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Your newborn baby at birth is not able to differentiate who his parents are. He doesn't mind who is holding him as long as his needs are met. At 1 week, your baby starts to recognize his mother and this is his beginning to show preference for his parents to attend to his needs. He may not issue any protest at being handled by strangers initially. However, when he sees you and realizes that someone else unfamiliar is carrying him, he starts to cry. A newborn is able to smell his mother and prefers to be with her. The mother soothes away stranger anxiety. The baby's sense of security returns when his mum is carrying him.
When your baby is 3 months old, he loses his confidence with strangers. He will cry if he sees a new face. This is because he feels insecure and worried with a stranger. This is a normal developmental stage in babies. Sometimes, you can find your baby laughing in response to a stranger's smiles and cooing. However, she will immediately cry if that same stranger tries to carry her. Your baby feels threatened when her sense of security is invaded by a stranger's hold of her. Sometimes, it all depends on the individual's approach to the baby. Babies are frightened by loud noises. If the stranger is a man, your baby is likely to draw back in fear.
Parents can help the baby cope with his stranger anxiety. Whenever your baby cries at the sight of a stranger, do something to reassure him that everything's fine. Hold him and introduce him to the new face. He needs some time to get used to a new friend. When he is confident enough, he may even allow the new friend to hold his hand without bursting into tears.
A baby needs to gain confidence in handling meetings with strangers. When you help him face up to new faces, he will get used to making new friends. He will not cry with strangers anymore.
When your baby is 6 months old, he will again be upset if you leave him with someone like a babysitter. Although he knows the babysitter, his preference of caregiver is still his mother or father. He faces separation anxiety. However, he will learn that his mother will return for him after some time. Separation anxiety is common for even toddlers at Playskool.
At 9 months to 1 year old, your baby gains mobility and may even try to move away from strangers. Parents need to have patience and start the introduction and familiarization process to the baby to get him used to the new friend. Some babies adapt faster and get over stranger anxiety. Others take time to accept new faces. It is bets to go along with the baby's developmental stage and help him cope with new situations and new friends.
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