Struggling when your toddler prefers one parent over the other? Learn the best ways to help him cope with separation anxiety and take to both parents.
“What am I—chopped liver?” my husband joked. Although he’s a hands-on dad and invested in our kids, our then-toddler preferred me over him.
Even after being away at work, my husband couldn’t convince our son to so much as pay him any attention. He’d start playing games, but our toddler would refuse. And diaper changes? I was the “lucky” one who had to do them all.
We have to hand it to our partners for being patient when our kids strongly prefer us over them. It’s easy for them to tune out—turn on the computer, stomp and sulk, or just about give up on trying to spend time with the kids.
Or maybe your toddler prefers dad over mom, and you’re left feeling like he doesn’t want to be with you at all.
When your toddler prefers one parent
My husband and I knew that kids go through stages of preferring one parent over the other. Still, we wanted to be proactive and see if we could make any changes instead of waiting it out. Most importantly, we didn’t want to fall into habits that might make it harder for our son to rekindle his relationship with his dad.
It’s hard on either parent when your toddler doesn’t want daddy (or mommy). And so, this is what we did to rebuild and reestablish their bond:
1. Avoid punishing your toddler for feeling this way
While you don’t want to give in to your toddler’s demands, you also don’t want to punish him for feeling this way.
He may be going through developmental changes that surfaces as separation anxiety. Don’t discourage him from feeling upset or make him feel guilty if he shuns one parent. For instance, don’t take away a beloved toy truck just because he insists on going to the park with dad, not you.
Instead, explain that you’re taking him to the park so you can spend time together. Describe how he feels: “You look sad because you wanted to spend time with daddy.”
Acknowledge his feelings without trying to rush him through them. These are valid emotions he feels, and the more he knows you support and love him no matter what, the less terrible he’ll feel.
2. Don’t give in to your toddler’s demands
Those diaper changes my toddler preferred I—and only I—do for him? That was our first big mistake.
You see, giving in to your toddler’s demands will only reinforce whatever beliefs he might have about his preference*. That he was right to ask for mom, or that dad is the only one who should be feeding or carrying him.
He’ll also learn that his parents will give in if he continues to have a meltdown. While we should pick our battles now and then, he learns an unfortunate lesson about the power of throwing a fit.
Plus, giving in doesn’t allow him to spend time with the “rejected” parent. Sure, changing a wailing toddler’s diaper may not be the quality time mom had hoped for. But it does send the message that you can take care of your child just as well as dad can.
Yes, it’s easier to cave in and just change his diapers yourself, especially if it means avoiding yet another tantrum. But the more the rejected parent gets involved, the less likely your toddler will resist her participation.
Watch the video below where I explain this even further:
3. Encourage regular time with both parents
I used to work early in the mornings—so early that I was out of the house before our son woke up. This meant my husband had to handle him on his own, from breakfast to school drop-offs.
As hectic as it was, this regular time with him reinforced the idea that dad and I were both capable of caring for our son. He was able to be alone with his dad every day doing regular tasks. In short, they had to spend time together with no option of pulling mom into the mix.
Regular time with each parent can doesn’t have to be a daily ritual, either. You can have a weekly special treat of getting Saturday ice cream, or playing at the park in the early evening, for example. Schedule regular one-on-one time with each parent, providing more opportunity to be together.
Exhausted and feeling guilty from constantly losing your temper with your child? Even if it seems like you’ve tried just about everything, you CAN stop losing your temper… if you start from the inside out and change from within.
In my PDF, How to Finally Stop Losing Your Temper, you’ll learn what to do when you feel angry and stop yourself before things get worse. Download it below—at no cost to you. You’ll also get my newsletters, which parents say they love:
“Thanks for writing this and sharing your personal experiences and wisdom.” -Audrey C.
4. Include both parents in household tasks
Getting both parents involved in the household is a must if you want to ease the toddler attachment at home.
Yes, one parent might spend more time with the kids and has more opportunity to handle household tasks. It’s not so much about dividing duties, but rather encouraging active participation when the other parent is able to.
One way to do this is to designate chores. One parent could be in charge of giving your toddler a bath, changing diapers, or dressing him in the mornings. Your toddler learns that both parents do certain tasks, especially when you have the opportunity to do so.
Plus, having both parents involved in your toddler’s routine makes him less likely to resist. Over time, he won’t demand that one parent change his diaper if he realizes that the other often does it.
And most important, your toddler realizes that neither parent is just “helping out.” That both parents are invested in caring for him, regardless of how many hours he may see you in a given day.
5. Stay in the background
Have you heard of “gatekeeping”? It’s when one parent knows exactly how to tuck their toddler in bed, which toy they like to bring on play dates, and how they like their pasta cut. So they step in, get involved, and even correct their partners when they do it “wrong.”
The problem? Hovering like this reinforces your toddler’s belief that only one parent in charge, and not the other. He’ll feel even less inclined to spend time with the rejected parent, for instance, if he thinks that parent has no idea what they’re doing.
Plus, this undermines that parent’s capabilities.
Sure, he may not do things “how it’s done,” but this is a partnership. Both parents should be welcome to do things their way, even if it means your toddler resists at first. Allow him the opportunity to develop his own routine, however different it may be from yours.
In doing so, both your partner and toddler feel more confident. The other parent is better attuned to your child’s needs and doesn’t feel undermined when he does things differently.
Conclusion
It’s so easy to take our children’s behavior personally when they prefer one parent over another. The tantrums that don’t let up, the outright rejection when your toddler doesn’t want daddy—all this can take a toll on anyone.
But the most important thing for the other parent to do is to stay involved.
Don’t give in to your toddler’s demands—instead, acknowledge his feelings. Encourage regular time with both parents, including doing household tasks. And make sure both of you have the opportunity to get involved, even if it means the “preferred parent” stays in the background.
Because tuning out stresses everyone: the other parent feels incompetent and uninvolved, while the other feels resentful and burdened with more responsibilities. It also validates your toddler’s unfounded reasoning and preference for just one parent.
Those days when my son preferred me over his dad have ended, thanks in large part to implementing these tips. Hang in there! One you implement these tips too, your toddler will rekindle an attachment for dad and won’t see him as chopped liver anymore.
Get more tips:
- Stranger Anxiety in Toddlers: 5 Things Every Parent Should Know
- What to Do When Your Toddler Is Hysterical at Bedtime
- How to Get Toddlers to Listen Without Yelling
- How to Survive the First Few Weeks with a Newborn and Toddler
- Toddler Not Listening? 7 Things You Need to Do
*Source: Kids Health
*
Are you beginning to realize just how important it is to know how to respond to your child’s challenging behavior? In my ebook, Parenting with Purpose, you’ll discover how to prevent outbursts and handle meltdowns in a purposeful way.
Because ask yourself this: what’s your life going to look like a year or two from now if you continue to do what you’re doing? If you’re serious about making real change in your parenting, grab your copy of Parenting with Purpose and begin to build a strong relationship with your child today:
Leave a Reply