Son Gets Hysterical Around Other People

[NE90]

Not sure if anyone else has experienced this or can offer any advice.

My son cries everytime he comes into contact with most other people! He is 14 months old now and it happens with everyone from my father, to my siblings and to all my husbands side of the family (aside from my mother in law as she has him once a week at least). He becomes hysterical with crying and takes a good 5 mins to calm himself down and stop. He even does it with strangers who spot him in his pram when we're out and they think he's cute so start saying hello and off he goes again and they just awkwardly go "oh no, oh god, sorry, did I do something? oh no" and then walk off.

He was doing it whilst going to nursery but he has stopped that now and drop offs have become a lot easier.

It's getting to me as some of the people he does it to are taking it personally and getting offended and think he dislikes them :(.

I'm aware lockdown probably didn't help as he wasn't seeing anyone else but he is seeing family members now for a while, and this behaviour started happening prior to lockdown.

Unfortunately as you can imagine, we haven't the time to see other family members constantly due to distance and time etc and so there will always be a good gap between when he last saw them.

I'm hoping he may grow out of this?

Thanks all xx

[roxannacar]

He's 14 months so probably going through an attachment phase, and being more aware of these people not being someone he sees normally.

There is not much you can do apart reassure him that you're there. It will pass. People need to stop being silly and getting offended by a crying child. If they spend more time with the child he's likely to.ger used to them more, of that is an option with lock down.

[cmbxm]

I’ve noticed this with a lot of friends baby’s and it’s a lockdown thing, it’s just a case of getting them used to people and faces again so they can form bonds again xx

[Gee1998]

My daughter was the exact same from 1 year old to 2 and a half shes nearly 3 now, my mum has her once a week so she was fine with her but everyone else she hated being around and I started to think I cant put her through it anymore.

So I spoken to health visitor and she recommended that I don't go to big family outings and I only take her to a couple of family members at a time because she might have bad anxiety or autism as shes only young.

But she grew out of it once she started talking and once she grew up and started to realise she sees there faces alott, I was so concerned because she just used to scream if we was going in to someone's house unless it was my mums house.

But by time she got to 2 and a half she was fine as she was in nursery alott more and she started talking and now she's nearly 3 she talks to everyone haha!

Hope everything goes well and the little man grows out of it for you as I know it was horrible to go through with my daughter.

[Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

It can just be a phase they go through. My daughter around then wouldn't even go to her dad without crying if I was leaving the room for a bit. And we all live together so she was with him all the time. He will probably grow out of it. I think the real issue is people being offended by a baby being upset. If you dont see them that often they will basically be strangers to him when you do, till he is older and more able to remember them.

[Pook27]

My daughters three and a half and basically hated everyone always, she was a big blue eyed baby and her first word was no at people trying to smile at her in a shop. She never let anyone else hold her but my husband and I as an infant, we just used to joke about it and say she had “resting baby face”. At two she would still run in terror/anger if an adult tried to talk with her but started preschool and loved her teacher and it was such a breakthrough, since turning three and really being able to articulate herself she’s transformed, to a little slow to warm up with adults but, confident curious sensitive smart, and easily makes friends with kids. I know it’s hard not to worry, but I just would pre warn - people she’s not just going to be a fan, she’s hard to win over and sensitive which I actually see now as an asset. Anyone who is offended really needs to grow up themselves.

[Annh17]

My little girl does this, she’s 18 months and she was go all stiff and shout mamamama, untill I pick her up.

She’s not like it all the time, but can be to family or strangers. It’s so embarrassing. I’m putting it down to being in lockdown and starting to see more people.

Like I say she’s not like it all the time, more so, when she’s tired or people get too close too her x

[ChloeLeighCorn]

It’s separation anxiety and completely developmentally typical. He will eventually outgrow it. nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy...