1yr old cries when other children come near

[Ameliasmum]

My DD has just turned 1. Recently if any other child around her age comes near her or even walks past her, she starts to cry and wants me to pick her up.

Today we were visiting a friend with a duaghter about the same age. My DD was looking at a toy (not touching it), the other little girl touched it and my DD started to cry and whine. She then crawled to me and wanted me to pick her up. For the rest of the afternoon, if the other little girl came near her she just cried.

We can't seem to go anywhere where there are other children anymore. They just make my DD cry and whine. She then turns clingy and it is driving me crazy.

Any ideas what is going on in a small head?

[vess]

Maybe she's been hurt or scared by another child and can't get over it yet?

[Ameliasmum]

I don't think she has been hurt but babies this age are always pulling or doing something to each other so it is possible.

She isn't crawling yet and the others are and I wondered if that was it.

Any help much appreciated.

[Mandymoo]

Hi
Not got much advice other that my DD was exactly the same at about 12 months old.

I began tearing my hair out as it got to the point where I thought about stopping going to friends houses or groups cos of how dd would be with other children near her.

All i can say is to keep mixing her with other children and she will gradually come round. I know its a cliche but i suspect it is "just a phase" as was the case with my dd.

She is now 2 and a half and has JUST begun to let other children near her and she seems much more confident with them.

She goes to nursery one day a week and i think that has gone some way to helping her gain confidence.

Just let your dd know that mummy is there for her and try not to get irritated by her reaction to other children. I have to be honest and say that it used to annoy me cos all the other children would be mixing in together and my dd would cry and winge if a another child even looked at her!!

Its hard but try to see it from your dd's eyes - other children can seem scary. They scare me and i'm a grown up!!

Sorry have gone on - hope this helps

XX MANDY XX (smile)

[Ameliasmum]

Hi Mandy

Thank you for this. I know what you mean when you say you got irritated. I did at first until I realised that my DD doesn't understand why I am irritated and I am 'her' person and she needs comfort from me.

Made me feel much better after thinking about it that way. You have just reinforced it.

I was also thinking about stopping seeing other people for a while but I am concerned that this might just prolong the phase. So we will battle on.

Thanks again.