Additional Needs

Boosting Daddy-Daughter Bonding

Posted by Caro Robbertze on 15th December 2014 Additional Needs

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Her dad did change her nappy and he did help me bathe her, but he could never get her to fall asleep.

He could not calm her down.

I always had to do it.

It was like he could not bond with her.

Or she didn’t want to.

He really did try but she didn’t want anything to do with him, or anyone for that matter.

I think it also had a lot to do with communication.

She still battles to communicate with some people.

But they don’t know how she does it.

But my husband and I both know by now what she wants.

Things started changing when she was about 18 months.

It was like a switch went on: “hey, dad is cool too and can help me with things”

She now allows dad to give her bottle.

He can put her to sleep at night and put her down without any hassle.

Okay, maybe once a week it does not work.

But more often than not, he wins the battle between Jade and sleep.

When dad puts her to sleep, I listen by the monitor just in case dad needs help.

It’s really funny to listen to them sometimes.

Jade has her bottle and about 10 min in the fun starts.

She starts talking to her dad in her own language.

She pulls on his chain if she can get hold of it.

He shows her videos on his phone and if she does not like them she screams at him.

Then he tells her she needs to sleep.

She laughs.

Eventually he gets her to sleep.

Or calls me for back-up.