Lockdown baby

[derbygirl23]

Baby is 6 months old and has lived her life through lockdown - we have barely been out as being very cautious, she saw people for a few months but only when very little. She now cries whenever there is someone new in the vicinity and also when we take her out of the house on the rare occasion such as the supermarket. She’s fine on walks outside as we have continued to do these. She’s so happy at home with me and DP, plays and laughs a lot however I’m feeling very anxious and nervous for when we are finally back to normal - will she not take to going places or seeing people 😩 is anyone in the same boat? Should I be doing anything to help?

Hi OP, yes I'm in the same boat!

DS is 8 months and he's lived the whole of his life under restrictions. There was a time over the summer where we could see family, but we haven't been able to since November and probably won't now until the spring. All family too far away to bubble.

I take DS to a Covid secure baby sensory class which he really likes and is hopefully good preparation for nursery. It might be worth checking if there's anything like that near you?

Other than that I don't have much to suggest, just empathy that it is a really tough time to have a baby!

Hi OP
We are at a slightly different phase as baby is 15 months old now.

She was about 7 months at the point we went into lockdown. Up until that point she hadnt been a very social baby- she was exclusively breastfed and I couldnt express so she hadnt been left with anyone up to that point. She wasnt clingy, but didnt particularly like new people and even with my parents she wasnt particularly confident and would sometimes cry if they even looked at her!!!.

I was really worried that lockdown would make this 10 times worse and that nursery would be a nightmare. However she has totally surprised us!! When we came out of lockdown 1, she was so social and actually settling into nursery was very easy.

No idea how this happened, and it was like she was a different child!

I know lockdown with a baby is such a challenge, but I dont necessarily think it will have an effect on how they handle the world after.

I do think age has a lot to do with it and it might just be that at the moment she is at an age where she is more comfortable with you and is becoming aware of things/other people.

You are doing a great job, and as you say she is very happy and confident at home which I think is a great start.x

My baby will be 6 months in a week and she’s very similar, we’ve bubbled with my in laws and she’s ok with them but anyone else she gets quite upset. Is definitely worrying but there isn’t much we can do about it.

Yep same here. Twins born during first lockdown and have terrible separation anxiety. If we are out and someone dares say hello to them in the pushchair they scream.

Of course I can't say how things have affected your dc, but I think you have to be a bit careful attributing their behaviour at this age to lockdown. For example, I've heard a lot of people saying that their one year old has seperation anxiety and doesn't play well with others. Actually that's totally normal for a one year old.

Don't worry too much. Babies are extremely adaptable. You're obviously doing a great job by even considering her development.

Try watching things like CBEEBIES "the baby club" where she can see other real babies on the tv. Face time with people and people with babies. You can look at photos together and talk about other people. You may not think she understands but she will get something from it.

As soon as you can start seeing people then just introduce her to it slowly. The human brain is made for interaction so she'll adapt quickly even if she's nervous at first.

My little girl was 3 months old at first lockdown. She's never saw anyone for months and months apart from us.

Even when restrictions started lifting it took a long time for her not to cry if for instance my mum looked or spoke to her. Broke mums heart. Slowly but surely she got better and they cld eventually hold her but she was always looking for me. Since I'm back at work she's doing so much better. She's at nursery now too and has come on so much and isn't strange anymore with people. She was even waving at a random person at the supermarket the other day. She's just turned a year old.

I agree with @FlyNow I think that's probably your baby's petsonality/developmental stage rather than lockdown. My baby was born in March just before LD. He's fine when we go out in public (which hasn't been very often) doesn't seem anxious or bothered about other people a lot. 7-9 months is peak for stranger anxiety and I am sure it can start a bit earlier.