Dad Is ‘Bothered’ When 6-Month-Old Suddenly Prefers His Wife Over Him, Says Son ‘Wants Nothing to Do with Me’

A new father is opening up about the emotional challenge of feeling less connected to his 6-month-old son.

Sharing his experience on Reddit, the dad — who said he’s in the military — explained that he’s been fortunate to have an extended parental leave, allowing him to spend just as much time at home as his wife. For the first few months, he believed his baby preferred him.

“All of a sudden, these past couple of days it’s taken a turn and it seems like he wants nothing to do with me,” he wrote. “For some reason, I can barely even make him laugh now and he only wants his mother.”

Although he’s happy that his wife shares a strong bond with their child, he admitted feeling “bothered” by the sudden shift. “It was so sudden and it seems like he wants nothing to do with me,” he wrote, adding that he hopes it’s just a phase. He said he misses spending time with his son and asked for advice from other parents.

One commenter reassured him that this stage is completely normal. “Kids switch back and forth between favorite parents for quite a few years,” they explained. “Don’t let it put you in a sour mood — just spend time with him, and eventually the preference will change again.”

Another user suggested engaging in gentle, child-led play to rebuild their bond: “Just sit beside him with some blocks — start building and see if he wants to knock them over. Little things like that create oxytocin, the bonding hormone.”

A third commenter offered words of comfort, recalling a similar experience: “This is very temporary, maybe a week. I remember when my daughter was four or five months old and didn’t like being held by me. It was soul-crushing — but it only lasted a few days. This is part of your attachment time.”

The father said he’s hopeful that things will soon return to normal and that his son’s affection will swing back his way.