9 month old isn’t affectionate and it’s making me sad. Will it ever change?

Question

I’m a mommy to a beautiful 9 month old who is an independent and go-go-go baby. She’s not very affectionate and it’s starting to make me a little depressed. Even my husband commented today saying he just wants a hug or something. She does smile at us a lot and always gets excited to see us and my husband when he comes home from work. She occasionally will lean in for a kiss but no hugs and isn’t very snuggly. She usually loves to be crawling and trying to walk. Did anyone else go through this and does it ever get better?

Answer

Mine isn’t overly affectionate, he is 2 now, but when he does agree to a hug, kiss or say I love you I feel so confident that it’s genuine. I don’t think there is a more genuine love then that of toddlers - if they do it they really want it. I think it’s about a reframe in your thoughts, her smiles and excitement are her affection right now, she is genuinely happy and eventually hopefully you will get hugs and kisses too

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Yes! My daughter was never naturally “affectionate”, but the more she’s shown love and time goes on she is becoming so sweet and affectionate! She’s still independent and chooses when to be cuddly.

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This was my baby. She just turned 3 and is really starting to get affectionate. She just didn’t have time for us before! Now she wants a snuggle fest every night before bed.

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She's 9 months old! Give her a break! She's got so much to learn about the world and so little life experience. That sounds like really high expectations of an infant.

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My son is like that too, he's almost 9 months

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My middle son hates physical affection. He's 22 months old. It's hard because he is so cute and I want to kiss his chubby little cheeks all the time, but I don't because he HATES it. But he is also developmentally delayed and according to his therapist, has some red flags for autism, but is too young to be evaluated for it. 
And one of mine is the snuggliest kid ever. He's three. He gives hugs and kisses all day to me, my husband, and his brothers. Now, I do recall him going through a period where he didn't like hugs and kisses. But I can't recall what age he was when he went through it. I know it was younger than a year old though. So there may be hope for your little one to be snuggly yet.

Answer

My son was never the snuggly type.. and would do the same when seeing his daddy get home. But now he’s 3.5 and loves to give kisses and hugs when he says bye to people (only the ones we say to give kiss to) 🤣

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Totally normal. Wait a year, it gets better.

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I feel like once they start crawling they get less affectionate.  My son only wants snuggles when he’s hungry or sleepy.  He crawls over to me and goes up, up, up,.  That’s enough for me :).

9 month old isn’t affectionate and it’s making me sad. Will it ever change?

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