Comments on: How to Deal With Stranger Anxiety in Babies

on 11/2/2008 My 4 month old get upset when someone she isn't around much even LOOKS at her. Even if it's her grandparents. She only really will allow me, my husband and my best friend to hold her. It's extremely embarassing. Also, my and my husband's family member will argue with me when I tell them that she needs a minute and doesn't like to be held by anyone else. Then they pretty much grab her out of my arms and she screams and is upset the entire outing and ruins it for both of us....HELP!

on 9/20/2008 I will take any advice right now. My daughter is 8 months old, she doesn't like anyone except for me, my husband, and our other 2 children. Mainly she always wants me, and I can NEVER leave her view with out her screaming and getting anxious. I need some time with just me and my husband what do I do about this? Is this because she was in the NICU for a month after she was born, or is this normal? My other 2 children never experienced this.

on 9/17/2008 I get along with children very well and the suggestion to avoid initial eye contact and making a big fuss over the child is very important when you're approaching a child. Small children don't want you to approach them, they want to approach you when they're ready. My daughter gets very upset with some people because they approach her first and I've had some relatives where they just grab her out of my arms and want to hold them (they don't mean to be disruptive -- I know they're just excited to see her) but it has the opposite effect that they're looking for and she gets VERY upset.

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

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.

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!

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.