For those whose toddlers went through a 'no want daddy/only mummy' phase...

[clarabellski]

...how long did it last?

DS has just turned 2 and this has been going on for a few months now. It is toughest phase we've been in so far.

Just interested in other experiences whilst appreciating they can only be anecdotes!

My ds who is 4 is like that. Has been for sometime. If he wakes in the night it's mummy who has to get up or else screaming fit. Same with bath and bedtime . Number 2 is on the way so trying to get him used to daddy helping him but no joy as yet. hoping once dc2 here he catches on quickly.

Same with us, dd is 3.5 and only wants me most of the time which is tiring to say the least. We just try and even out the tasks such as cleaning her teeth, reading stories etc..and she does eventually get used to that bit it is generally me that she follows round the house!

DD is 4 in July. I'm still waiting for the daddy phase to start.

The worst thing for me is DH complains I don't get as much housework done as when he looks after DD. I have to grit my teeth to stop myself from saying 'It's because she couldn't give a shit if you left the room but if I attempt it it's the worst thing ever'

When we had this we dealt with it by insisting the unfavoured parent did everything for the dc if they were around (we have had it both ways). They seemed to move on quite quickly when we don't give them an option!!

DD1 is 3 and she goes though this phase with both of us. Try to be as normal as possible insisting on the other parent doing things. I found DD1 almost gets bored of it or simply forgets

It passed.
Dd used to only want mummy at night, and often during the day would scream if daddy dared to cut her banana when she wanted mummy to do it etc. "I dont want daddy I LOVE MUMMY" poor dh.

She is 4 now and the phase passed but it did not reverse- she has not yet gone through a "daddy only" phase.

We made sure dh kept spending time with her; special trips for just the two of them swimming or the cinema while mummy had a lie in and dh did lots of bedtime stories which I think helped.

They have a lovely relationship now and she adores him.

Oh dear sounds like we might be in for the long haul on this one!

Thanks for sharing your stories.

7 years and counting ...

My DD is 4 and prefers me. (Mum) however she went through a phase when she was 2 and didn't want me to look at/comfort/talk to her and it was awful, Christmas morning she said "no mummy presents, daddy help me. No mummy" I was heartbroken. Literally, I almost cried! She was horrible to me all day and it was terrible. However the minute she gets tired/hurts herself or is unwell she is a total mummys girl &will never choose dad to put her to bed. We have to arrange it in advance or she just gets so over emotional about it! So it does even out but I find they want different things from different parents!

It passes in a few months but we make an effort to have my DH take the kids out without me regularly so he had time alone with them.

They have a very close bond now.

My almost 3 year old ds has preferred daddy for a few months now, his main phrases are "I don't want you, I don't like you, i want Daddy", or going to dh when he's getting ready for work and begging him not to go, "I don't want Mommy I want youuu". Now it's gone to "I want you to go away, I just want Daddy". Has broken my heart, I know he's only a child but hearing it multiple times every day while trying to do my best for him and 3 month old ds2 is soul destroying.

Ds is 5 and hasn't grown out of this yet but I'm not sure how much of it is jealousy of 2yo ds2. It is tiring, Dh hates it too and often complains.