• Home
  • Brooke Burke
  • Must Have
  • Recalls
  • Contributors
  • Contests & Twitter Parties
  • Become An Insider
  • ModernMom Store

ModernMom

The premiere destination for moms

  • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Kids
    • Tweens and Teens
    • Ask Dr. Psych Mom
  • Cooking
  • Around The House
    • Crafts
    • At Home
    • Education
    • Travel
    • Pets
    • Decorate
    • Money
  • Career
  • Living Healthy
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health & Fitness
    • Body after Baby
    • Beauty
    • Relationships
    • Love
  • Celebrate
    • Holidays
      • Easter
      • Valentine’s Day
      • New Year’s
      • Christmas
      • Hanukah
      • Halloween
      • Thanksgiving
    • Birthdays
    • Parties
  • Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Hot Topics
  • Games
You are here: Home / Parenting / Toddlers With Stranger Anxiety

Toddlers With Stranger Anxiety

February 25, 2011 by ds_65371 Leave a Comment

While some toddlers are willing to greet anyone with open arms, others shy away from anyone other than mom and dad. It can be challenging to deal with a tyke who seems fearful of everyone, because relatives and friends may feel slighted by this hesitancy, and the toddler herself may appear to suffer extreme emotional distress. Although it may seem a serious problem, however, stranger anxiety is often nothing to worry about and is, instead, simply a part of normal child development.

Stranger Anxiety Recurrence

For many toddlers, stranger anxiety is a recurrence of behavior they previously exhibited during infancy; most infants go through a period of shying away from strangers. Moms often assume that, after this period has passed, their child will no longer be fearful of strangers. However, as WhatToExpect.com reports, stranger anxiety commonly reappears between 12 and 24 months of age, once again presenting a challenge to parents.

Preventable?

Some parents feel that if they socialize their children, or avoid sheltering their them, they can prevent stranger anxiety. While this may work in some cases, in most instances, stranger anxiety is unpreventable. If your toddler suddenly becomes hesitant to approach strangers, it is not because you have done something wrong, but instead is a result of the developmental stage that she is currently in.

Easing Fear

When your toddler exhibits stranger anxiety, there are some things that you can do to help alleviate his fear. WhatToExpect.com recommends that parents should try to remain within arm’s reach of their anxious child, because doing so can be very calming. They can also verbally reassure their child, reminding him that everything is okay. A few kind words or a simple touch on the back from Mom can do wonders when it comes to putting children at ease.

Helping Adults Deal

Stranger anxiety may not impact only the toddler, but also adults who are upset by the toddler’s sudden hesitancy to approach them. If a relative or close friend is suddenly shunned as a result of stranger anxiety, you may need to reassure the adult, telling her that your child is going through that phase and that it isn’t just her that your child is fearful of. You may also want to warn these individuals ahead of time so your child’s cries or eagerness to return to Mom’s arms don’t come as a shock.

Stranger Anxiety and Abuse

As iParenting reports, many individuals have long believed that children who suffer from stranger anxiety must have been the victims of abuse. While it is possible that an abused child would be fearful of strangers, there is no reason to believe that an outside source has led your toddler to shy away from strangers. Instead, remember that the fear of strangers is perfectly normal and, in most cases, is something that your child will grow out of in time.

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Parenting

About ds_65371

Erin Schreiner is a freelance writer and teacher who holds a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University. She has been actively freelancing since 2008. Schreiner previously worked for a London-based freelance firm. Her work appears on eHow, Trails.com and RedEnvelope. She currently teaches writing to middle school students in Ohio and works on her writing craft regularly.

Search

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ModernMom Boutique ModernMom Boutique

ModernMom TV

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

20 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Had Kids

After seeing and holding the newest member of our family …[Read More...]

ModernMom TV

Meals That Pair With Corn on the Cob

Meals That Pair With Corn on the Cob

There is no better taste of summer than fresh corn on the …[Read More...]

Baby Brain Development in the Womb

Baby Brain Development in the Womb

Your baby's brain starts developing almost at the moment of …[Read More...]

How to Stop a New Piercing From Itching

How to Stop a New Piercing From Itching

So, you just got a new piercing to change up your style a …[Read More...]

Different Kinds of Textures for Children

Different Kinds of Textures for Children

Teaching Your Children About Texture For better or for …[Read More...]

Pregnancy and Sinus Pain

Pregnancy and Sinus Pain

According to Lisa Rodriguez, R.N., contributing writer for …[Read More...]

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

Signs of Allergies to Infant Formula

If you introduce infant formula to your baby, you'll …[Read More...]

Can You Get Pregnant on Birth Control Pill If You Miss One Day?

Can You Get Pregnant on Birth Control Pill If You Miss One Day?

Birth control pills offer reliable and easy-to-use …[Read More...]

  • About Us
  • Contact ModernMom
  • Advertise With Us
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2019 · Mom, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction of any portion of this website only at the express permission of Mom, Inc. The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.