Attachment Issue (babies, pacifier, parent, chores)

[k101608]

My 6 month old son has recently become really attached to me. He will cry histerically if my hubby is changing him, feeding him, or bathing him and I'm not in the room.
I know my hubby is getting hurt by this... he went go feed him his favorite fruit the other day and he was fine eating at first but then after a minute or so he started crying until I came back in the room.
I'm not sure what to do about this...it makes it really difficult sometimes to get things done around the house or even leave the house for a couple of minutes without him.
Has anybody else experienced this? Suggestions?

[*Danielle*]

He is only 6 months old...there are many little phases to go through. Just distract him. I know a BIG distracter used by my DH is water. He would take them over to a sink and just turn the water on. They would just watch it run. Or he would plug it up and let it fill a little bit and 'stand' them in the water. Or just walking outside with them for a minute or two stopped the crying too.

[k101608]

Thanks for your suggestions Danielle. We have used the water thing... he loves the water but that didn't work.
I'm going to try the going outside thing further. He loves being outside to and usually that helps when ever he is being a little fussy but it hasn't helped lately either...

[TouchOfWhimsy]

Yeah, that's normal for that age... cope as best as you can, and remember that this too shall pass!

[k101608]

Originally Posted by beanandpumpkin

Yeah, that's normal for that age... cope as best as you can, and remember that this too shall pass!

Thanks... I'm glad to hear that it's normal. I know it kind of break my hubby's heart though... wish there was a way to help break him of this.

[Dorthy]

I agree that it's totally normal. It seems like whenever my daughter goes through a developmental leap or growth spurt she becomes clingier then usual and only wants mommy. There's a lot going on at 6 months. Very normal stage, it'll pass for sure.

The only suggestion I have for getting things done around the house is to wear him in a sling or Bjorn type of carrier while you do chores or cook if he's insisting on being held. It helped us out a ton.

[hypocore]

Agreed that it's a stage and will pass. However be aware that it will repeat in the future and it switch from wanting only you to wanting only dad at some point as well, so be prepared.

Many babies tend to come to rely upon mom early on as their human pacifier/lovey, which is both nice and dreadful at the same time. It's nice to have that feeling of giving your baby security and such, but it's dreadful that you can't do anything on your own due to them needing you, especially if you are nursing.
So, to help balance it out, make certain things dad's job only. For instance, it becomes dad's job to feed your son dinner, bathe him and put him to bed each night. That will give them some great one on one time and you time to do other things. But to make that successful, you have to leave the area completely so that your son doesn't see you, and don't go rescue him from dad if he gets fussy.

His preferring you at this point is a basic necessity for him, so don't worry about it much and let dad learn to work his own magic with him. It will be your turn soon enough to feel hurt your son doesn't want anyone but dad.....

[Beth56]

This is very normal. Children can be very attached to a specific parent, but I believe it is most often the mother. My son was also hurt when his son pushed him away and only wanted mom. I told him this would change and it did. Now he loves his daddy time. Do not be surprised if mom is preferred in many instances, even for the next several years.

[k101608]

Thanks everybody for all your responses... helpful and reassurring.

[Houston3]

I'm a dad and it IS NOT your husband....My son was the same way....but he grew out of it pretty fast...and now he is a dad and when Mom is around the kid only wants Mom...