15 month old overly affectionate with strangers?

[Trapped01]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone can just reassure me that this is just a phase & advise me on hoe to handle it. My 15 month old daughter is an absolute joy. Such a happy & friendly toddler, she loves to cuddle & kiss me, which I have no problem with. My concern is that recently she's started to get more affectionate with EVERYONE. Extended family now all get a hug & kiss & my friend was here yesterday who my DD hasn't seen in months & she got several kisses (totally out of the blue) then today an old man in the park stopped to say hello & waved at her & she ran over & tried to kiss him. He said it made his day (I hope this was innocent & he wasn't a weirdo!) anyway I was so shocked & couldn't believe she'd done it.

Should I be concerned? Should I stop kissing her unless she kisses me? Should I ask family to stop kissing her to try & discourage this behaviour? I don't know if I'm just over reacting....

[Pansiesandredrosesandmarigolds]

She sounds absolutely darling. Please don’t worry.

[Booboostwo]

Why would you ever worry about this? Some toddlers are more affectionate than others. The affectionate ones are a delight for everyone.

[NewLevelsOfTiredness]

My step-daughter was like this apparently (it was before I knew her.) She even shouted over to a homeless person urinating on a train platform inviting them round for dinner when she was 2 and a half. She's just lovely and now at seven she has had better boundaries for a while (though still very trusting!)

Her little sister didn't smile until she was nearly a year old but mastered scowling at any stranger who came even vaguely close as one of her first facial expressions, so I guess that balanced things out.

[corythatwas]

There is absolutely no danger involved in your 15mo being unable to carry out her own risk assessment: you are there to protect her from harm and will be for a good many years to come.

Besides, supposing someone was bent on hurting her: what protection do you think there would be in a baby refusing to smile? None whatsoever.

Even as she grows older and starts venturing out on her own, her best protection won't lie in an unfriendly attitude or the assumption that everybody is an enemy but in an awareness of what constitutes a safe situation.