24. When Your Child “Only Wants Mommy!”: Navigating Parental Preference with Confidence

Parental preference is really challenging; it’s so hard when your child only wants mommy or only wants daddy. Either you can’t get a break because your child seems to need you constantly, or you feel rejected because your child seems to want nothing to do with you.

In this week’s episode, I answer a listener who asks: Why does my toddler only want Mommy? And how should we respond? I dive into why kids go through phases of preferring only one parent, what it means (hint: it’s not what you might think!), and how to handle these tough moments and the difficult feelings that can arise as a result.

Here’s the thing: It’s so, so normal for kids to go through a phase where they prefer one parent over the other – and how parents respond can mean the difference between entrenching this pattern … or moving through it! After today’s episode, you’ll know exactly how to respond in these moments to strengthen your child’s relationship with both parents.