https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 21 May 2026 10:18:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998301 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 06:48:39 +0000 heffalump 998301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO started at 4 months. She also didn't like anyone but DH and I holding her..... but my mom was not ok with that and happened to have to stay for us for a weekend soon after it started because DH had to go out of town. LO got used to her that weekend and she would let her pick her up too. But she saw her other grandparents, aunt, and uncle weekly at least and she still didn't let them pick her up for a very long time. She still won't let strangers (not real strangers, friends of ours that she doesn't know well) pick her up. She's 2 :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998291 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 06:45:11 +0000 Mrs. Tricycle 998291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we just hit this around 8 months. Suddenly he whimpers when someone else holds him that he's unfamiliar with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998246 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:59:29 +0000 rachiecakes 998246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Never. He'll go to anyone at anytime, it scares me! (He's 20 months) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998241 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 05:54:05 +0000 SleepyMonkey 998241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>around 4.5 months. i'd be holding her and someone new would start just talking to her and her face would crumple and big tears would follow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998054 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 00:11:02 +0000 googly-eyes 998054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think maybe 6m? I try to have her around people more (which is a little difficult as a sahm) and be smiling and upbeat during those interactions. Babies look to their caregiver to see how they should react to a situation, so I try to let her see that I trust/like people, and she seems to as well. Some babies just have more stranger anxiety than others though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998052 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 00:09:25 +0000 shopaholic 998052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so scared of this phase! I hear it commonly hits at 6 months, and was so for our nephews. We'll be at a family wedding for a long weekend when she turns 6 months and everyone will be sad if she suddenly develops it. </p> <p>FWIW, my BFF's daughter basically had stranger anxiety (even with her grandparents who baby-sat every weekend) since 1 month old. It always took her a couple of hours to be comfortable and re-acquaint herself with them. She was much better at her own house though, than anywhere else. So hopefully, even if your LO has it, she'll warm up after a little bit when they come to visit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-998048 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 00:02:39 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 998048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD has had stranger anxiety her whole life, and has always been clingy! She is just really introverted, shy, and cautious.</p> <p>DS is 5.5 months and will smile at people from afar, but if they hold him he starts crying... so he is starting to exhibit some stranger anxiety.</p> <p>Every baby is different! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997762 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 20:28:20 +0000 jmarionsmith 997762@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my lo started showing stranger anxiety around 3 months and i remember the pediatrician saying it was pretty advanced for his age (umm ok?) </p> <p>her advice was to take him out and socialize him more. i felt like we got out a lot and he had plenty of interaction with people.</p> <p>at 11 months old he is still pretty apprehensive of strangers. he will stare at them, sometimes smile, but absolutely does not want to be held by them. i honestly think that some babies are just more attached to their parents (mom, especially) and that's where they feel safest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997701 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 20:09:29 +0000 sandy 997701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO used to go to anyone and everyone and not really care...and then around 12 months she developed separation/stranger anxiety and would get upset if I left her with other people...even my parents who she sees ar least weekly. It subsided a little and at 18 months it resurfaced worse than ever...and now at almost 21 months she's doing better...she gets nervous around some people and cries if strange men get too close (especially if they have facial hair)...but she does great with friends/family. I heard it's developmental and peaks around age 2 but there are definitely some kids who are unaffected (jealous!) and others who are more affected by stranger anxiety. My friend's baby has no problem being held by anyone...she just loves to be held and will cry if she's put down </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997674 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 19:56:05 +0000 Periwinkle 997674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was thinking about this a lot today, actually. LO is 9 months old (today!) and he has been with his caregiver during the day since 3 months old. I have always wondered if he will develop some kind of separation anxiety from me since he is so used to spending many of his daytime hours with someone else. On one hand, it makes me beyond happy that he is so comfortable with his caregiver, but on the other, makes me feel somewhat sad that maybe he doesn't *miss* me at all during the day.</p> <p>I know that it's better for him to be open to others and to feel safe and comfortable with them. A small part of me just wishes I could be the one to be there with him all day long :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997349 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:57:25 +0000 runsyellowlites 997349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree it really depends on the child! I know alot of friends that had infants that experienced stranger anxiety &amp; for us it didn't hit until 15mths where P cries with most anyone &amp; refuses to go to the nursery. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997341 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:53:34 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 997341@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>7m for a short time and now again at almost 10m. It is worst this time. I would say its *fear*, more like clinginess to me or dh or grandparents. He doesn't *want* to be held by anyone else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997320 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:45:58 +0000 sslm 997320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rawrasaur: Oh maybe that's it!! I hope it passes soon because it's making everyone sad! And my mom is visiting in 3 weeks and I would hate for her to act this way with her too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997314 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:43:42 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 997314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sslm: my best friends' girl has always had stranger anxiety. It just depends on the child. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997271 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:31:13 +0000 rawrasaur 997271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around that time A had a growth spurt that made her clingy and wouldn't let anyone else hold her, but otherwise at 8 months she hasn't experienced true stranger anxiety yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997265 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:30:01 +0000 sslm 997265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: Ack!! Now I am concerned!</p> <p>What can I do about this?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997260 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:28:25 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 997260@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It really didn't start until just recently at 18 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-997254 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 16:25:13 +0000 sslm 997254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm. Seems like my baby is weird? lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996864 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:47:42 +0000 coastmama 996864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 7 months old and will go to anyone with a smile on his face normally.... It scares me a bit. BUT I will say that around 3 months when a lady at my husband's work, and then another lady at church wanted to hold him he started screaming bloody murder.... yet he would go to other people that same day. After talking it out with DH and my mom, I think it was their perfume that triggered LO's anxiety. Crazy? Maybe. :wink: I'm sure any Sunday now when I hand him off in the nursery he's gonna go apesh*t. We'll see though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996839 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:44:19 +0000 LuLu Mom 996839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She had a touch of it at 6 months, but she's definetely momma's girl right now in public. Even DH can't be there, only me. It's just a phase, but I know it's hurting DH's feelings because she used to show him more love! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996805 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:36:44 +0000 Sammyfab 996805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The da he turned 6 months! It was like a switch flipped. Then things got better at 10 months. </p> <p>Now (at 17 months), he is apprehensive around strangers (mainly adults) but he loves kids. He won't readily run into another person's arms and would rather be held by mom or dad if we are around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996798 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:35:42 +0000 sslm 996798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bluebonnet: hmm. LO takes fairly good naps and is a pleasant baby overall, so I don't think it's that. </p> <p>It's weird, she'll smile and laugh at them, but then freak out when they hold her! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996786 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:33:24 +0000 autumnlove 996786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>11 months and 16 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996785 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:33:21 +0000 hilsy85 996785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Much later, maybe around 6 months or so? It is still somewhat present at 9.5 months but once he warms up to people he's friendly, unless he's tired. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996782 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:32:17 +0000 Bluebonnet 996782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sounds nuts, but my LO went through something similar. It turns out she was fussy because she wasn't getting enough sleep during the day. Once we nap trained her, she was a much friendlier baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-your-baby-start-showing-stranger-anxiety#post-996768 Wed, 07 Aug 2013 14:26:50 +0000 sslm 996768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put in behavior but maybe there's a better place?</p> <p>M is 3.5 months old and recently started freaking out if anyone but me or DH holds her. Even the grandparents she sees weekly!! Is this normal? </p>