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relationship with grandchild

(12 Posts)
Christinarose Mon 06-May-24 15:33:31

My husband and I have a 1 year old grandson (who we see every month or so) and he seems so connected to my husband but not to me. If I'm holding him and my husband is around, the baby reaches out for my husband. If I"m feeding the baby, bathing him etc, and my husband is there, the baby is very engaged with him, trying to make him laugh, wanting to play with my husband.
I try to not let it get to me, but it's actually really painful for me. I haven't let my son or daughter in law know how i feel because it feels so ridiculous that me, as a grandmother, can't deal with the fact that our grandson prefers his grandfather.
Any advice on how to make peace with this?

Cossy Mon 06-May-24 15:36:51

It’ll change in time. Babies, a bit like dogs, sometimes gravitate to one family member. Please don’t worry, as you see more of him and he develops into a little person he’ll love you just as much x

Christinarose Mon 06-May-24 15:40:16

Thank you, Cossy. Sounds like you're speaking from experience and it helps to hear that!

Grandmabatty Mon 06-May-24 15:43:06

My dgs1 much prefers his other grandad and has for a long time. I just accept it. He is loved by both sides of the family. On the other hand, I am dgs2's favourite person at the moment. This, too, will pass. Try not to let it get to you.

fancythat Mon 06-May-24 15:49:46

Do you "smother" him at all? I have seen people do that, which never seems to go well.

Christinarose Mon 06-May-24 15:55:08

My husband and I are both very affectionate with him. If anything my husband is constantly holding him. It is so noticeable that family members will comment, "does Andy ever let you hold Jeremy?" (not their real names!)

Theexwife Mon 06-May-24 16:22:10

Babies rarely like people equally, only the baby knows why he favours your husband at this time.

Floradora9 Mon 06-May-24 16:50:08

When my DGC were abour 4 they wanted someone to play a game with them outside. I was busy so DH agreed to play. Ten minutes later I went out and one DGC said " It's OK grandpa you can go now granny is here " I hoped he had not noticed but felt bad for him . They change their allegiances all the time .

M0nica Tue 07-May-24 14:16:16

We get this query regularly, lots of children for unknown reason at some time in their formative years show preference for on egrandparent, sometimes one parent, to the other.

For about 2 years my DGS did body swerves round me to get to his grandfather, a novelty and special because he was the only grandfather, whereas grandmas were two a penny and he saw thebother one more often than he saw me. he grew out of it.

What surprises me is that grown women, who have already had children and brought them up to adulthood, should find this sort of behaviour upsetting or unusual. It is normal behaviour in small children.

Grams2five Tue 07-May-24 16:31:35

As all have said. The baby is just one year old. It’s a miracle he likes any of you , my own children that age barely
Tolerated anyone but myself, including their own father 😂. At present two of our grands are between 1 and 2 and I’d say the same of them, one little girl a bit more precocious than the other and willing to give the occasional hug and chatted , the other darling prefers to hide behind his mamas legs and maybe will tolerate me for moments at a time until he gets her back. Toddlers are this way - heck even older kids go thru phases of whom their best go to is.

ginny Tue 07-May-24 17:03:23

My two youngest DGSs are happy to be with me and we have fun. However if either of their aunties turn up, I definitely take second place. Of course they are much better at running around and playing physical games.
Just enjoy the time you do have. Things change as time goes on.

Nannashirlz Thu 09-May-24 12:24:28

The baby is only a yr old, grandkids are quite good at flipping between grandparents. My youngest grandson said I was the best nanna in the world other day in front of other grandparents but she didn’t think anything of it because tomorrow he will probably pick her. You going to have to learn to ignore it or you will let the green eyed monster take over and I’m not sure what the parents can do after all baby only one