Do fathers bond as well with a 2nd child as they did with the 1st?

[FlossALump]

I ask as DP was out last night and bumped into a friend who has just had his second child. he told DP he'd found this to be the case. I know a friend of mine found her DH didn't bond as well with their DD as he had with their DS.

DP was rather under the influence and quite upset by this 'just because its in your tummy its my baby too!' (pmsl!) and promising the baby he would love it just the same. Thinking back I think this has been something he's worried about when we have talked about having child no 2 'I couldn't love anyone else as much as I love DS' etc.

So have people found this to be true? Or can I feel free to tease him mercilessly about being so drunk and soppy?

My DH is definitely as close to DD (2nd child) as DS. I almost said closer, but I think it's really just it's in a more demonstrative way.

My dp is as close to ds as dd mind you he also is the same with dniece as he is with our children.They all love him to death as well.

both dp and i were worried all through the pregnancy that we couldn't love the baby as much as dd but we both do.... there's days we even prefer him

I think Dh found it easier to bond with DD1 than when DS was born as Ds was a culture shock being our first. Of course he adores all the children but think because he was more prepared with both the girls it was easier.

I think you can feel free to tease him!

Early days for me as dd2 is only just about to turn 6 months, but it feels just the same as first time round to me.

To my horror DH did once admit he loved DS1 the most, & he is our most "difficult" C , out of the 3.

Dh really really worried about this too. DS2 is now 8 months, and the most amiable gorgeous lump of love you could hope to have, but because our 2.5 year old demands so much of my Dh's precious time with them, he does find himself conciously making sure he spends one on one time with DS2 as much as possible. The love is equal, no doubt about it, but divvying up the time is hard.... Plus, let's face it, the second ain't never going to get the same focus that the first one gets, that's just the way it goes..........

hmm i don't think so, dp says ds is special because he was our first, but he has a very strong bond with dd, dp never wanted a girl always just wanted boys but as soon as dd was born he fell in love, he adores her & she is a daddy's girl, there bond is very strong but then he is also very close with ds but ds is a mumy's boy His bond is with both our children but in different ways.

DH is just as in love with DC2 as he is with DC1.

However in terms of his hands on stuff, he finds it easier to cope with DC1 because she is a chatty and energetic 3 year old who's interested in everything and loves doing stuff with her daddy.

DC2 is only 4 months old, he cries alot, needs loads of cuddles which means nothing gets done, needs to be fed and has smelly nappies that need changing - also he doesnt give a hoot who does it as long as it gets done.

I dont think it's a bonding issue persay - just that men are'nt always as good with babies as they are with children and when there's a choice they take the easy option IMO.

For the record when he has nothing else he is trying to do like mowe the lawn etc, and DC2 is in a cuddly playful mood he will sit with him and play and cuddle.

IME, yes. Dh is equally close to all 3 boys I'd say.