We all love to cuddle with our little ones and soak up that sweet, warm baby feel. But what if our child does not reciprocate? What if they don't feel comfortable around this physical contact? When does a parent know whether this is simply a personality issue or an indication of something more serious?

"Having a baby that is less than 'sweet and cuddly' probably never crossed the minds of expectant parents," says Dr. Michelle Terry, a pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital and clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington School Of Medicine. "Yet just like hair colors and textures, a baby is born with his or her basic temperament." This temperament may dictate whether a child is independent or clingy, outgoing or shy, affectionate or not.

Wendy Cebula, a mom from New York, N.Y., recalls when her daughter was in the neonatal intensive care unit as an infant. The nurses told her to spend a lot of time talking to her daughter and touching her through the incubator. "But whenever I did, it seemed to cause her stress," says Cebula. "So I hung around quietly."

Now at age 9, Cebula's daughter is still rather wiry and tense and prefers not to have lots of physical contact. "She is a great kid and affectionate in many ways, just not snuggly," Cebula says.

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