Stranger Danger

For a change of pace Betty and I played on the kitchen floor after supper. Because it won't roll on carpet, the snail toy from Papaw and KK only comes out during these infrequent kitchen playtimes. Betty touched its tail and it started rolling across the floor playing its Danny Elfman-esque march. Months ago, this would have made Betty smile. Today she crawled as fast as she could over to my lap.

Luckily, I just so happened to have re-read the 8-12 months chapter in the AAP book today as I was adjusting Betty's feeding schedule. What it had to say about emotional milestones makes sense of Betty's recent fearful reactions to grandparents and the snail, and it gives us fair warning of the possibility that soon Betty may fear more than the sound of packing tape being ripped off a box (her only current known phobia, and one that will likely be tested often in the weeks to come). In a sense, this fearfulness is an important developmental stage and we should therefore be glad for it. And I admit, I like it that I get tiny but ardent hugs when the snail attacks.

From the AAP: If anything, the predictable anxieties of this period are evidence of her healthy relationship with you. Anxiety around strangers is usually one of the first emotional milestones your baby will reach. You may think something is wrong when this child of yours who, at the age of three months, interacted calmly with people she didn't know is beginning to tense up when strangers come too close. This is normal for this age, and you need not worry. Even relatives and frequent babysitters with whom your baby was once comfortable may prompt her to hide or cry now, especially if they approach her hastily.