Antisocial Covid Baby

[haysdw]

So, baby was born December 2020 just before second lockdown and we hadn't seen any family or friends for about 3 months before I decided to form a bubble with my parents because I really needed the help and support.

Baby only started seeing anyone else other than them at about 4.5 months old. But even with parents who she'd seen from 3 months, she just cries if someone gets too close. If someone holds her she just cries. If someone other then me or her dad enters the room she will cry.

After a minute or two she calms down and realises she's safe and she will happily play on the floor with the person in the room and give them laughs and smiles as long as they're not touching her.

It's starting to get to me now as we want to go out some nights as a couple and feel
Comfortable leaving her with grandparents knowing she will be happy and content with them. The last thing I want is to go out and be worrying and thinking about her crying all night stressing herself out.

I've been hearing a lot of people say the same thing about their babies so I know it's not just our situation and it's genuinely something they have been affected by
during covid.

And how/if anyone has managed to get their baby over this.

It may just be a matter of time thing and she will have to grow out of it but she's now 7 months and feel like she needs to snap out of this now. Limited baby groups around. Taking her everywhere like supermarkets etc and she is absolutely fine. It's solely on face to face contact and if someone tries to hold her. Someone said hello to her in the buggy the other day and she just burst into tears

Thanks

she's now 7 months and feel like she needs to snap out of this now.

. Sorry if this is news but babies don't just snap out of anything. If only I could have told DS to snap out of his 5 year phase of waking each night.

What she's doing is completely normal and will require an awful lot of reassurance, tine and patience from you.

This is normal for babies. Child I nannied over 20 years ago was exactly like that. She grew out of it. Yours will too.

It really makes me feel sad when I read posts like this. It's NORMAL. It's nothing to do with lockdown. It's to do with the fact that your baby relies on you entirely to keep her alive. A subconscious part of her brain is aware of this so of course she's going to get stressed out if you leave her with someone she doesn't even know. It's literally a normal part of infant development and especially heightens at about the 8-12 month stage typically. She won't just 'snap out of it' and any attempts to do this will probably make her feel even more insecure. I have a 3YO and literally haven't left her with anyone except nursery when I work/her dad for 2 years. Partly because of lockdown and partly because we have nobody. She does play and approach people independently now but I hate to break it to you is still pretty clingy and that's fine. It's what I agreed to when we had her. Yes it's beyond exhausting at times but if it's what my little girl needs I won't have it any other way. Please be satisfied that your daughter is going through a completely normal developmental stage and sounds to be well attached to you. It just means you're doing things right so don't be in a rush to change it.

My 7 month old is exactly the same. It's totally normal and nothing to do with the pandemic. Not being able to go on nights out etc is just part of parenting I'm afraid.

Sounds a bit harsh... antisocial, snap out of it. At least your able to take her to supermarkets, my lo also 7 months old hates it after a few seconds going into any shop it’s stressful and feels I’m stuck not being able to freely shop without worrying he’ll go into meltdown.
Covid situation hasn’t made it easy at all. Nevertheless I think at this stage they only want their mummy and daddy, and that’s normal. They are used to seeing you in the comfort of home and anything different is bound to take some getting used to. It’s probably separation anxiety creeping in too. I can see in my lo is developing and learning all the time, they are managing new faces and places better but needs me there from time to time and that’s ok.
Yes the crying is exhausting but they are a baby and you have to be there for them. When they get used to things they’ll hopefully manage their emotions better.

No advice, but my 10 month old is exactly the same. Just trying to get her out and about as much as we can. She's the same in that she's fine until someone is in her face too intensely, and definitely no chance of holding her.
Starting childcare next month also and very worried.