Babies: 3 - 6 Months

Stranger Anxiety

My LO is 5 months and for the past month she has really started not liking anyone but me and DH. She not only doesnt want to be held by others, but if someone looks at her funny or for too long, she starts crying. I am a SAHM, but I work out of my hous so MIL and my dad watch her one day a week and its a mess. She does OK with my dad b/c he is so low key, but when my MIL is here, it's hard b/c she so wants to cuddle and play and LO always ends up losing it. Family get togethers are so stressful b/c of it too. I am completely at a loss on how to help LO get more comfortable with others. I know part of it is on people to calm their a$$ down around her, but sometimes even just a smile from someone will set her off. Anyone else going through this or STMs have any tips?

Re: Stranger Anxiety

  • DD has her witching time during the evening and usually she only wants me. Thankfully its slowly getting better. I would say keep doing the exposure to other people. Maybe she will out grow it soon. Good luck!
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  • MrsWindyCityMrsWindyCity member
    edited September 2013
    Unfortunately, there is not a lot you can do. My DS1 had SA BADLY. It was awful because we don't live near family or see them all that often and when we did, he was so so miserable and all they wanted to do was hold/play with him since they rarely saw him. I just told everyone to please back off and be relaxed around him. If he wanted to go to them, he would. DS1 always liked people who were more relaxed - like you said - not the people who were all up in his face. People that sort of sat back and approached him more gently were the ones he had less issue with (this seems to mostly be men in my family too, lol). He had SA for a good 6 months. It was tough. He's still a pretty introverted kid, but he is much more willing to go to people and loves everyone in our families and is excited to see them.
  • My LO is going through the same thing at 4.5 months.  When I asked her dr about it at the 4 month appointment he said she was too young for Separation Anxiety -- but I don't believe him.  She is definitely aware of unfamiliar faces and cries when anyone else but me or DH or my mom holds her.  We have an adults-only wedding this weekend where we have to leave LO with my SIL (who she has not spent that much time with) and I have mega-anxiety about it.  My SIL has 2 kids and is GREAT and is super capable.  I just worry that LO will cry for the whole 24 hours!  It's also our first time away from her overnight.  Oye!  I'll take any suggestions, too!
  • Not a lot you can do. That is just part of her personality. My 1st was like that. I couldnt hand her off to anyone and if someone at the store even looked at her in her carrier she cried. She is 3 and much better now, but is still wary of new people, places, and things amd is definitely not a risk taker. She takes awhole to get used to new places amd people.
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