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Stranger Anxiety in Babies and Toddlers - Signs and Tips to Deal with It
In the process of growing up, your baby will start recognising who his caretakers are and will generally be extremely aware of whose presence he is in. But the fear of strangers in babies is also what might be observed around this time. A child needs to feel safe and secure no matter the age he is at, and the presence of an unknown face might make him feel like there’s a danger associated with it.
What Is Stranger Anxiety?
For a 2-year-old, stranger anxiety might be a condition you would immediately associate him with, but it is necessary to know what exactly can be termed as stranger anxiety in the first place.
Stranger anxiety is a form of distress babies, and toddlers feel when they are exposed to people unfamiliar to them. This is a good milestone marker for your child’s growth since it relates to the proper development of memory and recognition. The degree of anxiety varies from child to child, some being extremely shy or fearful, while others just feeling a wee bit weird.
Why are Young Children Afraid of Strangers?
Young children are just getting used to the people taking care of them, and wish those to be the only permanent members around them. When this image of his parents starts getting immortalised in his brain, the presentation of a new image causes dissonance within, leading them to start feeling the fear of abandonment, making them sad and fearful of a stranger.
How Long Does Stranger Anxiety Last In a Child?
There is no specific baby stranger anxiety age to demarcate how long it tends to last. As it starts around the age of 6 months or so, it reaches its prominence in the following months and then fades away depending on the frequency of interactions. Girls seem to be better in this regard while boys might take up to 2 years to get comfortable with strangers.
Symptoms of Stranger Anxiety In Infants and Toddlers
The signs of stranger anxiety being present in your child are not hard to spot, and can generally be observed whenever social interactions are taking place. These are seen in the following conditions.
Apprehension when interacting with other kids
Seeing an unknown person or guest at a home
The stranger making attempts to get closer
The person dressed in a different manner
Being alone in a room with the person
Breathing rapidly to calm down
Running around the house looking for you
Hiding behind an object
Facing away from the stranger
Moving to the other side of the room
Getting too fussy
Start crying uncontrollably
Common Problems Associated with Stranger Anxiety
Handling a baby with stranger anxiety can pose numerous issues to you as well as the other person. Excited relatives might feel rejected on seeing a kid behave in this manner, while parents might have a hard time in getting him used to babysitters or the caretakers at a creche.
How To Help Your Child To Feel Comfortable Around Strangers?
There are a few simple ways stranger anxiety can be reduced, and your child can gradually made to feel comfortable around a person or a similar environment.
Let The New Person Cooperate
Allow the new person to interact with the child from a distance by talking to him or playing peek-a-boo or other games to get his guards down
Inform The Person Beforehand
If your child is meeting someone new, let them know that he has trouble dealing with new people right away. This will help them control their actions accordingly and not approach the child directly.
Maintain Your Presence
Your child will feel much more secure if you are in the same room or in his sight while the stranger is present. Interacting with the new person together can make his anxiety fade away.
Be Patient
Stranger anxiety will not fade away within a day or a week. Your child will take his own time to develop his courage and get used to new people. Allow him to do so.
Acknowledge His Fear
Don’t brush away his concerns or behaviour. Let him know you understand his feelings by not forcing him to interact and supporting him when needed.
Empathize With Your Child
If your little one has an extreme case of stranger anxiety, do your best to reduce those interactions in the early stages. Don’t put him in a position that might trigger it.
Can You Prevent Stranger Anxiety In Young Children?
Severe stranger anxiety in toddlers is quite rare, but that leads parents to wonder if they can prevent it altogether. Pushing them in uncomfortable scenarios and engaging them to interact might seem sensible, but it isn’t always so. Children take their own time in getting used to the world, and there’s no way you can prevent it. It can worsen if you scold your child for expressing what he feels.
The fear of strangers in toddlers is not irrational and is a natural consequence of the way we all grow up as human beings. Stepping out of the comfort zone and coming to terms with the unknown requires time, and your child will do in his own good time. Support him through the phase, and he will very soon be interacting with numerous people in multiple ways.
