Help needed! Five month old won't let Daddy settle her.

I'm posting on behalf of a friend. She's not a BellyBelly member, but asked my advice today on how to settle her five month old. I didn't have the answer, but said I'd ask the wonderful girls on BellyBelly because... they always have the right answers! :D

Basially, her problem is that her little princess doesn't want Daddy to settle her when Mummy's gone out and poor Mummy arrives home to a very frustrated Daddy and a baby who's sobbing in her sleep.

I remember having the same problem when DS was around six months old, but I can't remember for the life of me what we did to rectify the problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Oh, BTW. Little princess is breastfed, but will have a bottle of EBM or formula when Mum isn't home (not sure if that makes a difference or not, but just thought I'd mention it).

What does the little girl usually do with Daddy? Is it a case of "here's Daddy - that means Mummy has left me!" or does Daddy do more with the baby?

What DH and I did was DH loved wearing DS, so as the sling generally smelt of me and DS was happy. We didn't do much more as DH is not a good Daddy to babies if we're honest. I wasn't allowed for a night out without taking DS with me at 5 months old! And he did come with me and smiled and cooed when he should have been sleeping in his car seat!

Can BOTH parents do bedtime for a bit, then Mummy do some nights and Daddy others, alternate it - but have the other parent back off slowly. Might take a couple of weeks: one week both involved, one week one doing it the other watching, then just Daddy then just Mummy etc?

Comfort/favourite toys work wonders too!

I had a similar problem and put it down to DH never doing the bedtime bit so Caleb was out of routine.
What Rosehip said was what we did and it helped. I insisted DH take over if he was still awake after his bed time feed and settle him, or at least attempt to before I did.
I would also ask how much does dad do with bub. ie nappy changes, bathing and general playing. Maybe there isn't as much of a bond because he doesn't do quite as much as he could be. I'm not having a go btw but sometimes the mum ends up doing all this stuff and it's a reason why bub forms such a strong attachment to the main care provider.

I agree too....if Daddy can do bedtime/naptimes when Mummy is home, then bubby gets to know that Daddy is just as much an expert as mummy at these things ;) Had the same problem with DD#1 and oddly enough, both my girls are now in this weird zone that apparently, daddy can't tuck them in like mummy can :rolleyes: all very cute but not very relaxing. So we alternate so they both get mummy but learn that Daddy does it too. Also, alon the same lines as what Rosehip_Fairy brought up re the interaction level between Daddy and bubby......I know it's probably hard if he works alot but maybe for a while, they could focus on him being a huge cuddly type daddy in between bedtimes just to reassure his little munchkin that he is as safe as houses :D

HTH :) and btw, you're such a lovely friend :hug: