And babies tend to prefer mama early on for fairly obvious reasons — hers is the voice they're most accustomed to. But there are other reasons, too. Babies' senses of smell and hearing develop sooner than sight, and they tend to rely on those to recognize loved ones.
Studies show that, from the womb, babies respond to their own mom's voice differently than they do to other voices — their heartbeats accelerate, showing they're more attentive, more alert, more in tune with the sound of Mom.
The main reason is that nourishment-only mothers can feed the babies, and it is critical for the babies to stick around their mothers when they feel like feeding. Babies are also more familiar with their mothers as they are used to hearing their voices from the stage of being a fetus.
While a baby's first attachment is often with their mother, the bonds that babies form with their fathers are just as important. Though babies form attachment relationships with other adults who care for them, the bonds with their parents are the most important ones.
Not worrying may be easier said than done, but truly, parental preference is a normal and healthy part of toddlerhood. It can pop up between ages one to three, as children become more independent and learn to express their opinions.
Mommy issues refer to problems forming or maintaining healthy adult relationships, due to a person's insecure or unhealthy relationship with their mother or another female figure in their childhood. It can lead to a negative self-image, low levels of trust, and other issues.
The newborn stage is difficult for most parents, whether you're a first-time or seasoned mom. The abrupt change to your lifestyle, the sleep deprivation, and the demands of a baby make these weeks and months one of the hardest for any parent.
“Most babies develop a preference for their mother within 2 to 4 months of age. From birth, the combination of sight, smell, and sound likely all help babies distinguish their mother from others.
Only between about 3 and 7 months of age do babies start to show a strong preference or attachment for mothers, fathers or members of their own family in general.
Why do children have a favorite parent? Playing favorites with parents is normal, and usually nothing to worry about. It can even be a sign of healthy development. “It's only when children feel secure in their relationships with both parents that they are free to explore, and experiment, in this way,” Hershberg said.
The struggle is far from fun, but rest assured that clinginess in babies is perfectly normal and a pivotal part of their development. This separation anxiety happens when baby starts to realize you're the best at taking care of them. Naturally, they want to keep you close by.
"Sometimes a baby won't feed from a partner because they know that mom is nearby most of the time. It can sometimes help if you bring in an aunt or grandmother who is familiar enough with the baby, but not as present. Ideally, this person has some experience with bottle feeding a baby, and can do it with ease."
Kids just expect more from their mother. You are their number one nurturer, feeder, comforter and carer. Dads might be doing 50 per cent or more of the parenting, it doesn't matter. This is a biological instinct that babies crave their mother's attention.
Accompany your partner with things like nap time and play time to help your baby get used to dad being great too! At nap time, ask dad to come with you so that you can both read a book (even if your baby has to sit in your lap while dad reads because she refuses to sit in his) or sing songs!
Every stage of parenting has its challenges, but one poll reveals what age most parents feel they struggled with the most.
As your baby develops with smiles, laughter and babbling, a true two-way relationship starts to develop. It can take on average six months to reach this point but it will happen . The bond most dads have with their six-month-old baby is fundamentally different to the one they had immediately after birth .
Infancy, for many parents, can be a difficult stage. It's not just about adjusting to caring for a baby or dealing with sudden sleep deprivation. It's also the stage when your baby can start to develop a strong preference for you—and only you.
Your baby finds comfort in your arms
When an infant can be soothed by your voice or physical comfort, this is another way she shows she trusts you. Infants identify caretakers by sight, smell, and sound, and when any of these provide a level of comfort to a baby it is evidence of an established bond.
Research shows that a baby's health can improve when they sleep close to their parents. In fact, babies that sleep with their parents have more regular heartbeats and breathing. They even sleep more soundly. Being close to parents is even shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
In short, yes: Babies do feel love. Even though it will be quite a while before they're able to verbalize their feelings, they can and do understand emotional attachment.
These difficult periods are usually accompanied by the three C's: clinginess, crankiness and crying. We now know that they are the tell-tale signs of a period in which the child makes a major leap forward in his mental development. Babies all undergo these fussy phases at around the same ages.
A 2-Year Age Gap
Sibling rivalry is strongest during these years and parents are often already struggling with a toddler who is developing a strong sense of identity and loves to use the word “No!”
Nine to 10 months age gap is obviously the smallest gap you can have, and can be quite tough but rewarding at the same time. The children are so close in age they will learn a lot about the world together.