Dad worried baby hates him - HELP!

[Mum2Lucas]

Hi,
My son is 17 months old and has, during the last 2 weeks, become incredibly clingy with me. He cries when I leave him at nursery (though he has stopped before I get to the front door of the building) which he never does and has now even started crying if his Dad takes him out of the room that I'm in. It's got so bad that when we were all sitting on the sofa this morning and my husband moved my son from sitting between us to sitting on his knee he started to cry and reach out to me. At first I thought it was cute and found it quite endearing that, although I work full time (and feel guilty about so much time away from him but that's another story), I'm still his favourite person. However, his Dad has now decided that the baby doesn't like him and is feeling so rejected that he's starting to shun spending time with him. I've tried to explain that that isn't going to improve the situation but he's feeling hurt none the less. Has anyone else been in a similar situation as I could really use some advice?

IME it's very normal at that age, I went through similar with both my dd's at that age, but they get over it eventually and at some stage dad might even replace mum as flavour of the month! (When they get to about three-ish, maybe earlier)
So I agree with you, your dh shoudln't feel hurt, but keep making efforts to play with your little one, and it will get better.
I would go easy on the cuddles front if I was dad, and instead try to raise interest by doing exciting things - playing traintracks or whatever appeals to your child.
HTH

Thanks, it's nice to know that we're not alone and it does end!

ds1, 15 months, chops and changes between dh and i and my mum as he sees her a lot too.
some days he walks around the house saying 'nin-nin' (nanny) every five minutes if he hasnt seen her for a day or more!

Dd 2 1/2 varies who her favourite parent is on an almost daily basis and has done so for ages now, daddy is current fave. Just ignore it and make sure you're seen to be giving daddy lots of cuddles, and manufacture situations where he has to be left alone with your son so can't avoid it. HTH

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I remember when my dd (now 10) was between about 3 & 4 she used to draw pictures of the family without me in them at all! I found that hurtful, especially as the dog & cat were there, plus sometimes her half-sister whom she only saw one weekend a fortnight ! When I asked her why, she said she didn't need to draw me as I was always there... My ds also went through a very 'Daddy's boy' phase, but thankfully they're both more even-handed now!