- By

Misbah Fathima

Within a few months of birth, a baby learns to recognize their parents and other family members by voice, sight, and scent. Baby forms a unique attachment, particularly with mother.

Throughout the first six months after birth, babies like being carried from one person's arm to another as long as they are full, cozy and comfortable.

Babies also seem to be more interested in other people during these months and will occasionally start cooing, laughing or playing entertaining games like peek-a-boo.

As the newborns become older, they form close bonds with known people and prefer to be around them more frequently.
They become fussy, clinging, scared and start crying when an unfamiliar person holds them or approaches them.

This behavior of your baby is categorized as “stranger anxiety” or “fear of strangers”. 

There are times you can feel embarrassed, thinking that your child is timid or afraid in certain circumstances, or that you're spoiling the child by keeping them close to you all the time and preventing them from interacting with the outside world.

Don’t worry mommies, this phase of your child is perfectly normal.
Fear of strangers is one of the first emotional milestones your baby will develop. According to AAP (American Academy Of Pediatrics) , the anxiety or fear of strangers starts around 8 months of age and they outgrow it by the age of 2 or 3, depending on the child’s development.

 Tips to manage stranger anxiety

1. Give your baby the opportunity to interact with new people from the comfort of your arms or in secure settings like your home.
2. Avoid negative language such as "no" or "don't" and try to find a calm solution.
3. Never ignore your child's fear as this can worsen the situation and make them more anxious.
4. Ask your relatives or visitors to speak in a soft voice or offer their favorite toy/blanket from distance before holding the baby.
5. Always make sure you are present for your child when meeting any new people.
6. Don’t force your baby to hug or sit with a relative, as this can delay the developmental process.
7. If you’ve hired a babysitter, don’t leave your baby by themselves right away. Make sure the baby is comfortable before you leave them.
   
8. Infants closely observe our behavior, so be sure to be cordial and convey to your child that this person is trustworthy and secure.
9. Toddlers and children older than 2 years old should be encouraged to be independent so they feel at ease with family or friends. They should also be allowed to eat on their own, explore new play areas, sleep on their own, and amuse themselves with toys.

Between the ages of 12 and 15 months, stranger fear frequently peaks, then gradually decreases as your child gets older.

It can be challenging and difficult to both the parents and the child to deal with stranger anxiety.

Seeing your clinging, moody, and socially uncomfortable youngster can make you feel annoyed.

Try to be patient, give them hugs and comfort, keep your optimism, and support them as much as you can till your child outgrows it.