My Baby Prefers My Mother in Law. Normal ?

All kids go through phases, preferring Mom over Dad, Dad over Mom, Grandma over Mom, and so on. Being able to roll with the punches is really a critical skill in parenting. Look at it this way - you'll be so incredibly prepared for adolescence, when kids want nothing to do with their parents!

You did the right thing, taking care of your husband in the ICU. It's great that you had in-laws to help and be there during the day. I know how hard it is to be needed in the hospital but also needed at home. You chose wisely - you went for the one in crisis (your husband) and let your baby connect with others.

Long term, children are strengthened by knowing there are others who can and will take care of them. They need to be cared for, fed and put to bed by Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts/uncles, and babysitters. Knowing they are surrounded by love makes them more secure.

Kids also bond, at least short term, with the one who is caring for them. Some kids dont' transition well at certain ages. That doesn't mean they don't love you, and at 7 months (or 17 or 27 months) they certainly don't think you're boring!

Now, whether your MIL is milking this situation to tick you off, I don't know. I do think laughing it off is a good strategy, especially since you live there. The more confidence you display, now and in the future, the better it is for your daughter, and the more it disarms your MIL. Don't let anyone see that it bothers you, and better yet, don' let it bother you!

This will change, I promise you. And a child's closest relationship will always be with her parens, especially the parent of the same sex. You have 17.5 more years of this. Bide your time and try to feel more secure about this.

Kids develop favorites all the time.
They switch between mom and dad and grandparents - and sooner or later they switch back again.
Don't read anything into it and don't get all hurt and annoyed by it.
Like everything else - this will pass and eventually you will hardly remember it.

Your baby bonded with her grandmother. That's not a problem.

Please take a step back and stop fretting over this. You are truly over reacting.

Your baby KNOWS you are her mommy. That isn't going to change.

If you don't like other people bonding with your child? You might need to live on your own.
please stop letting this stress you out. That WILL make your daughter turn to others because she will FEEL the stress.. LET IT GO!

It’s wonderful for them to have a close bond. Be thankful.

It is a totally normal phase and it will pass. Keep laughing it off. Your baby knows that you are her mommy, and that is a bond that is unbreakable.

She bonded to your MIL while you were gone. This is a gift. Your baby was happy while you had important things to do. I would not take it personally...a good bond with another family member is a great thing for a child growing up. What I have learned with my kids is that they are ALWAYS changing. Both kids went through a mommy preference and a daddy preference. One of them went through a short time where they preferred one grandma over the other. It all changed. Your baby will get older and things will change. Spend as much time as you can being her main caretaker.

I think her reaching for grandma and feeling attached at this point is probably fairly typical where she was with her for an extended amount of time while your husband was in the ICU. Where you live in the same house, etc. she sees a lot of her.

My mom was heavily involved with one of my sister's kids for a similar reason, and they have a very strong bond - which is actually lovely. I would support it. It's great for children to have that as they grow up (a positive thing).

It doesn't replace what you have - at all. It may feel like it at this point in time, because babies seem so needy and it's like MIL is meeting her needs for now - but it's just a phase. Give it a week or two, and she'll be back to reaching for you I'm sure as well. It's not permanent at all.

I had my mom help out when I had babies - she would come and look after the others and it was always this way. I kind of cherished it because they didn't get to see her that often.

As for the smug look, etc. Not sure what that's about. That seems to be a different issue, and hard to comment on that. I wouldn't confuse the two though. I don't think a grandma can make a baby want her more - if that's what you are worried about if that helps.