Reassure me this is just a phase?

[MonkeyPetal]

My 14mo only ever contact napped until 10.5 months old. He mainly slept well at night but would need to be fed or cuddled to sleep until about 11 months before we managed to convince him he didn’t need a bottle to sleep. He would still only fall asleep while being cuddled though. He started nursery a month ago and he now settles himself to sleep there with his comforter. I’m really sad though because when I’m doing bedtime he will scream and arch his back if I cuddle him and will want to be put in his cot to settle himself. DH however is still allowed to cuddle him to sleep - which makes me feel even worse!
I feel so sad - I can’t believe I might never cuddle my baby to sleep again 😩 please tell me it’s just a phase!

There's always going to be the day that they don't need cuddles to sleep. He is telling you that he wants to self settle. Let him! My 2 never really managed to self settle. They are now 6 and 4, and although I don't cuddle them to sleep, I still need to be in the room. So unless you want bedtime to always take up so much time, I'd let him fall asleep on his own. There will always be times they have a sleepy cuddle with illnesses etc.

I don’t think it would feel as bad if he didn’t happily let daddy cuddle him - what’s all that about?!

Your baby loves you. He doesn’t prefer his dad. He feels happy and content with you both.