Sad about baby going to other adults

[ElmtreeMama]

My 11 month old (1 in 2 weeks) keeps putting her arms out to strangers, whenever we go to baby groups she isn't interested in playing she just wants holding by other adults who she has never seen before. She likes to stroke their faces and has no stranger danger and seemingly no interest in me or her dad. It just doesn't seem 'normal' :( and it makes me a bit sad.
Any thoughts?

Hopeful bump x

Why does it make you sad? She's just curious. At one they don't know about stranger danger. Some toddlers are just more timid than others, she will eventually learn about 'stranger danger' as she gets older. I'd see it as a good thing, think about when she's going to nursery and school, she will probably happily toddle off instead of screaming and clinging onto you, which let me tell you, isn't nice and leaves you with nothing but a day of fretting!

Babies are inquisitive. Some like being cuddled and made a fuss of. It doesn't mean that your little girl prefers others to you. She's far too young to know anything about stranger danger, by the way!

Thank you @MissMaple82 I really appreciate that response
I went down a Google rabbit hole of it being a sign of neglect and inappropriate disinhibition etc
You're right that it's a good thing she's curious and comfortable, I just worry because I see lots of other children her age with stranger anxiety and it made me feel like maybe I'd gone wrong somewhere
Shes with me 100% of the time so I feel like we're well bonded but as this has happened a few times now I started to worry it meant she's not bonded to me or her dad

Thank you @TheOnlyMrsB I meant more stranger anxiety.
I really appreciate your response and reassurance

My eldest didn't really get stranger/separation anxiety at the typical age of 9-12 months, but then it hit really bad at around 18 months!

He's a perfectly normal, bright, securely attached pre-teen now.

Are you neglecting her? Surely you know that you aren't neglecting her so how can it be a sign of neglect? It's just normal baby curiosity. It's a sign of strong attachment actually because they are safe in the knowledge you will be there when they need you.

I think it shows she's secure. My children were the same. Went to anybody. Now happy and adjusted 27 and 29 year olds. I'm glad Google wasn't around then. Sounds like you're doing great.

She’s got a secure attachment base, and feels confident that she can explore her surroundings as you’re there as her ‘safe spot.’

I bet she’d have a riot of a time at a petting zoo.

I think she sounds like she has a secure attachment and is just very curious about people/the world around her. I'd be chuffed if I were you!

Additionally, my children would happily go to all and sundry as babies. They were never really anxious at all, they’re now older and very securely attached.

Honestly thank you so much everyone!
Shes asleep on me now and I feel silly for worrying.
I really am so appreciative of all the responses, sometimes mumsnet is so very helpful.
Thank you all xx

My dd was like this. She was massively confident and loved meeting and hanging out with new people. It's great that your dd is also a sociable sort. Is she was nursery or similar where she can enjoy being with other people ?
Don't take this as her attachment with you being weak. Your DD's interest in other people and curiousity is a great trait to have.

She is still interested in people and studying psychology and neuroscience at university.

Shes not particularly sociable with other children yet but I think she may be too young for that at the moment.
Shes very curious in lots of ways so you're probably right.

Thank you :)

i met my DSD when she was one. Within weeks she toddle up to me and put her arms out for me to pick her up and said ‘mama’. I almost had a heart attack! But then a few days later, she did it was a female friend of my partners. Phew! It seemed like she had a phase of thinking it meant ‘I want’. It didn’t last long but crikey it was a bit unsettling

The fact your baby will leave you and go to other adults is because she is very securely attached to you. She knows you'll be there when she needs you so she can go to someone else and rely on you to be there when she comes back.

My 5 year old is only just starting to get any sort of stranger danger awareness despite me teaching it for the past couple of years.

It's also entirely normal for babies not to play with other babies. In fact in the EYFS (early years development expectations) they are still expected to play more 'alongside' other children rather than lots of interacting with other children.

My twins are nearly 3, they've NEVER had stranger anxiety. They regularly go and sit on random women and play group and frankly it's mortifying sometimes but such is their personality. Today someone came in they've never seen before, after 20 minutes youngest goes to her for a pick up, and basically falls asleep on her.

I to worried it was poor bonding, esp being twins but they love me, they're securely attached to both parents, they're also just friendly and curious.

This is a good thing. She's securely attached to you. She knows that if she goes to someone else you'll come back. If she had an insecure attachment she would be joined to you at the hip and scared of going to other people/constantly looking for you. Embrace it and enjoy the fact that you've done a great job and her life will be easier if she had secure attachments to her caregivers!