Stranger Anxiety?

[Milis]

Hi lovely ladies

My 4 1/2 month old has recently developed stranger anxiety (the definition of a stranger being anyone except DH or myself). If anyone else tries to give him a cuddle or even comes near him his bottom lip quivers and he starts screaming. He gets so upset that it takes me a few minutes to calm him down and then he'll start up again if they so much as look at him. Apart from possible offence to my in laws is this anything to worry about? Will it pass?

He's always been a placid little man who smiles at anyone and everyone so I'm a bit confused . DH and I were planning a night out next weekend and FIL was going to babysit but I don't want to leave him with anyone as I'm worried he'll get too upset. Have anyone else's bubs done this? How long did it last for?

[bellagirl]

hi there

yeh my daughter started doing this recently with her great grandparents!
she only sees them bout once a fortnight and her great grandpa picked her up and omg! she had real tears!
after a while of us all sitting round the lable again,he tried again, she was a bit wiery but after a few minutes, she got over it.
i think they need to be introduced slowly every time they visit, and it seemed to pass.

[missolive]

Yes my little girl does that also and has been doing it for about 2 or 3 months now (she is 7 months now). She doesn't always do it around strangers, but Ive noticed occassionally she does it when she gets a lot of attention from the unknown person/s and she may have just woken up or be ready for sleep etc.
She also gets a wobbly lower lip and tears in her eyes. Ive found that often after Ive cuddled her, she settles down and will tend to be ok in their company thereafter.

[Miaow]

Ej was doing this also about the 4&1/2-5 month stage - she wouldnt even let her grandmother pick her up without crying all of a sudden, now shes ok with grandma but my brother who was once able to hold her at that stage is now 'cryed' at when he so much as looks at her I found sometimes if they sit facing the opposite direction on a knee (facing away from a person) that sometimes that helps a little also giving a toy to play with while being held helped with EJ