https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 08 Aug 2026 19:49:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-364029 Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:13:52 +0000 sarac 364029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also want to say that your baby's attachment to you isn't likely to be impacted by casual stuff like this. A stay at home parent (especially if you breastfeed) just has a different relationship to a baby than one who is not the full time caretaker. I see how differently attached my niece (in full time daycare) is to her mother. Taking a baby out to meet people and do fun things is awesome and great, but it isn't likely to change the way they need you.</p> <p>Some times I feel overwhelmed by the extent to which my toddler needs me and just me. It's a lovely thing, but it can be draining. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363996 Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:05:31 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 363996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated - Reading your words... it's like looking in a mirror. Your baby sounds just like mine... N has always been incredibly shy with people outside our immediate family.... and though sometimes I wish she would be more willing to go to others, or happy when she sees new faces... it just doesn't come as naturally for her. She is quite socialized too, but still not as warm to others as most babies seem to be! We have plenty of playdates, we go to a church with a great children's ministry, and she is even now attending preschool regularly. I think a lot of it has to do with nature, and I've learned to embrace that and just be patient with her. I find myself "justifying" her actions a lot to others too and feel like I have to explain that she is a totally different person at home, but I do think she will eventually grow more and more comfortable with others... it'll just take her a little longer than most. Hang in there - she's still so young and just continue to make an active effort to introduce her to new faces, but don't be too discouraged if she still tends to be a certain way!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363991 Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:41:47 +0000 honeybear 363991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you take her on errands etc with you then she's probably seeing more faces and getting more casual, if brief, interaction with others than you think. :) Sounds like you're doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363380 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:16:58 +0000 Freckles 363380@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sammyfab: i sometimes wonder if it's because they can smell my desperation to meet new mommy friends! i wish LO smirked at people. haha LO gets so quiet when she's around strangers...i feel like i always have to defend her quietness and insist she's normally not like that!</p> <p>@sarac: i met a great group through the hospital's new mom's group but we meet every two weeks or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363220 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:50:05 +0000 Sammyfab 363220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry your neighbourhood isn't the friendliest! And I totally hear you about having to work around naptimes. We miss a lot of baby&amp;me drop-ins because they almost always interfere with his afternoon nap. We do run errands everyday and my LO is always making faces and smirking at people when we're out and about so I think that's helping with his mega-attachment to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363164 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:21:09 +0000 sarac 363164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try the library, or any bookstore with a story hour. Meetup.com has parent's groups. The hospital where I delivered (and many) have new parent groups. At that age, you should just be able to go to coffee shops or restaurants for your own enjoyment and get her a little change of pace. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363058 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:25:35 +0000 Freckles 363058@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MungBean: Yup, they all seem to be around LO's naptimes! I'm happy that swimming lessons start next week though. One less thing for me to plan! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363044 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:14:25 +0000 pinkcupcake 363044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated: It's so hard to work library times/play group times with nap schedules :( We just missed our reading time today b/c it interfered w/her nap. It seems like they schedule most activities right smack in the middle of popular naptimes. We missed both of her mommy &amp; me classes this week, too :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-363018 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:57:52 +0000 Freckles 363018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: my neighbourhood is not as friendly as i had hoped it would be! i once had someone cross the street so as not to have to talk to me, and another time someone walked in another direction as i was about to approach her. </p> <p>@Cole: i missed library time this morning because of her nap but took her anyways. i just laid her down and she just watched all the other kids run around. baby steps!</p> <p>@chopsuey119: her personality hasn't changed too much, but i feel like exposing her to more faces will help any separation anxiety i'm fearing is starting to happen.</p> <p>@Mrsbells: gymboree schedule isn't the greatest, but there's a dance studio i try to frequent. now that her naps are getting better again, i'm going to make a bigger effort to go!</p> <p>@MungBean: i definitely try to get out of the house once a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-362899 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:03:48 +0000 pinkcupcake 362899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe you could just try taking her out on random errands during the day? Even if we don't have any baby classes/playdates scheduled during the day, I try to take L out daily to the mall, Target, etc so she'll see some different faces and get some fresh air. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-362824 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:36:21 +0000 Mrsbells 362824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caffeinated: Do you have a gymboree near you or any other play places for chidlren, that might be a great way for you baby to socialize with others </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-362813 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:29:01 +0000 chopsuey 362813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't take my LO on very many play dates, and she saw maybe a handful of different faces during her 1st year of life.She's naturally a very friendly and social baby though so we never had to deal with stranger anxiety and separation anxiety.<br /> If you're noticing that your LO's personality changes when she's around strangers, i would definitely make an effort to take her out more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-362777 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:12:17 +0000 Cole 362777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is hard when they are that little but I do think it is a hid idea to get then around people. Some things I have done are scout out free story times (libraries and book stores)-if they are free I don't feel badly about missing it if baby is sleeping, just visit the library- here mid morning and after school there are always kids around, I would lady them on a blanket and read books, often an older kid well come over to check out the baby or read a story. We have a toddler park nearby so we will hit it up for the swings and a trip down the slide before they are mobile. Some coffee shops have play areas so even though your baby might not get a kick out of the toys yet they might love getting to see the other kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-362754 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 11:02:32 +0000 Honeybee 362754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's great to start socializing your baby early and to help her get used to other people. Seeing other people and interacting with other people is an important social skill!</p> <p>Do you live in a friendly neighborhood? I know we can't go for a walk without meeting one of our neighbors for a quick chat, and I think it's really helped DD's shyness (DS doesn't need any help, lol. He's the most social kid I've ever met!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/socializing-babies#post-362613 Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:53:46 +0000 Freckles 362613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lately i've been concerned about LO's lack of interaction with different faces. I don't have too many friends who are on mat leave right now, and the group i see will usually get together every two weeks. Since i'm very protective about her nap schedule, i end up missing baby classes (e.g., intellidance, library time, etc.) and will only wake her up if she's near the end of a nap. </p> <p>We're a 4 hour plane ride away from our parents and friends, and i know that if we were back home she'd have constant interaction with different people. Now that she's getting older (she's 6.5 months), i notice that she gets super quiet and serious when she's around new people. I feel like if DH and i are the only faces she sees, it will negatively effect her development, and worsen any attachment issues she has with me.</p> <p>Am i wrong to think this way? Is anyone else going through this? My goal starting from today is to have her interact with someone (other than her parents) at least every other day! </p>