Stranger anxiety

DS will be 11 months. All of a sudden he has this horrible fear if anyone he us unfamiliar with. He screams, holds his breath, sometimes he even shakes. This happens all while I am even still holding him. If the person just goes up to him to say hi or give a kiss he freaks. It took me 10 minutes to calm him down last night after my aunt stopped by and mistakenly tried to say hello to him.

I feel like his reaction is extreme bur maybe because my dd was never this bad with it.

Is this reaction normal?
Is this when stranger anxiety usually begins?
What can I do to help the situation?
TIA

Re: Stranger anxiety

my DD 1 was like this from about that age until she turned 3. it was really rough, because she was such a pill around people she didn't know. even people she did know but didn't see very often, she would cry and carry on. when unfamiliar people came over, our best course of action was for them to ignore her completely until she felt comfortable. honestly, her fears were a source of major embarrassment and stress for me, even though logically i know that was silly. it was not easy, but it did pass with time and now she is completely normal and comfortable with people.

good luck. i know it stinks.

Stranger anxiety

Stranger anxiety is very common. My daughter's pediatrician said it usually starts around nine months old. I would try to provide reassurance that it is OK. I would remind adults that DC does not take well to people and to please ignore him when they first see him. He may come around out of curiosity. If you can help prepare him for unfamiliar events that could also help- my dd use to be afraid of loud noises like the blender and coffee grinder and we worked to teach her "big noises" are ok. Now before I put on a loud appliance I tell her mommy is going to make a big noise and she does not react- I talked her through it in the beginning and provided reassurance until the noise was removed.