15 month old screaming and pushing me away

[fannyadams]

My lo is going through a bit of a daddy phase which is fine, but she keeps waking screaming her head off and pushing me away and trying to get away from me. It's so distressing, she is so upset about something and she just doesn't want me anywhere near her. As soon as her dad takes her she settles back down immediately.
Has anyone else been through this? I don't know what makes her scream in the first place but its like she's in pain. But why is she so upset by me?
If she reacted like that to anyone else I would think they had hurt her or she was scared of them but I obviously know I've never so much as raised my voice to her. In the morning she's fine again
Any ideas?

 

[m4nc3r]

As upsetting as it may be to hear, it is possible your LO is having bad dreams that may either involve you, or in general she feels more secure in daddies arms (as he is probably bigger, and possibly even warmer)
It may even be because she did it once or twice, then YOU get stressed and tired with it, and that pushes them away more.

I know my boy goes through the same kind of phases where he only wants his daddy and the more I would work myself up over it the worse he used to get, so I just had to let it slide and get over it until he wanted me back again.

 

[Kristine30]

Hi, I don't have the answer, but you are not alone. I work full time and daddy is home 3 days with her (nursery and childcare other times) and LO is definitely a daddy's girl, so much that sometimes she doesn't even look forward to me coming home and says no when i get in

However, during the night if she wakes and cries it's mummy she wants. To be fair, daddy doesn't usually get up, but the occasional time he does then she literally fliches off him and will scream for me. I don't understand it but everything I've read seems to say it's just a phase and to not react negatively to it (harder said than done) and wait for it to pass.

Hugs and good luck!

 

[fannyadams]

Thinking about it the daddy thing has only been since he took 2 days off to care for her while I worked. Before that she was all about mummy.
Maybe that's changed something in her eyes.
I'm sure it's a phase but it is upsetting the way she can't stand me near her!

 

[seoj]

I have no great answer- just know it's NOTHING you did. LO's are fickle! And tbh, I've seen many posts about this on BNB. My LO does this at times too- she'll want me, then soon as Daddy get's home she runs up and wants him to hug and hold her and if I even try to- she get's more upset. It does sting- I won't lie. No one likes their kid acting like they prefer one parent over the other- BUT- it's a phase. This too shall pass! Honestly, I think in part (sometimes) it's because Daddy's tend to be the novelty (not all of course)- but in general, Mommy's do more for LO on a daily basis- where as Daddy is the "fun" one that is there to tickle and play. My hubby does a lot for LO but still, I know I do more- because when I'm home I want to do more of the stuff for her. She did do this a bit more for a while after my hubby was home all weekend with her while I was at my Mom's helping taking care of things... but, it passed.

Big hugs. Just know LO may seem to "prefer" Dad right now- but no one will ever take Mom's place.