Also Read: Dealing With Separation Anxiety in Babies Read more
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Magic Sensory Bottle
Ready to tickle your toddlers senses with this sparkling magical bottle?
Children are always amused by shiny and sparkly objects. These magical sensory bottles will be fun to create and admire afterwards too. They are really easy to create and sharpen your toddler's sensory skills too.
You Will Need
Glass or plastic bottle
Water
Glycerin of baby oil
Glitter
Step-by-step Instructions
1.Add water to the water bottle
2. Pour about 20 drops of baby oil or glycerin into the bottle.
3. Add the glitter to the bottle and shut the bottle tight.
4. Shake the bottle and observe the magic!
Messiness Score
6
Parental Involvement
Medium
Level Of Difficulty
Medium
Skills Enhanced
Sensory Skills
You Will Observe Your Child Doing
Shaking the bottle vigourously to observe the bubbles forming.
So, go on make the magic happen with this sparkling sensory bottle! Read more
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Encouraging Young Children to Play Independently With Toys
Many toddlers get into the habit of playing only with others and never alone. Encouraging independent play in toddlers is essential for the child to create and explore. Invest in a few toys that you can give to your child one at a time to encourage them to play independently.
As a parent, you cannot spend each and every minute with your child playing, even if you are a stay-at-home parent. Independent play for toddlers helps the child build creativity and critical thinking. Studies suggest that children who start to play with a new toy on their own are more likely to discover what the toy can do than when a teacher or an adult explains it to them.
5 Tips to Encourage Toddlers to Play Alone With His Toys
1. Start gradually
Independent play doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to leave your child alone in a room. You can sit quietly in a corner in the room watching your child as he plays without interfering, unless they ask for your help. Once the child is absorbed in play, you can move out of the room and keep checking on him at intervals.
2. Praise generously
Encourage your child to play independently by praising him when they play alone. It’s a milestone that they have achieved, and your praise encourages them to play alone more often. Even if they play with a toy in a way that is different, encourage them. For example, if they use train tracks to build a bridge do let them know that what they’ve done is very interesting and don’t forget the praise.
3. Start young
Generally, more than the child it's the parents who're happy to play with the child all the time. In their zeal to focus all their energy on the child, parents teach the child to be dependent on them for playtime and entertainment. Let the child play alone for sometime without interruption. In this manner, the child can get used to playing alone as he/she gets older.
4. Appropriate toys
To encourage independent play in your child, it's important to get the right toys. Pick those that encourage them to think creatively and use their imagination, rather than toys that just need a push of a button. Toys such as blocks, tea sets, and kitchen sets, dollhouses, train sets and play dough encourage a child to use their imagination.
5. Limit screen time
Very often when parents are occupied in their own chores and work, they switch on the television for their child or hand him a smartphone to play with. While these gadgets let the child play without disturbing you, they're not doing much in terms of helping his development. Rather than putting your child in front of a screen, hand them a piece of paper and crayon to scribble with.
Encouraging independent play in 13 months old baby may seem like a tough task, especially if your toddler is clingy and wants your attention all the time. Doing it slowly and patiently is the trick. However, don’t overwhelm your child with too many new toys at once, as it will just make the child feel distracted. Get your child one toy at a time, so you can extract the maximum potential from the child, and the toy. Read more
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Child Tantrums - How to Deal With Toddler Meltdowns in Public
You just have to remember that there isn't anything to be stressed out about. I know that in recent years parents have been made to feel responsible for every single thing their children do, but in reality, your child's behavior is often NOT a reflection on you.
Toddlers have tantrums. They are demanding. As the parent, you aren't the reason your kid has a tantrum and there's actually very little you can do to prevent your kid from going through this phase. So, don't stress out. Stay calm. Ignore anyone around you who stares, sighs, makes snide comments or implies that your child is spoiled. Try not to feel embarrassed.
If you can let go of these kinds of feelings, you can focus more on minimising the tantrums and helping to put a quick end to this normal phase of child development.
A toddler with tantrums is one thing; an older child with tantrums is a whole different ball game. To ensure this behaviour doesn't trickle past toddlerhood, tackle it early.
