![]() This affirms them that nothing will happen to them and that you are around to 'protect' them from the stranger. It would help a lot if you held your baby's hand whenever you are introducing them to a stranger. Do not instil fear in them unnecessarily. It is, therefore, important to watch your reaction to situations and people whenever your baby is watching. If the baby sees the mother displays a negative response towards a person, they will pick it up and treat the said person the same way. This may all be attributed to the development of cognitive skills that help the baby tell the difference between familiar people and strangers.Īs part of the baby stranger anxiety model, it has been found that a baby learns most of their behavioural reactions and attitudes from close people like the mother. They may kick their legs, cry loudly and ignore any friendly cues offered by the stranger even if they are the same ones used by their caregiver. Other babies will throw a tantrum, and you can notice the intensity of emotions when approached by a stranger. They may grab their legs and lift their hands, demanding to be picked up. If they can crawl or walk, the baby will quickly go behind the caretaker and place them in the middle to hide away from the stranger. They will have quite a firm grip on the caregiver’s clothes when being passed over to the stranger. Other babies prefer clinging on to their caregivers. If you let the stranger take them, the tears will start coming. You may notice your baby staring at the stranger in fear. Some babies may not cry but will suddenly go quiet and remain so as long as the stranger is around. ![]() They will quickly burst into tears when they notice a new person, especially one who wants to hold them. ![]() The most common symptom of stranger anxiety in babies is crying. Moving on to twelve months, it only gets worse (quite frankly.) If your baby can crawl, they will hastily do so back to your arms if an unfamiliar person comes in their presence. During this time, the anxiety intensifies significantly. It will, therefore, come as a rude surprise to them if they find themselves in the hands or presence of someone who, well, doesn't have your face. You will notice a lot of glare when you are holding the baby: they are marking your face. They become aware of familiar voices, sounds, smells, faces and touch. Most of the time, the baby will cry and throw a tantrum that may not end even when they are taken back into the arms of their ‘protectors.’ As dramatic as it sounds, some babies stop crying as soon as the said stranger walks out of the room.Īt around the age of seven to eight months, babies start registering their environment. As a result, they will actively resist being held by people other than their caretakers. A stranger is perceived as a threat, and the baby starts developing a fear for them. The appearance of a caretaker means good things to them such as warmth, food and protection. They start internalizing the looks of their caretakers and differentiating them and strangers. ![]() They will respond to actions such as smiling, laughing and similar games without paying much attention to the person acting.Īt six months, the baby starts to pay more attention to familiar faces and register them. Up until a baby is around four to six months, they can barely differentiate their caregivers from strangers. It is particularly prevalent amongst children who have experienced abuse or neglect in their early childhood.īEGINNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF STRANGER ANXIETY It can be seen in the hesitation to make friends, play and socialize with other children. If not resolved, it could grow with the child and adversely affect their social life. Stranger anxiety can also be felt even in the presence of a trusted adult, such as a parent or caregiver. Even though the fear of strangers is normal in children, this particular form peaks up between six to twelve months. Stranger anxiety has been described as a form of stress that a baby goes through when they feel the presence of a stranger.
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