What is stranger anxiety

Toggle navigation. Definition Stranger anxiety is fear or wariness of people with whom a child is not familiar. Common problems Stranger anxiety can be upsetting to friends and relatives, who may feel rebuffed by a suddenly shy child. Parental concerns All parents are concerned about teaching their children to be wary when approached by unfamiliar adults. When to call the doctor 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?

Also read article about Stranger Anxiety from Wikipedia. User Contributions:. Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: Name:. E-mail: Show my email publicly. Human Verification:. Public Comment: characters. Send comment. Separation anxiety is fussing and crying when a parent leaves the room. Separation anxiety is a normal stage of development and typically begins at about 8 months, peaks in intensity between 10 and 18 months, and generally resolves by 24 months.

It should be distinguished from 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. Affected children desperately Separation anxiety occurs when infants begin to understand that they are a separate person from their primary caregiver but still have not mastered the concept of object permanence—the idea that something still exists when it is not seen or heard.

Thus, when infants are separated from their primary caregiver, they do not understand that the caregiver will return. Because infants do not have a concept of time, they fear that the departure of their parents is permanent.

Separation anxiety resolves as children develop a sense of memory. They can keep an image of their parents in mind when the parents are gone and can recall that in the past, the parents returned.

When parents leave the home or leave the child at a child care center , they can try the following strategies:. Feeding the child and letting the child nap before parents leave because separation anxiety may be worse when a child is hungry or tired. If the parents must momentarily go to another room in the home, they should call to the child while in the other room to reassure the child.

This strategy gradually teaches the child that parents are still present even though the child cannot see them. Children who are 8 to 18 months old often become frightened when they meet new people or visit new places. When separated from their parents or caregivers, particularly when away from home, they feel threatened and unsafe. They look to their parents and caregivers for safety and reassurance. Children this age who cry when their parents or caregivers leave the room are not "spoiled.

Crying in this situation is a positive reaction. Parents or caregivers may try playing peek-a-boo with children this age to reassure children that out of sight does not mean gone forever. Separation anxiety continues until children are about 24 months old. At this age, children have learned object permanence and have developed trust.

Object permanence is the knowledge that something such as their parents still exists even when it is not seen or heard. Separation anxiety resolves because children have learned that their parents or caregivers still exist even when they cannot be seen. Children have learned to trust their parents or caregivers will eventually return. Usually, separation anxiety is not a cause for concern and does not require evaluation by a doctor.

Separation anxiety differs from separation anxiety disorder Separation Anxiety Disorder Separation anxiety disorder involves persistent, intense anxiety about being away from home or being separated from people to whom a child is attached, usually the mother. Most children feel Children with this disorder typically refuse to go to school or preschool.

If severe, separation anxiety disorder may interfere with a child's normal development. When parents are ready to go out or leave the child at a child care center, they can try the following:. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. What is it? What is stranger anxiety? What to look out for. What the experts say. Managing stranger anxiety. Parenthood Baby Toddler.

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