Firstly, avoid putting your toddler in situations where a tantrum is more likely. Avoid running errands when your child is tired or hungry. Break up errands so that you aren't spending hours with your toddler confined to a car seat, stroller, or shopping cart.
At home, make sure your child is getting enough sleep, sticks to a regular routine most of the time, and gets plenty of activity. Limit television and other screen time. Let your child make small choices when possible. For example, "Do you want to wear the blue shirt or the green? Do you want apples or pears with lunch?" Allow for extra time between transitions; toddlers don't like to suddenly stop what they're doing to eat, sleep, or leave the house. Give him a few minutes' warning time. If you see your child starting to get angry or frustrated, try to talk him through it. Help him learn words for how he feels and give him acceptable ways to express himself. Use distraction, hugs, and positive reinforcement to try to prevent the tantrum. Often, children have meltdowns because they cannot express themselves yet.
If your child's tantrums come from being told 'no', find a way to say no without actually using the word no. You're in a store and he wants the ice cream; say, "We'll have ice cream at Grandma's house tomorrow," or whatever else works. If he wants a toy, tell him he might get it for his birthday.
Despite your best efforts, tantrums will happen. Relax, and ignore it as much as you can. If you're in a public place, you may have to take the child outside or to the car. If you have only one chance to finish your grocery shopping and simply can't leave without toilet paper, let your kid sit in the cart and wail. This will annoy the other shoppers, but sometimes that's just going to have to be what happens. Do your best to ignore the tantrum. Do not pay attention to the child and above all else, do not give in to what the child wants. The same goes for tantrums at home. As long as the child isn't hurting himself or damaging anything, ignore the tantrum. Walk out of the room. If the tantrum involves screaming, put him in his room. Tell him, "You're too loud and it hurts my ears. You can come out when you're done yelling."
If your child learns that having a tantrum means he'll get his way, he will continue to use it as a tool and you'll be stuck with tantrums long after the phase should have passed. Be patient, be consistent, and don't give in to easy fixes that reward tantrums. If you feel stressed, remind yourself that winning this battle of wills now is much easier than when your child is 5, 12, or 17 years old.
Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions (including content in any form) expressed within this post are those of the author alone. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The responsibility for intellectual property rights of this content rests with the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with him/her. Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
Can we have sex during pregnancy and is it safe?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. okay no problem if you don't have any risk factors ko. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
3 hours ago
Q. Dr meri baby 12 month running hai uska weight 6 kg hai uska growth nahi ho pa Raha hai to kya kare or over active hai
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. ok see c. if the baby is not having proper height and weight it means that baby is having failure to thrive baby needs investigations like TSH and other related test to find out the reason
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
3 hours ago
Q. mere twins baby hai boy nd girl one month 8 days when I check eye and ear which month
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
3 hours ago
A. For the query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Online consultation can also be taken jjand the expert will give you the proper answer .
Ankita Mehta has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. is white discharge in 8th month normal?
Ankita Mehta
Mom of a 8 yr 7 m old girl
1 hour ago
A. hi
yes
but if it is too thick or clear like water,if there other symptoms like itching, irritation, redness,foul smell from vagina, please visit your gynecologist
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
1 hour ago
Q. My son is 5 months old is suffering from cough..what to do?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
12 mins ago
A. give nasal saline drops every few hourly to the child in the nasal cavity.
try to prevent temperature variations around the child
you can go for indirect steam inhalation which will again help in decreasing both cough and cold
continue the regular diet of the child
if there is no improvement in few days then meet your doctoru
for fever and pain give paracetamol.u
anti-cold medicines at this age have got side effects so can be given only after medical consultation.
POOJA KOTHARI has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
1 hour ago
Q. hi. in Feb my period was last and I did pregnancy test in March its positive results but my belly is not being bigger
POOJA KOTHARI
Mom of a 7 yr 1 m old boy
40 mins ago
A. Typically, your bump becomes noticeable during your second trimester. Between 16-20 weeks, your body will start showing your baby's growth. For some women, their bump may not be noticeable until the end of the second trimester and even into the third trimester. The second trimester starts in the fourth month.
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