My daughter chooses daddy over me

I have to admit that I get a little bit jealous when my daughter chooses her daddy over me. I love how much she loves him and I know it's not a contest. Until I stopped breastfeeding I was almost always the only one who put her to bed and comforted her.

This has all changed and she has recently started to ask if daddy can take her to bed. The first night she asked we were quite flabbergasted. How sweet we thought. My partner beamed with joy that he had been requested for such an important job and off they skipped to bed. I assumed it would be a one off, and that I would be back on the job the following night.

The next night we were met with the same request for daddy to take her to bed. This time I felt a little sad because I missed cuddling and singing to her, as I'd done for the last 20 months of her life! The third night I tried to take back my job but was pushed away with hysterical screams and told "NO, daddy do it".

It was quite funny when I look back but at the time I was devastated. What was so wrong with me? Does my daughter hate me?

It's honestly how I felt, but I've come to terms with it now. I know that now that I'm no longer breastfeeding, daddy and I have much more equal roles when it comes to bedtime. I've also realised that toddlers are incredibly fickle and not to take it personally. Often she requests daddy to take her to bed only to make it to the top of the stairs and change her mind.

It's lovely that she has a close bond with both of us and can get comfort from both mummy and daddy. My partner is an amazing hands-on dad and she has him wrapped around her little finger. It's nice to share the load a bit. I will always cherish the time spent putting her to sleep and breastfeeding but I am happy if she is happy.

Love Mallory x

Having stopped breastfeeding I still cherished the cuddles and singing before bedtime...

... and the occasional naps together!

Sleepy bunny!

So when the night came that daddy was requested over me I was devastated.

Of course her dad had put her to sleep before, but bedtime was usually my thing!

It's lovely that she has such a fun hands-on dad.

She is becoming quite the daddy's girl, but I don't mind.

We have all got used to it now and we generally take it in turns to do bedtime.

It's great that she can get comfort from both of us.

If she's happy I'm happy!

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