Baby cries with strangers and public places. What should I do?

[Marghe87]

I know strangers anxiety is normal but I fear that as a result of months spent in isolation, my baby is really struggling to adapt. She bursts into the most desperate cry whenever we see someone (I mean eveb just chatting to a neighbour on the street) and the same happens if I take her to the supermarket or in another public space. I try to pick her up and console her but she is scared of me wearing a mask so I always end up leaving. How long will this continue for and what can I do to help her?
She is 7.5 months.

No advice but my LO is 5 months old and I am worried about the same thing once I started taking him out so just posting out of solidarity. We are starting a mum and baby group tomorrow so fingerscrossed he gets on ok there as a first step in being introduced to the public.

Might be worth using a sling so that she can see what's going on and who's around with you close by.

My youngest loved looking around at toddler groups but wouldn't move from my side until she was about 18 months then she started edging a little further.

She's 8 now and still won't talk to people until she's comfortable with them and doesn't like busy places so I really do think some people are just naturally introverted from birth!

Use a sling

She basically lives in the sling, doesn’t make a difference when we meet people unfortunately.

Giving the past year it’s been really hard on LO’s.
It’s just a case of continuing to do it till she’s used to it.
Sounds daft but wear your mask at home, even for a minute and talk to her so she knows it’s you.
Do you have any groups you could go to?
Do you have friends with any LO to have a garden play date?
It’ll seem pretty scary to her but she’s just not used to it sadly with COVID

I got a mask with a bold, colourful and very distinctive pattern (deliberately not pale blue!) and ensure I wear the same one every single time I need to wear one with my 9 month old. This was to ensure that she associated that specific mask with me. We used to play peek-a-boo with the mask at home where I'd put it on for a few seconds before taking it off. Even though she's now happier with me being in a mask, I still talk to her non-stop for the entire time I'm wearing it, and wiggle my eyebrows/scrunch up my forehead (any funny faces you can pull that isn't hidden by a mask!). I'm sure I probably look and sound absolutely bonkers to everyone around me :)

My lo is 4 months and exactly the same. Its destroying me and I am really worried about it.

DD was like this. Feb 2020 birthday so total covid baby. Cried when she saw the doctor, when someone on the street spoke to her, didn't like me in a mask.

She's completely grown out of it now and actively likes engaging with strangers (will wave and smile).

@Aria999 thank you, that gives me hope. When/how did it happen?

Aww I had been reading an article about covid babies bless them, Iguess all you. Can do is just keep doing what you are doing try and not react too much to the crying and hopefully she will get used to people and places.

Just kind of gradually. She had hysterics at the doctor at her 9 months check. Her 12 months one was basically ok and since the weather has been warmer we have been taking her to run around on a nearby patch of public grass and she's been getting more confident socializing with the people we see. (She also tries to wave and smile at birds but they don't normally reciprocate 🤣)

If you have cloth masks you could try letting her play with them in the house?