Dating a man with a child from a previous relationship can be complicated, and you need to walk in with your eyes open. He’s likely to have commitment issues. Unless your guy was married to the woman he has a kid with, he may have problems committing to a serious relationship with you. Having to deal with the turmoil that comes with a baby mama with an ax to grind would make any man afraid of settling down with just one woman, no matter how great she is.

He may still be having a relationship with his baby mama. As any girl who reads this website on a daily basis knows, there are many stories in our forum of women who have gotten into relationships with men only to find out they’re still having sex with their ex. Depending on why his prior union ended, the two may be just friends or friends with benefits. You need to notice how often she appears and what role she really plays in his life now, not just what he claims.

He can only fall "in like" with you. Sometimes men dealing with a baby mama won’t let themselves fall in love with a woman. They look at all women as potential problems, just like their baby mama. So, they’ll fall "in like" with many women, instead of falling in love and settling down with just one woman. It’s their way of staying guarded, but it keeps you stuck on the surface instead of building something deep and secure, no matter how patient you are.

If you see these patterns, don’t ignore them or blame yourself; they are about his unresolved situation, not your worth as a partner. A man who is truly ready for a healthy relationship will deal honestly with his baby mama, set firm boundaries, and show you with consistent actions that you come first. You deserve a partner who isn’t half-tied to the past, but fully present, emotionally available, and willing to choose you openly and consistently.