My 18 month old doesn't like me anymore

[danniellabella]

I've come to the conclusion that my just turned 18 month old doesn't like me anymore!

She pushes me out the way to get to DH. I can't console her when she's upset but as soon as she goes to DH she is fine. And she's just started telling me "No! Go away!"

Is it normal for toddlers to go through this sort of phase where they decide they don't like a certain parent? What can I do? Should I let it bother me?

[kawazuki]

my DD did the same thing at about 18 months.
just wanted nothing to do with me, it was all daddy daddy daddy.
broke my heart.
but now its all nanny and poppy lol

she does come to me now and loves me again lol not that i think she didnt love me before i think she was just exploring her boudaries and her suroundings.

DD always has been a bit of a daddys girl though but at 18 months she was nothing but daddy, i couldnt bath her feed her if i gave ehr a fork to eat she would throw it dh would give it to her she would smile and eat properly.

think its just a phase.

but it does get better

[danniellabella]

Thanks. Maybe it is just an 18 month old thing.

[bon]

It's a phase. My 2 year old DD did the same thing around that age, but now she is the opposite and is being a real mummy's girl. Doesn't want daddy to do anything for her! I think it might have something to do with the baby coming soon though, she wants all my attention.

[danniellabella]

Well, there aren't any babies coming here. I'll just have to play it out and maybe this is my opportunity to step back for a short time and have a rest from the feeding, bathing, putting to bed etc and let it be daddy's turn.

[kawazuki]

now that sounds like a good plan. daddy can have a go just tell him his little one wants him to do it

[Bun]

My DD went through this stage too, and she still does it sometimes! I found it very hurtful for a while there, but as the others have said, it is just phase and she will get over it. In the meantime it leaves us poor mums feeling very unloved though!

[Bathsheba]

My DS sometimes does it to DH but less and less now. So it must be a phase for testing the boundaries of "rejecting" the parent of the same gender I have read about this in child development books but it still hurts when it's YOU they are rejecting hey? My teenage DD is kinda doing it to me... but teenager-hood is so much like a return to the toddler years that this doesn't surprise me.

[danniellabella]

but teenager-hood is so much like a return to the toddler years that this doesn't surprise me.

I was saying on another forum that at 18 months old my DD is starting to remind me a lot of myself when I was a teenager

[kawazuki]

yes i quite regularly say my DD is 24 months going on 24 lol

[Phteven]

I don't see it as not liking you. I think that it's an indication that she feels so confident and secure in your love that she knows that she's safe to reject you because you will still be there for her.
Shows what a great job you're doing - not that that makes it easier to be rejected

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I don't see it as not liking you. I think that it's an indication that she feels so confident and secure in your love that she knows that she's safe to reject you because you will still be there for her.
Shows what a great job you're doing - not that that makes it easier to be rejected

I agree with Brontide. I just think she is becoming more independent and doesn't feel the need to have mummy all the time. And then sometimes kids at that age go through weird phases as they hit the 'terrible two's'.

[Floweryfields]

I think it's probably normal, but when she says No! Go away! I would say to her, that makes Mummy sad when you talk to me like that.