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Fear of the Unknown
You're blessed with a marvel baby, who sleeps, eats and plays like
clockwork, why shouldn't you be a proud parent wanting to show her
baby off to the world. But what happens when you arrive at a friends
house for the week-end, only to discover that your little angel has
turned into an absolute terror, screaming when anybody other than
yourself approaches him, 'deliberately' mashes a biscuit into the
persian carpet or keeps the whole family awake with bouts of
constant wailing?
This behaviour is a typical reaction to unfamiliar change in your
baby's life, but it doesn't mean that you have to stay behind closed
doors because of it. Understanding his behaviour and taking the
necessary precautions can turn every would-be nightmare into a dream
outing.
Strangers: Even at a very early age, your baby is aware of
which face he is familiar with and can quite easily sense if the
person is a stranger to him. Introduce new faces with care, giving
the child time to feel at ease before placing her into the arms of
that person. There should also be no force in this, and you should
allow your child to decide whether he wants to be picked up by
someone else.
Changes to the routine: Daily routine gives a baby a sense of
security, so any change in this could make him feel unsettled and
niggly. Try if possible to work around his schedule, limiting
excitement where possible. If there are a number of guests around,
try feeding him in a room with minimal noise and interruption,
taking along a food you known he likes. When his nap time arrives,
it may be a good idea for you to remain with him until he has fully
settled or place him in his pram where you will always be close to
him if he should need you.
Party-time: After planning her first birthday party with much
excitement it could come as quite an anti-climax and perhaps
embarrassment when she refuses to show an interest in any of her
gifts or guests for that matter. This is normal as she may feel
threatened by all the attention and unfamiliar objects being
bestowed on her. Don't worry about your baby's hostile approach to
change, it is typical and not permanent and she should be eased into
this altered state as lovingly as possible.
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