Around six months and until they are about two years old, babies are going through a stage where they feel fear of strangers.
Like other childhood fears it is a natural state that favors the child's adaptation to the environment and helps him to evolve, and of course, it is a behavior that we must accept without forcing them to accept the people he rejects.
Many parents are distressed to see the heartbroken crying of the child when left in the arms of a stranger, or even of familiar people with whom until recently the baby was at ease.
Fear of strangers is normal. While some children are delighted to go from arm to arm, there are others more shy that at some stage of their development prefer to be only with the people of their maximum confidence. It is a matter of the temperament of each child and must be respected.
The fear of being with people who are not mom or dad (sometimes just mom) arises at the stage when the baby begins to suffer from what is known as separation anguish. The baby has no idea of time or space, and when his mother leaves his field of vision, he feels a deep fear of abandonment. The child is not able to understand that mom has gone to the bathroom and that she returns in less than five minutes. Simply his mother is gone and feels fear.
Something similar is what happens with strangers. From an early age, children recognize their parents by the smell, by the voice and around four months are already able to recognize the faces of their closest relatives. He knows that they are the people who take care of him, who attend to his needs and give him affection.
As usual, when these people are not close or a stranger is getting too close, the baby feels unprotected and begins to get restless. Although there is no real danger, the child begins to cry inconsolably, especially when the stranger's behavior is intrusive or imposes a physical contact that the child does not want.
How long are you afraid of strangers?
Around a year and a half the fear of strangers gradually disappears, but it is not uncommon to find children with three years who are still afraid of strangers.
Try to get your baby to gradually get used to new situations, not to be abruptly approached by unknown people. It is important give security the child taking him in his arms, in no case minimize his fear or force him. By establishing a secure bond with the child, from the arms of his attachment figure (mom or dad) it will be easier to interact with others. It has been shown that children who are with their parents at the same time as in the presence of strangers, are less frightened than if they are alone with strangers.
