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Baby Bonding Questions... Answered

What to do when baby prefers one parent, screams with someone, and similar issues.

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Sometimes the bonding between a baby and his or her mom or dad just isn't developing the way you would expect. We often take it for granted that when meeting our new baby, it will be a mutual love at first sight. But what if this doesn't happen? Or if a baby and parent are separated for longer periods?

Often , if a baby prefers one of the parents, it is a normal development stage for the child and can be dealt with as such, while other times, a family may need help to improve the situation.

Some of the ages when it is normal for a baby to prefer one parent are the following:

Newborn babies will sometimes only settle with their mom. This is not true for all newborns, but in most cases, mom is the first person they will be with most of the time and hence the first one they bond with.
A few months some babies make a big difference between their closest family and everyone else.
At around 7-9 months, many babies get strong separation anxiety and being even 1 inch away from mom (or possibly dad) is pure torture.
18-24 months - either parent can be the preferred one. This is not due something wrong that the other parent did and the stage will pass.
3-5 years - it is common that the child strongly prefers the parent of the opposite sex.
5-7 years - the opposite happens; the parent of the same sex becomes more important, but the preference is less outspoken since the child is older.

Either way, you are not alone!

By browsing the questions and answers below, you'll find out what's normal and not as well as find ideas on how to strengthen the bond and relationship with your child.

If you are in a hurry, simply use the search box below to find the questions dealing with your baby's particular problems. OR, find answers to questions you didn't even know that you had by simply browsing all the Q&As below.

Either way, I hope you will find answers to your baby bonding questions around here, because that is what we are here for.

You can ask questions or offer your help by posting comments at each question below, but if you don't find your answer, you'll have to use post any new questions in our Easy Baby Life Community Forum..

I Hope you'll find the help you need!

Baby Bonding Questions Asked - And Answered

Click below to read answers and comments to all baby bonding questions. And why not help another parent in need while browsing... ;-)

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Husband Doesn't Help Out With Baby How can I get my husband to help out with the baby? Our baby is one month old. I feel like I'm mothering two instead of one! My husband doesn't help ...

How To Bond With Granddaughter Over Distance? Question: How can I bond with my new grandchild despite living far away?

I will be visiting my granddaughter for the first time when she is four months ...

My Baby Doesn't Want To Go To Me My daughter is 9 months and wants nothing to do with me . She wants her dad and brother and sister but not me.

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Sibling Hates New Baby - What To Do? I have a newborn baby and a 5 year old, and my older son is violent and resents his brother. I would like my kids to grow up and be close. How can I enforce ...

My 3 Month Old Only Wants Mom To Hold Her My 3 month old will only let me, her mother hold her. She screams when anybody else hold her including the father, is this normal?

It is frustrating ...

5 Month Old Screams Whenever Dad Touches Him My 5 month old son screams whenever his dad touches or holds him . It really upsets my husband and he says it makes him not want to even go around him ...

No More Daddy!!! My baby has suddenly started to refuse dad putting her to sleep. We have got our 11 month old baby on a pretty good sleep schedule and try not to get her ...

My Baby Doesn't Seem To Want Me? Question: I have a 9 month old baby daughter, who doesn't seem to want me anymore. I have recently returned to work and have put her in a nursery 3 ...

Toddler Screaming At Night And Not Bonding My daughter for the past 6 months has been waking up around 2am every day screaming and throwing tantrums .

At first it was every other night and ...

Baby Wants To Be Held Question: My baby is insecure at daycare after our vacation and I don't know what to do.

My husband and I have had our daughter in daycare (for about ...