Stranger Anxiety

When your baby is 7-8 months they may start to show a fear of strangers and sometimes even familiar people. Don't worry this is a normal stage of development that signals your baby has a healthy bond with you! 

 

If your baby is not ready to be held by others, don't force her. Be patient with your baby, give baby lots of time to "warm up" to new people and reassure her that she is safe!

 

 Learn more here 

 

Brain Science for Your Baby

 

Your baby has long preferred special people in her life. But before 7 - 8 months, when you left it was "out of sight, out of mind".   But now that your baby is 7 or 8 months old, she has developed a cognitive (brain) skill called "object permanence".  She can now envision and remember and miss you!  And she doesn't have the language or emotional skills yet to quickly get comfortable with strangers.  

 

Some babies seem to have stranger anxiety than others.  This usually begins to get better between 18 and 24 months.  If it doesn't, it would be good to talk to your pediatrician.
A Baby Buffer Prescription for Your Baby
 
How to deal with stranger anxiety:
Take your baby back and reassure them that they are safe
 
Ask the new person to play and talk softly to your baby while you are holding baby
 
Give your baby time to get used to the new person while you are holding baby
 
Try it again! Slowly encourage your baby to try again.
 
Remember to be patient and respect your baby's natural fear of strangers 

A baby Buffer Prescription for You        

 

Talk to your doctor about a healthy diet, sleep and exercise program for you. When you take care of yourself, you are best able to take care of your baby!

 






 

What Your Baby Can Do - Developmental Milestones 

 

Your baby is changing quickly during this period. Know what to look for to make sure your baby is growing and changing in a healthy way.  Click on the links below for information from the CDC on what your baby can do now.  
Gene's Research Tip of the Week

Let baby have a turn feeding himself!  A study from Swansea University in Wales looked at infants whose families spoon-fed them versus those who were given freedom and time to finger feed. The babies who were spoon-fed exclusively were decidedly more over-weight than the ones who were allowed to do some finger-feeding.

Baby Buffer Blog

Written by Kathy Ellerbeck, MD, MPH, FAAP

 

Have you heard of "Active Listening"?   They have seminars about it in workplaces. Police officers, counselors, ministers, rabbis and priests do it.  The U.S. State Department teaches it.  Or you might even see a program about Active Listening on late, late night TV like I did a few weeks ago while cleaning up the kitchen in the wee hours of the morning. 

 

What IS "active listening" - and why might it matter to you and to your baby?   There are some key elements that aren't only good for communication with the adults in your life, but for babies as well - with a little adaptation.  This is what I learned (that should apply to babies and toddlers and not just to my husband).

 

Read the full blog here

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