I feel like she just tolerates me in the week as im her main caregiver but the one she really wants is her dad.
Ive read so much on this subject on the internet over the months and ive read all the different theories but in reality its heart breaking and I fear she will be like this forever and always prefer her dad to me.
He finds it overwhelming and stressful as he cant go anywhere or do anything without holding her. In theory its great for me because I can leave a room, go out, have time on my own and she doesn't cry for me, she just waves me off but I find it heart breaking for all of us when shes so traumatised by him putting her down. I never expected it to be like this when I always dreamed of having children, I never expected to be shunned and unwanted by own baby. It doesn't feel normal, especially when I see other babies attached to their mums. My LO has no jealously issues when I hold other babies, she couldn't care less.
Does anyone have any experience of this? Or ideas? Or advice? Reading it back it sounds like im being selfish and should be happy she loves her dad so much but this is just 6 months of upset coming out, sorry for the long post!!