Question About 3 1/2 Month Old....

[claire797]

Emma is about 16 weeks. Last week she started to cry whenever I handed her over to her grandmother. She'd never done anything like that before.....in fact, she'd let any bum off the street hold her!

We tried it again the next day....went to grandma's house, passed her to grandma, and again -- she stuck out her upper lip then started howling. Her grandfather came over the next day (to our house) and she did it again. What's wrong with her? I thought this wasn't supposed to happend to babies until 6 to 9 months? Has anyone experienced this early?

We are planning on taking her to an office Christmas party on Saturday night where there will be an in-house babysitter. Am I setting myself up for disaster?

[BlueMoose]

My DS started having stranger anxiety very early also. I think it was right around that age that he started refusing to let my mom hold him. He got over that with my mom after 6-8 weeks, but he is still very wary of strangers. He usually cries if a stranger tries to hold him, and he is worse with women than men.

I know in our case a babysitter would have been a major disaster! He would have cried inconsolably the entire time, and he probably still would!

Good Luck!
Chrisi

[lindrusso]

You know, I think it can happen at any age. My first son was stranger wary from day one to the day he turned 3. My second son didn't get wary UNTIL he was 3 (right when I thought I was in the clear ). And even then, once they get over it for the most part, there can still be regressions now and then.

As for Saturday night, you can just play it by ear. Many children/babies will stop crying as soon as Mom or Dad leaves the room. As long as they can get to you easily if she doesn't stop crying, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Easy for me to say, right! Maybe you can practice on Grandma in the meantime....

[claire797]

Well it's good to know Emma's not the only one. I took her over to our next door neighbor's house this afternoon and let our neighbor hold her for awhile. She was all smiles! I even left the room and there was no crying whatsoever.

I think we will give Saturday night a try and just have an alternate plan in case she does fuss.

[mb]

i dont' know what else to add, but at least there will be a baby-sitter at the party, so you won't be too far away if things get out of control! good luck!
marisa

[lhall]

My baby does this to some people, but not others.
She's 1 now, but saturday Gramps (FIL) picked her up and she started to cry. She did this with my Dad at Halloween. BUT, SIL (my brother's wife) and I can swap babies with no problems. Her's is 9M and neither child minds being held by their aunt, ever.

Leigh

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by claire797
Well it's good to know Emma's not the only one.

There are many, many times in raising your child that you will/may feel like the only one, but rest assured that that is RARELY ever the case!

[MrsReber]

Lindrusso- how very true!!

Babies start to recognize people around 3 months, I believe. My daughter has always had a preference to be held only by mommy. She's 7 months now and is actually getting a bit worse. She's okay at daycare with people she sees all the time. She also loves to be around other babies and small children, so as far as bringing your baby to the party, she may really like to be around the other kids. They change and grow everyday, though. I remember when I would babysit as a teenager, the kids would cry until mom and dad were out of their sight. Then everything was fine and we could play. Babies always have a preference for mom and dad. Enjoy it now, before she's embarrassed to be seen out at the mall with you!

Susan

[claire797]

Emma and I just took a load of cookies to my old officemates and boss...they love cookies and love to see Emma since they spent 9 months with her

She was a doll! She smiled, let everyone hold her and didn't mind getting loads of attention from people she'd never met. I was very pleasantly surprised. What's even more strange is that we arrived at the office right about the time Emma usually gets hungry. I knew she must be starving, but she was still good. We came home and she is now sacked out on my lap from all the activity.

I'm beginning to really think she just has some problem with her grandparents which is too bad since they are the only people I have asked to babysit.