But as infants approach eight and nine months of age, they begin to show strong preferences for the people who care for them the most - usually their parents. At this time infants are beginning to realize that all people are not the same, and that the relationship they have with their primary caregivers is special. They become much more selective about who they will let hold them, play with them, etc. These special activities are usually reserved for close family members. Stranger anxiety is thought to peak between 12-15 months, and then begin to decrease in severity after that.
Different infants react differently to unfamiliar people.
While some may not be upset at all by an approaching stranger, others may protest very loudly when someone they do not know approaches them. What Parents Can Do Stranger anxiety is a normal part of development and will occur in some form or another in most children. While in most cases stranger anxiety can not be avoided, there are steps that parents can take to minimize the upset that children feel during this developmental period. Instead, parents should allow children to become accustomed to new faces and new situations at their own pace. Forcing children to go to people they don't yet feel comfortable with will likely increase anxiety.