21 Month old only wants her dad

[KLM5]

My 21 month old has all of a sudden started to only want her dad. Finding this very difficult as he never really helped me until now unless it suits him. She has had really bad reflux from birth and so has always been a very bad sleeper so I’ve had my hands full for nearly two years. All of a sudden she has been only interested in her dad and I’m struggling to deal with this. He’s acting very smug and enjoying every minute of my struggle. Help!

No advice, but offering solidarity. DD is nearly 21 months and runs (past me!) to DH when she's hurt. It breaks my heart but I try to remind myself that 1) It's good that she feels safe and loved 2) The favourite parent will probably flip back and forth frequently.

Fortunately, my DH isn't smug, that would be doubly frustrating.

Had almost the same thing happen at 13 months. My advice is to carve out time in the week which is just quality time with her. Like going on an outing.
It’s a phase, a very painful phase!

Can relate to this, my DS is 21m too and Dada was his 1st word at 17m. He wants Dad ALL the time, and will cry when he wakes up from his nap and sees it's me. DS will have a full on strop when Dad leaves a room or the house and it can take me a while sometimes to calm him down or distract him. Never does this for me.
Also he will reach out for daddy when I'm holding him or if I pick him up when dads there he will moan and want dad instead. And if he falls its Dad he will go to first.

My hubby has been very hands on and although he works full time and I stopped work to be a stay at home mum, my husband is very involved when home.
I try to put it down to the fact that DS sees me 24/7 but there are large chunks of time when Daddy is not around, so he is missed more.
Husband is also loving every second and although he's not overly smug, he is not very sympathetic.

I'm hoping the phase is coming to an end, as on 23rd DS finally said Mummy for 1st time and does now seem excited to have learnt his new word and is calling and reaching for me now too. Fingers crossed.

Hope your time comes soon OP.

My daughter was like that from the beginning and I kept hoping for it to change but she’s nearly 2 1/2 now and she still screams if I come into her room instead of her dad. Unfortunately I think it might just be the way things are.

My 13 month old has started being all about Daddy recently too. He says 'dada' all the time. DS spends a lot of the week with me as i work part time and he also comes to work with me. He is lucky in that DH works from home so does see him a bit but still kind of hurts when DS just wants daddy all the time. I know its a phase and DS is still so little but kind of makes me feel like I'm not needed. Sounds really stupid i know

Thank you all for your comments. It really helps to know I am not the only one with this problem. I am going to keep everything crossed that it doesn’t last. Trying not to show her that I’m hurt that she doesn’t want me anymore. Dad on the other hand still seems to be enjoying my struggle.