3 Month Old Cries with Daddy All Day

First off, you absolutely have to stop thinking that the baby's father "watches him" on Monday. He is a parent, just like you, and is not a babysitter.

Your mother is a babysitter.

Your mother has raised kids so she's more comfortable and knowledgeable. Your husband has to learn in the same way you do and in the same way your mother did back in the day.

Your husband is your equal and must be 100% engaged to the same level you are. You and your husband need to be 50/50 in childcare when you're both at home.

You're in the Moment of Truth period of your relationship. This is where you and your husband set the course of the entire rest of your marriage, and parenting careers.

Sounds to me like Daddy is nervous, upset or agitated, and baby is picking up on it. If you and your mother are the consistent caregivers, then Daddy is the unique caregiver.

Daddy should try skin-to-skin contact unless he's a very hairy man (sometimes kids don't deal well with that sort of change), wearing the baby in a pack (the swaying motions can calm a baby), going for car rides or stroller walks (again, the motion works), and some calm story times. My guess is, your husband isn't nearly as relaxed and just isn't doing "everything you do" in the same way. I also think it's important to distinguish whether your son is truly crying for 8 hours a day while you are gone. I find that hard to believe. Maybe it feels that way to Dad, but my guess is, it just isn't.

And why is it that, when you are home, you usually take care of him? Why is your husband not a daily caregiver, 7 days a week, at least part of the time? If your son is only with your husband 8 hours a week while you work, no wonder the baby is confused.

Also, if you are breastfeeding, are both your mother and your husband doing the same thing as each other with formula or pumped breast milk?

I think your husband needs to do more daily care, and you and your mother need to not bail him out all the time.

Does he use a baby carrier?
Dad's have to develop their own baby wrangling style.
What works for Mom doesn't always work for Dad.
My husband use to put our son in a child carrier back pack and take him for hikes in a park.
The fresh air was great and a lot of the time child fell asleep from the rhythm of the walking.
Even if Hubby doesn't want a carrier, a nice ling stroller walk really helps tire babies out.
A crying baby makes for frayed nerves - so Dad might benefit from some earplugs to take the edge off a bit.
I feel for your Hubby but it's only one day a week and it just means he needs more practice.
So if he's thinking he doesn't want to do this anymore - I don't think backing out of father/baby day is a good idea.
(Can you imagine if this was switched and it was you the Mom who had to endure a crying baby 1 day a week?
Heck, the first 8 weeks was pretty rough for us - I was SO sleep deprived and it seemed like son cried constantly before he really settled down - only 1 day a week of crying would have been wonderful.)
Before you know it baby will grow and things change more rapidly than you would believe.
This phase will pass and there are exciting new chapters of parenthood to come!

It could be several reasons this is happening. You might try having your husband feed the baby a bottle when you or your mom are there to see if there is something he might need to change. Also your husband probably is not as comfy to him. He is not soft and smooshy. At least not in the same areas. :) give it time. It's good that he is contributing to taking care of the baby. Some men wont.

Congrats! I do agree with the responses. Your baby in definitely feeling the stress & tension from his Daddy. I would have him much more involved when you 3 are together. I made the mistake of being the one who did most of the daily caring and I barely was able to walk out the door without my babies carrying on. Just makes it difficult on you. I did so appreciate being able to be a stay home mom...but note to old self....let the Dad help! I agree this is not baby sitting. It's just daddy & baby time. When baby fusses let your husband try to console him instead of you and just keep doing it. It's bound to get better. Best of luck'

Do you have aids like a swing or bouncy seat? Soothers?

My husband was really great with our babies, but he found it hard when they were breastfeeding - because sometimes that's all they wanted. My mom would not tell me when the babies were fussy because she didn't want to worry me, and quite frankly, she was expert having been a mom to lots of babies herself and all her grandkids.

Your husband is likely just overwhelmed.

I am guessing the baby either has gas (make sure your hubby really knows how to get a good burp - this was key for us at 3 months), is hungry (is your husband able to get enough milk into the baby? If not, maybe change bottles, styles of how he's holding him, etc.), or baby is not getting enough rest (that's where a bouncy seat can come in handy).

My husband wore one of those carriers with ours. That helped him.