DD cries when at other peoples houses...

[TheCokeMachine]

My DD is 17 weeks old, she is happy at home, in the car and being pushed around the supermarket in a trolley or out for a walk in her buggy.

But if I take her to a friends house, or to my MIL's or any baby groups she gets very cross and upset. She will scream for an hour or more if anyone even so much as looks at her - she will avoid eye contact with them, turn away and scream.

I am starting to feel a bit despondant as every time I try to do something social with other adults (and/or babies) she freaks out.

Today I took her to a friends house, she screamed for an hour and then fell asleep. When she woke up she started again, so I gave her to my friend and she just held her facing outwards and gently rocked her. After an hour she finally stopped shouting, relaxed and lay there smiling and drooling.

Through all of this there are no real tears, just shouting. I swear my MIL thinks I'm making the baby mardy!

Has anyone experienced this? Should I just force the issue with her and keep on going to peoples houses/baby groups until she gets used to it?

Your DD has reached 4 months of age.
In many children this is a time when they suddenly become much more aware of their surroundings, both the people and places.
At this age, many babies who were happy being left with strangers suddenly stop being so. They have learned who their regular carers are and where they are used to being. They are no longer happy to be in strange environments.
The good news is that, like most things, it is a phase. She will grow out of it.
That doesn't make it much fun while she's screaming, but don't worry, there's nothing wrong with her and it won't last too long.

My DD was like this at around the same age - its just a phase, so don't worry.

Thanks - it's good to know that she isn't the only one. It just seems that everyone else at the baby groups have happy, docile little ones and mine is on high alert all the time.

Thanks again!

having exactly the same issue with our DD. DS wasn't anything like this, was very happy with anyone. So its come as a real surprise to us how precious our daughter is! My mother is a bit upset about it, but MIL, who we stayed with for a weekend, persevered and by the 3rd morning DD was happy as larry with her for over an hour. Going to have to try that with my mother as really want her to have as good a relationship with DD as she has with DS (and also for her to be able to babysit ;-))

Good to know its not just us though. Thanks OP!

Thank goodness I'm not the only one. I went to MILs today, and she just screamed her head off for two hours solid and then fell asleep exhausted. This has been going on for seven weeks now...the more I take her out the more determined she is to scream.

I brought her home and as soon as we walked in the door and she started laughing - I swear she's winding us all up :)