My Baby Cries at New Faces (How to Deal with Stranger Anxiety!)

What if a baby cries at new faces? Is this normal? And what can be done to stop it?

Pin
Question:
My baby is 7 months old. He is terrified when going to new places and cries a lot when seeing new faces. I just want to know how I can settle him.

Thank you

How to Deal with Stranger Anxiety in Babies

When a baby cries at new faces, it is likely that he or she has a bit of stranger anxiety. A lot of babies go through this at around the age of 7-10 months, and it is a completely normal developmental phase. At this age, they are becoming more aware of their surroundings and also more aware of themselves as being a separate person from their mother. Scary! Add to that that they have really bonded with their nearest family or caregivers and are truly making a difference between “us” and “them”. “Them” are all these new people that your baby feels insecure about and doesn’t want to or dare to be near. 

So, stranger anxiety is a sign of development, nothing else!

Here are some tips on how to deal with the situation to help your baby:

• If you feel at all tense or ashamed of your baby’s reactions, work on letting go of those negative feelings! Babies are very sensitive to our feelings – if you are nervous, your baby will feel even worse.
• Realize that this is a natural and even positive reaction as it means that your baby is developing into a higher degree of self-awareness.
• Go slowly with introducing your baby to strangers during this phase. Don’t ever push your baby into being held by someone that makes him or her scared.
• Ease your baby into being comfortable around people by asking them to sit around your child but not engage with the child until he initiates to engage.
• If possible, let your baby meet the same strangers several times so he or she can learn to feel secure around more and more people.
• Try to be happy and smile around strangers to signal to your baby that everything is fine.
• Remember that the more you respond to your baby’s needs to be with you and close to you right now, the sooner this phase will pass.

Thrusting your child into a stranger’s arms, hoping they will get used to the person, usually won’t work and is likely to be very counterproductive. Your baby will ease into being more social; don’t worry, just give him time!

I hope this helps!
Paula

More On Stranger Anxiety In Babies

• Baby Screaming At Strangers
• Anger And Stranger Anxiety In 4 Month Old
• 7 Month Development Milestones And Games To Play

Find comments below.

Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.