Help with a clingy 1 year old boy?

Question

My son will not go to, play with or look at his grandparents without screaming the house down!!

Anyone my age and under FINE, he is a poser for strangers ,just not our parents & older family. I am so confused by this behaviour.

i can understand our family we only see 3 times a year, but we see the other side once a week - fortnight since he has been born.
has any one else had this problem ? How do we tackle this.
Im getting snide remarks from the family he wont go to, like i'm encouraging this behaviour! HELP

Answer 1

Young children take their social cues from the primary adult caregiver in their lives. Don't force your child to go to his grandparents, and don't try to hand him over to them. Instead, hug your parents yourself, smile at them, sit down close to them and have a pleasant conversation (not about the baby...talk about the weather, recipes, something pleasant, maybe humorous). When your child sees you interacting in a happy, relaxed way, he will begin to relax too. Don't push him to go to them. If you are sitting with them, maybe touching their hands or arm, he will become more comfortable too and will go to them when he is ready.

Answer 2

The first post is absolutely correct. By this time, it's quite likely that you are nervous when you meet these family members because you're wondering how your son will react to them. He is probably picking up on your nerves and thinking that he should stay away from them if they're "scary" enough to make you nervous. In addition to spending relaxing time chatting with these people to show him that they can be fun to be around, you can try getting him involved in a game or toy that he enjoys and then let one of these relatives come and sit nearby (NOT TOO CLOSE!) and watch him and talk with you the whole time. Little by little, he will tolerate them being closer.

One important thing to consider is how these people come into the home and how they greet the baby. If they are the shouting, hugging, kissing, cheek-pinching type, he may be overwhelmed by all these strangers swarming around him. A quieter, calmer entrance where they greet you and then just wave at the baby from afar may be less intimidating. Most importantly- don't force him to go to them or be near them. He will go to them in his own time, especially if he gets curious about them.