My daughter hates my dad…
I don’t know if anyone else is experiencing this but my daughter suddenly started taking a dislike to unfamiliar people/men before she turned one in November. Everyone I’ve spoken to about it says it’s “just a phase, she’ll grow out of it” and I’m sure she will but it’s making visiting family really hard!
Both my dad and my husband’s seem to trigger a crazy level of hysteria in her, like they can’t even make eye contact with her without her melting down. With work commitments and living a bit of a way away (both dads) we see them maybe once a month, which I get is quite a long time for a toddler but we show her pictures and FaceTime in between. They are both very loving grandads and have lovely relationships with their other grandchildren so it’s not them! Over Easter we visited my dads new home but she was so hysterical the whole time that it made the whole visit (until we were back on our own) completely awful. I either have to sit away from them separately so she calms down or she ends up vomiting because she’s so worked up that my dad even looked at her.
I’ve tried giving my dad hugs so she knows I like him, tried getting him to give her toys, tried getting him to ignore her, tried going on walks, tried having him walk next to us and have a convo and seeing if she eventually settles (spoiler, she doesn’t). Does anyone have any ideas that I could try? I feel at a loss because obviously I don’t want to take my daughter somewhere she absolutely hates but it’s also a really stressful experience for all the adults too and I feel terrible for my dad and FIL because all they want is to be able to interact with their granddaughter!
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My 17m old absolutely dislikes both my brothers! I don't know why, she hates all men other than her dad! She was also iffy when she didn't see my mum for 4 weeks and rook a while to warm up
Yep my girl has really started taking a dislike to most men, especially with facial hair. Her uncles and grandad in particular she is super wary of when previously she really had liked them. It's definitely some sort of weird phase I'm hoping ends ASAP. You're doing all right things e.g. showing her pics, showing them they are safe by hugging them and being relaxed around them with her, trying to get them engage with play with you involved too. It's really stressful though and I don't have any other advice I'm afraid other than solidarity and the hope it will be a short lived phase. Hang in there
So I have a son and he’s 16 months. He runs to my in-laws with open arms yet refuses to go to my dad & sister now… in all honesty, my side make little is no effort with my son whereas my in-laws spend tons of time with him…. I never ever force interaction, if my son doesn’t want to know then I’m content with that. Maybe meet outside the house? Meet at a park where grandad can push her on the swings? Go for a walk & an icecream? Xxx
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