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Mommy Over Daddy: Dealing With Your Toddler's Parental Preferences

Psychiatrist Dr. Foster Cline (co-author of Parenting with Love and Logic), Elizabeth Pantley (author of the No Cry series of books), and Dr. Bonnie Zucker (author of Anxiety-Free Kids) discuss a phase some toddlers go through in which they prefer one parent over the other.

See the full post Tags: Dr. Bonnie Zucker, Elizabeth Pantley, Foster Cline

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hankjmatt
2 yearss ago

It usually happens in the morning when "Mommy" is running around trying to get out of the house. I think she locks into who ever is busiest and then wants THAT parent's attention. club penguin

rookieheather
2 yearss ago

These are helpful tips to keep in mind; I'm sure I'll be singing about the "left leg" and "right arm" for the next few months to move things along as my two-year old inches toward three. Like Aimee, my son often prefers Daddy to do it.

drudolph
2 yearss ago

I've seen this dynamic among same-sex parents as well, with a child having a strong, but usually temporary, attachment to one parent for certain things. For couples where one parent is biologically connected and the other is not, the child's attachment is not always for the bio parent. It seems, as you say, more a matter of which parent is the customary one for any given activity.

fb-726417188-ai...
2 yearss ago

You know what is funny? - my son has always preferred my husband. That's because he is much more fun! ;) It took me a while to get used to it - but I know that there are things that are "mama" only too.

bethlemanach
2 yearss ago

This came at the perfect time! My husband and I are dealing with this very issue. It usually happens in the morning when "Mommy" is running around trying to get out of the house. I think she locks into who ever is busiest and then wants THAT parent's attention. Since my husband works from home, Mommy is usually crazed in the AM, hence "I want Mommy to do it" kicks in. Perhaps I need to slow down!

Brent
2 yearss ago

My wife showed me this video because the same thing is happening with our daughter and I've been taking it personally so I'm now feeling a little better. Thanks.

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Mommy Over Daddy: Dealing With Your Toddler's Parental Preferences

Mommy Over Daddy: Dealing With Your Toddler's Parental Preferences

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