Navigating Parental Rejection: When Your Baby Prefers Mom

Not medical advice. For emergencies, call your local emergency number.

It’s a common, yet often unspoken, challenge new parents face: the feeling of rejection when your baby seems to only want or be comforted by the other parent. This is especially true in the early months, and it can be emotionally taxing. This post from r/NewParents shares a dad’s experience of his 3-month-old daughter only being comfortable with him in specific contexts, leading to feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy. He describes how his daughter screams for her mom, making it difficult for him to help his wife, take the baby out, or even get her to nap. The frustration of not being able to soothe his child and the perceived rejection can lead to feelings of not being ‘built for this’ and understanding why some dads become emotionally distant. The author expresses surprise at not being more prepared for these feelings. This article will discuss:

We’ll provide practical advice and reassurance for fathers navigating this sensitive period, emphasizing that it’s a temporary phase and a normal part of infant development.

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