Help! 5 week old "hates" her daddy!

[annie11]

Hi all, don't post very often but a long time lurker!

I have a 2 year old boy and a 5 week old little girl. My husband is a very loving, hands on, brilliant dad. Now, the baby will NOT have him hold her! She screams hysterically when he picks her up, even if she was perfectly settled before, and stops screaming when I take her straight away! She is breastfed, tried to give her expressed milk in a bottle so he can feed her but she doesn't seem to have the hang of it yet. She is also fine with grandparents, friends, anyone really, apart from her dad!!!! He is obviously really upset, didn't have anything like this with our little boy and he was breastfed as well. Has anyone experienced this? Can we do anything to help?

[ArbitraryUsername]

Maybe wear one of his jumpers, then give it to him to put on when he takes her. That way she'll learn to associate the smell and feel of both of you with comfort.

DS2 wasn't keen on DH for a while. He wasn't keen on anyone/anything that wasn't me though. He got over it. He adores his daddy now at 3. Hilariously, he claims that he didn't used to love him but is keen to point out 'but I love you now'. I have no idea when he thinks the period when he didn't love daddy was, as he's quite clearly loved him since he was very small. DH gets a bit upset when he says it, even though he realises it's just toddler nonsense.

[Notmyidea]

my youngest was very much mummy's girl and wouldn't let dh hold her. It does pass! Keep trying! Will she let him push the pram or show her toys/sing etc while you hold her?
Let your older child have daddy's attention for now, too. She'll soon work out that she's missing out.

[MamaBear17]

Does he wear aftershave or use a shower gel or deoderant that has a strong smell? she might be reacting to that?

[annie11]

No aftershave, and nothing very strong smelling, we even share shampoo and conditioner! She just takes one look at him and starts screaming! I'm just waiting for the day I have a screaming baby, screaming toddler ( he screams whenever she screams), and a sobbing 30 year old....

[ArbitraryUsername]

I think the thing is just to let him hold her despite the screaming. They'll get used to each other and the will all be a bad memory.

[annie11]

Thanks for advice everyone!