How To Do Just About Everything
By eHow Parenting Editor
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Stranger anxiety, which starts as early as three months, is a normal, self-protective process. The anxiety should lessen after the first birthday as your child learns to handle new faces.
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Comments
JudyFord said
on 11/6/2007 Hello, My name is Judy Ford and I am the new parenting writer on eHow. and I wanted to respond to your concern about your granddaughter's fear of a male relative. What you describe is natural, known as stranger anxiety. Of course each baby is born with his or her own social style — some are drawn to more exuberant people; others respond better to gentle voices and quiet gestures. Studies show that babies respond best to high-pitched, exaggerated sounds and voices-such as the female voice. Your grandbaby is reacting normally to this man, who is a stranger to her.
Most youngsters react to strangers with neutral reactions, such as a serious, stern, watchful glaring stare. Some babies even look at the new person briefly, then look away a few times before warming up. Stranger and separation anxiety is a normal aspect of baby’s developmental stage and is healthy. The ability to crawl and wal
tarapatiki said
on 9/24/2007 Does anyone have any ideas/suggestions/comments on this situation? My granddaughter, aged 16 months has a fear of one particular person whom she sees usually with her parents present at my house (but also elsewhere) maybe once a month. He is a young male of a different race from us which makes it rather embarressing. My son says she is exposed to other persons of this race periodically so that is not it. She either stares at him non-responsively or turns away from him when we hold her and talk to him. This has gone on since she was very little. We keep saying to him she'll get over it but it appears to be getting worse. Yesterday he held her teddy bear out for her to take and she wouldn't grab it as she does with us.
Anonymous said
on 3/21/2006 My 9 month old has never liked any one to hold her except for me (her mother). She cries when people look at her! I have noticed that she will put up with people if she is strapped in her car seat or stroller. I guess she feels they can't get her that way. Also, I have tried waiting until the end of a visit to try to get her to be held by some one else. I found that if I sit right next to the person and have her half way on my lap and half on theirs she will allow this. Eventually I put her on their lap with me still right there and she will go for this-especially if they have a cool necklace on!
Anonymous said
on 1/26/2006 My friend's daughter was about 18 months old and wouldn't got to anyone. I had not seen her in several months, so I knew she would not want to have anything to do with me. When I went to their home, I greeted my friend who was holding her daughter, but did not look at the little girl. I continued to talk with my friend, but did not make any eye contact with her daughter. After about 15 minutes, her daughter actually reached out for me to hold her, which she hadn't done to anyone else except her father. I think that by not making eye contact with her or trying to talk to her made her feel less threatened.