Does anyone else feel this way?

oandmplus1

DD is almost 7 months old now. She has a little bit of vision trouble because she had a cataract removed at 1 month old and now wears a contact lens to help her see. Because of that, some of her development was delayed. She learned to smile a little later than some babies, and tummy time was a challenge because nothing visually interested her in the beginning. She is doing much better now and the vision in her bad eye is almost as good as the good eye.

I am not sure if this is what is causing my issue, but I feel like my DD isn't really connecting with me. Maybe I am expecting too much and I just need reassurance. I thought, at this age, she would start to smile at me and recognize me. She does recognize my voice and often looks for me if she hears me come into a room, but she doesn't just smile at me when she sees me. She smiles when we make silly noises or kiss her cheeks, or play with certain toys she likes.

When I pick her up from daycare, she doesn't even seem to notice that I am the one picking her up, no smiles, no real reaction to my presence. Is this normal at her age? Do your LOs act happy to see you when you come into the room or pick them up from daycare?

I know I shouldn't feel this way and I am probably just being silly, but I get so bummed and feel like maybe I don't spend enough time with her (because I am a WM) and she isn't connecting with me like she should.

chicsub

I think it can also be a personality thing.  DS was a content/happy baby most of the time, but never a huge smiler.  DD on the other hand is super smiley and wears her heart on her sleeve, so to speak. 

walkercpa

emkatrine:

I stay at home with LO, so I'm pretty much the only person he sees all day except for my husband in the evenings and weekends. Sometimes he seems happy to see me, especially when I go into his room when he wakes up from a nap, but even then, sometimes he acts like he could really care less. I think they have so much going on as far as mental development right now that they get easily distracted. DS is up on all fours rocking back and forth most of the day and scooting around to get to his toys. I think that is way more interesting to him than me and I think that's normal. I do get bummed about it sometimes too, but I think that the way that we as adults express our happiness or feelings towards each other is much different than what they know how to do.

This (bolded part). My LO sometimes gives me a big smile when I come to pick him up at DC, and other times he is busy playing with the toys or other babies and doesn't even notice me. I figure those days are good preparation for the teenage years when he'll pretend he doesn't know who I am.

oandmplus1

Thank you for your responses. It makes sense. DD is just starting solids, just cut her first tooth, and has had a lot of colds, she is also working on sitting up on her own. She is changing so fast, there has to be a lot going on for her. She used to smile at me more, so maybe she is just focused on other things. Thank you for the reassurance.