What to Do When Your Baby Gets Stranger Anxiety
Even very sociable babies can experience stranger anxiety, and this is a normal developmental phase. It typically occurs between months three to six. During this time, two things happen: babies become aware that they are separate beings from their mothers1 and they become more aware of strangers.2 They may exhibit signs of real distress when in the presence of strangers. The best way to alleviate this is:
- When leaving your baby with a sitter, allow about half an hour between her arrival and your departure. During this time, hold and soothe your baby while in the presence of the sitter, so that baby's anxiety of the „stranger' is lessened.
- When guests are over, ask them not to interact with your baby for twenty to thirty minutes so as to give baby time to get used to their presence.
In either case, do not place baby in the sitter or guest's arms immediately, hoping that will help your baby to get over his anxiety faster. He needs time to adjust. Once your baby has been in visual sight of the „stranger' for a while, he will feel more at ease with him or her. Keep in mind that your baby can pick up on your feelings, so the calmer you are, the calmer baby will be.