4 1/2 Month Old Seems So Angry

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4 1/2 Month Old Seems So Angry

My 4 1/2 month old daughter seems so angry when she doesn't get what she wants. She grabs for toys and when she can't reach them she gets mad and almost growls and her face turns bright red.

This is on top of crazy stranger anxiety. She WILL NOT go with other people except for me, my husband and my mother. She sees my father every single day and she still doesn't like him either. I'm super stressed and don't know what to do!

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4 1/2 Month Old Seems So Angry

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Mar 18, 2010

Frustrated 4 1/2 month Baby
by: Baby Help Line - Annie

Hi,

When you think about it, life can be pretty frustrating when you can't make your body do what you want, and you can't talk! Your little girl sounds like she is going to be very determined to succeed in the world, and will do everything she can to get what she wants! Some frustration is a good thing as it makes us try harder to achieve what we want. But sometimes too much frustration causes us to give up - it's just too hard.

With a very determined and frustrated baby, I would help her a bit more to lower the frustration - offer her things to grab so she can stretch and reach and get those little hands working to grab. Push things a bit closer to her, keep moving and offering different shapes and toys so she can get the muscle co-ordination to do what she wants. At this age she is learning so much about how to control her little body and it is not easy!

Now as for the stranger anxiety, it is perfectly normal. She has not realized yet she is a separate little body from you. She is likely to get worse before it gets better! It may be that when you leave the room she will panic and be terrified you won't come back. Babies have no concept of time, everything is NOW. So when the most special person is not there, all hell breaks loose!

Sad for your Dad that she has not taken to him yet. It will come in time, but you can't force a baby to like someone. It maybe he is bigger than she is used to, or smells different, his voice may be gruffer etc. Whereas your Mom, probably sounds and feels more like you. My daughter rarely went to ANYONE, not even her father for nearly the first 12 months. So yes it is exhausting, but the more you try to force it the more distressed she will be.

Try to play games with her and your father, you hold her while he plays peek a boo with her favorite toy - have him sing the same little rhyme each time he sees her so it becomes familiar. But really you just have to give her time, once she is a toddler he may well be her favorite person, who chases her or plays tickle games!

Have fun with your wee girl, she will grow up before you know it, so make the most of this time when she is young,

all the best,
Annie Desantis

May 24, 2011

15 month girl hits mom when angry
by: curious

When my 15month daughter doesn't get her own way, she will slap me and her father in the face and throw a tantrum and pull my hair. What should we do?

Aug 18, 2011

Angry baby that slaps...
by: Paula (Baby Help Line)

Stop your baby gently and try to distract her. There is no point at all at her age to try to discipline her. She will either think your sharp voice and words are a game or she will get scared. Either way the message is missed completely. So make sure she doesn't hurt any of you (or herself) and don't give her any extra attention for the behavior.

Hope it helps,

Paula

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