For children, feeling some fear when they leave for preschool or kindergarten is normal. This feeling should diminish with time. Rarely, excessive fear of separations inhibits children from attending child care or preschool or keeps them from playing normally with peers. This anxiety is probably abnormal separation anxiety disorder Separation Anxiety Disorder Separation anxiety disorder is a persistent, intense, and developmentally inappropriate fear of separation from a major attachment figure usually the mother.
In such cases, children require medical attention. Stranger anxiety is manifested by crying when an unfamiliar person approaches. It is normal when it starts at about 8 to 9 months and usually abates by age 2 years.
Both the duration and intensity of the anxiety vary greatly among children. Some infants and young children show a strong preference for one parent over another at a given age, and grandparents may suddenly be viewed as strangers. Comforting the child and avoiding overreaction to the behavior are usually the only therapy needed. Common sense should dictate management.
If a new sitter is coming, having that person spend some time with the family before the actual day makes sense. When the event arrives, having parents spend some time with the child and sitter before they leave is prudent. If grandparents are coming to watch the child for a few days while parents go away, they should arrive a day or two early.
Similar techniques can be used in anticipation of hospitalization. Stranger anxiety of pronounced intensity or extended duration may be a sign of more generalized anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children and Adolescents Generalized anxiety disorder is a persistent state of heightened anxiety and apprehension characterized by excessive worrying, fear, and dread.
Physical symptoms can include tremor, sweating From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. If a baby expresses distress when approached by an unfamiliar individual or when being left with someone new, they are likely experiencing stranger anxiety. While stranger anxiety is normal and to be expected, the intensity and duration of the distress experienced by any individual baby, along with the ways that distress is expressed, may differ greatly from baby to baby.
They may remain very still and quiet with a frightened expression on their face until the stranger leaves or they begin to feel more comfortable around them.
Other babies might express their distress in more obvious ways such as crying, trying to hide their face in your chest or clinging tightly to you. Older toddlers who are more verbal and mobile might try to hide behind you or express verbally that they want to stay with you or want you to hold them. While the research on separation anxiety is more robust than that of stranger anxiety, scientists have delved into the topic. A study observed that babies who showed a steep increase in fear between 6 and 36 months old were more likely to show increased anxiety at 8 years of age.
The researchers acknowledged that the increased likelihood that a mother with anxiety will have a baby with anxiety can be caused by a combination of maternal behaviors and genetic factors. So what does all this mean? Are all babies with stranger anxiety destined to be anxious kids in elementary school? Are parents with anxiety destined to pass this along to their children? Not necessarily. While the distress associated with stranger anxiety is normal, there are many strategies you can use to help your baby through this challenging stage with care, empathy, and kindness.
The development of stranger anxiety can be a challenging period for both you and your child. While your little one is experiencing lots of big, frightening emotions, you might get frustrated that they seem fussy, clingy, or unsociable.
As you move through the stranger anxiety phase, remember to be patient with your child, cuddle and comfort them as needed, and try to remain calm and warm as they experience distress. The baby may reject a caregiver she was previously comfortable with or grow hysterical when relatives visit. It can also be a frustrating time for the child's parents, since the baby may reject the parent who is not the principal caregiver. Parents should respect the child's fear as much as possible and allow her to approach people as she is able.
If the child does not want to be hugged by or sit with a relative, it is unwise to force her. Eventually children outgrow their fear and become more tolerant of strangers. All parents are concerned about teaching their children to be wary when approached by unfamiliar adults. However, parents need to find a balance between concern and encouragement of their child's natural curiosity and friendliness, while at the same time teaching them that they should always rely on parental guidance and approval in dealing with strangers.
While stranger distress and separation anxiety are normal for infants and toddlers, should a parent become concerned if they persist into the toddler or preschool years? The answer to this question depends in part on the nature of the child's response, its intensity, and persistence over time.
For example, it is commonplace for preschoolers to show some distress on meeting new people and separating from their parents during the first week or two of daycare or in a new setting. Typically this settling in period does not last too long. If older children persists in showing excessive distress and anxiety on meeting new people, to the point where it interferes with their social development, parents should discuss this pattern with their pediatrician, who may make a referral to a child psychologist for further evaluation.
American Academy of Pediatrics. Honig, Alice S. Toggle navigation. Definition Stranger anxiety is fear or wariness of people with whom a child is not familiar.
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