Stranger Anxiety
When your baby is a newborn, he does not have a sense of self. Essentially, he thinks that you are he and he is you. He smiles at the feet and hands he sees waving without realizing that they are his own. As your baby grows and becomes more aware, he gradually begins to figure out that he’s his own little person with his own body, emotions, and thoughts. He finally starts to understand that you are the ones who care for him, his mommy and daddy (exciting!) When this happens, your baby may become anxious when another person tries to hold him (even grandma). This is actually a good sign!
Though it may be frustrating when grandma visits and wants to hold her grandchild only to have him meltdown in her arms, your baby is showing you that he understands the difference between mommy and everybody else. Many people confuse stranger anxiety and separation anxiety, and while they are similar, separation anxiety doesn’t normally begin to occur until around 6 or 7 months, and tends to come and go in waves. However stranger anxiety may begin as early as 5 months of age.
Stranger anxiety is a great sign that you and your newborn are bonding. Your baby knows the difference between you and a stranger, and he prefers you! You may notice that your baby becomes more clingy and anxious when faced with ‘strangers,’ even if they are familiar faces, like your next door neighbor or even grandma.
Here are a few things that you can do to help your baby be comfortable with new visitors and caregivers.
Be Friendly
Your baby is learning social cues from you, so make sure that you demonstrate how much you like and trust this new person before you hand her over to be held.
Don’t Stress
If your baby has a meltdown while someone is holding her, don’t get upset. Apologize, explaining that your baby is currently experiencing some stranger anxiety, and calmly take your baby back into your arms to soothe her.
Take Extra Time
The first time you leave your baby with a new caregiver, take a few extra minutes to play with your baby and the new caregiver. This allows your baby some time to adjust to this new person before you dash out the door.
Give Fair Warning
If you know that your baby is currently experiencing stranger anxiety, inform family and friends who may want to come visit. Let them know that they will need to be accommodating, and they may not be able to hold your baby as much as they would like.
Always Say Goodbye
Your baby may not be able to speak yet, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t understand that you’re leaving. Saying goodbye, and reassuring him that mommy (or daddy) will be back helps build trust, even at this early stage. When you do leave, make sure that you leave quickly to avoid triggering a meltdown.
Keep Trying
It may take your baby awhile to adjust to a new person or new environment, so make sure that you are persistent. Eventually, he will know that this person loves and cares for him, too.
The best thing you can do for your baby is to continue to help him meet new people and have new experiences. This will help him get used to being around people besides mom and dad. Stranger anxiety is usually short-lived, so have patience and be persistent.