2 year old is shy?

[Tulips14]

Just looking for some advice really.
my nearly 2 year old has always been timid but is a ball of energy at home or around people he knows (super small family unit) & nursery. We don’t see much of extended family often. But he becomes really shy around strangers and even family members he’s not seen before. Sometimes he can just be quiet and sit and watch and if left he will come around eventually, it can take ages though. Or other times he might get upset and I’m not sure what to do to help the situation. He goes to nursery 3 days a week and he’s fine with the girls there (it did take time as originally he was only in 2 days but since increasing he’s thriving there) he’s absolutely fine when we are out and about shopping, play centres etc. However if someone tries to interact he clings for dear life or turns away or just stares at them. Is it just his personality? is there any tips that you think that could help? I know you shouldn’t compare and all children are different but it feels like I’m the only one in my circle with a sensitive child

He’s very young so who knows how he may turn out by age 5 or 10 or older. He could be a very different person.

i was a very shy child. The only advise i have is to love him exactly the way he is and don’t try to change him. When you are with new people and he feels scared - let him cling to you until he feels brave enough to move away - so he knows he has a secure base. Explain its ok to feel scared when he first meets people and that after some time he will hopefully be less scared.

My dad was not happy i was shy and pressured me to be social. This made me have low self esteem and feel depressed.

in my 40’s, i went to counselling and understood the real problem all along was not my personality- but my dad!

Thanks for the advise SuperSleepyBaby.
hopefully he grows out of it, I too was a very shy baby and I’m still a shy adult. He is who he is at the end of the day I just don’t like to see him upset.