Why does my baby hate cosleeping?

[Leapinglizzard]

Hello, my baby boy is 9mo now, and has always hated cosleeping with me (or dad) the moment I lay him next to me, he screams and cries. I try to snuggle him in and calm him but he still screams and cries. It’s like he doesn’t recognise this as a closeness. He wants to be held. If I pick him up and hold him he is calm. He has always slept in a next to me cot before so had his own space, now he is in a temporary travel cot on the floor next to our bed whilst we finish his room to transition him into there. I’m fine with not cosleeping, it’s just there are times when it would be nice to be able to cuddle him in and have that closeness. He is unwell at the moment and hard to settle so now would be the perfect time but he is inconsolable next to me, I have to pick him up. He’s always been an awful napper from about 3 weeks old. Sleep has never been easy generally, but night time now, I usually feed to sleep, then lay him down in his cot. It just seems most people talk about their babies loving cosleeping and it bringing them calm but mine hates it! Is that normal? I can’t find much info on this behaviour.

My DN was the same, has always just liked her own space. Be careful of what you wish for though, if you have another you might not be able to get them out if your bed

As for the naps, have you tried The No Cry Nap Solution? Obviously though, don't try anything like this when he's unwell

My daughter was similar and always liked her own space. Even now at 4 she will sometimes wake in the night and come into our bed for a quick cuddle, but will always then choose to go back to her own bed! I always used to worry if this was normal, but I can confirm that she has grown into a very normal and loving child.