Newborn Baby Care: Baby Prefers Mom Over Dad

Not at all: Your baby's preference is perfectly normal. Studies have shown that newborns prefer their mother's voice, and it makes sense after all: Your baby has been hearing your voice for the past nine months! In fact, a newborn also has a very keen sense of smell, and while most newborns will recognize both parents' scents, if you are breastfeeding your child, your scent will be even more appealing because you smell like his next meal. For these reasons, most newborns seem to prefer their mothers—but fathers shouldn't fret. Most toddlers go through a strong "daddy" phase, especially the ones who love the rough-and-tumble play that fathers provide.

In the meantime, encourage your partner to be involved with your baby as much as possible. During the exciting—and exhausting—first few months, you may be thrilled to have such a bond with your newborn but also may wish for more breaks and time for yourself. If you are breastfeeding, give your partner the other newborn baby care jobs, such as burping, changing and soothing to sleep. And try not to encourage the preference by grabbing your baby back the second she starts fussing: Give your partner the opportunity to show his stuff—and give yourself the chance to run for the shower!