Signs of shyness in 6mth old?

[milkyman]

My mother keeps commenting on how my 6mth old is going to be a shy boy. All because he won't look at her and looks away.

Both my husband and I were very shy when younger (still am really!). There is nothing wrong with shyness but it hindered me in life and I want ds to grow up confident. I realise you can nurture confidence but obviously shyness is part of character.

Can u really tell at a young age? She's mentioned it so many times I'm beginning to get a thing about it!! I just think he's just interested in his surroundings and that boys r perhaps less interested in faces?

[ReallyTired]

Your mother in law is being ridicolous.

Children develop seperation anxiety from about 4 to 6 months. Generally it peaks at about a year old and then starts to improve at around 18 months. Stranger anxiety is very sensible and I expect that your baby doesn't know your MIL well enough to be comfortable with her.

It is impossible to say that a six month old baby is shy.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

No you can't tell and I would tell your Mother to stop saying things like that. He'll bloody start believing it himself soon!

[Smartieaddict]

No of course you can't tell yet. DH and I were both very shy, DS has bags of confidence, no idea where he got it from, but glad he has!

[exoticfruits]

She is being very silly - I would just tell her in a jokey, dismissive way.

[RubyrooUK]

I think it's impossible to generalise about a 6mo old. Your mum is projecting something onto him which may or may not be true later in life. Or he may be shy at some point in his childhood but not at others.

Six months is the start of the baby phase of separation anxiety too, so that may account for him appearing "shy" at the moment. I don't think boys/girls are any less responsive than each other either, so it isn't a gender thing.

My eldest son had terrible separation anxiety and hated being with anyone but me. He is now two and a half. Is he shy? Sometimes and sometimes not. Sometimes he is loud and shouty with people and other times, he cowers behind me. He is just a child.

I wouldn't dwell on it. If your mum keeps commenting, I'd just say something along the lines of him being the right age for separation anxiety. She is reading too much into his behaviour when he is so little!

[SwishSwoshSwoosh]

She is being silly, tell her to stop saying it.

Your comment 'maybe boys are less interested in faces' is a bit odd too though!

[Runningblue]

I think mil is a just bit pissed your ds isn't staring adoringly at her...
Put in more effect mil, and he might just get to know you!