stranger anxiety

My 4 month old daughter has developed stranger anxiety and would cry when someone else picks her up. I'm a little concerned that she will get too clingy. Does anyone have any good advice on how I can help her overcome her anxiety? Thanks!

It is also HEALTHY AND GOOD, it shows she is smart and recognising that you are 'safe' and strangers might not be.


Our baby had that too (I think they all do to some degree) now he is 13 months old and so friendly everyone comments about how he just walks up to people and holds their hand or says hello!

Thanks for the reassurance but her grandparents are heartbroken as she would scream everytime they try to pick her up. Handling grandparents becomes another issue because they are putting the blame on me!

mine used to get that at 8 months, a bad case too as she cried even when she stepped into a roomful of people chatting and laughing. Friends know to whisper and introduce themselves slowly when they enter our home.


Turning point is 1 year old. Not sure if this is the reason but around that time, I brought her to our local libraries (where people were not talking and approaching her) and let her get used to the crowds and other kids. I figured she was home with me too long, just seeing me and no one else. Didn't do much really, she outgrew this perfectly normal phase of development herself.


I totally understand what you mean by the in-laws. My bub was sooooooo anti-social because I hugged her too much, I am being overprotective, I don't allow others to hold her bla bla bla. JUST IGNORE THEM, although my husband helped by having a little chat with his mum asking her politely to butt off our childraising methods.


Good luck.