9 Month Old Twin Acting Scared Of Dad

Join Us On Facebook! | CONTACT | BABY BLOG | HOME |

9 Month Old Twin Acting Scared Of Dad

by Shelly
(florida)

Today one of my 9 month old twins suddenly started acting scared of his father... He was fine just 10 minutes before.

They were playing with a music toy and laughing. My husband took the trash out, came back inside, and my son acted as if he was a stranger! He just constantly stared at my husband, then he would start to cry, suddenly stop, and stare at him again. This went on for 2 hours.

When my husband brought my son to me, I sat him in my lap, and he continued to watch the hallway (my husband had walked down the hall), until my husband reappeared in the living room.

My son has never done anything like this before. Does anyone have any advice? I don't want to overreact, but I am worried. Is this normal developmental behavior?

Baby Help Line:

9 Month Baby Scared Of Dad

Don't worry,

Babies often make funny decisions and react fearfully for apparently no reason at all! It may be that your baby got a fright or heard a funny noise, at the same time as your husband appeared in the room and associates that fearful feeling with his Dad.

Fathers are usually bigger, have deeper voices and don't interact with babies as verbally as Mom does. He is still at the stage where Mommy is his security, and babies sometimes do react in odd ways to their father. Don't worry it is perfectly normal, it just seems more apparent to you because you have two babies to compare!

Don't force the issue, just have your husband play lots of games and cuddling time and maybe some quieter games, with lots of smiling and eye contact. Peepo games are a good way to create fun, and teach him to understand people come back - just make them funny not scarey.

Don't worry, he will gain trust again with his father, and as he develops his own personality more and more you will notice lots of ways your twins are different.

Enjoy your babies, you will have a busy time for a while!

More About 9 Month Babies

9 Month Baby Milestones, Games And Toy Tips

9 Month Baby Won't Sleep

Screaming 9 Month Old

9 Month Baby Rejecting Mom

Find answers and comments below.

Comments for
9 Month Old Twin Acting Scared Of Dad

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 12, 2011

Poor granny, but still just a phase
by: Anonymous

Hi Shelly

Don't think you have to worry. My baby also 9 months did exactly the same thing with my mom. She also jut stared at her and cried frantically. Its just a phase. If you read about 9 months old babies' development, stranger anxiety is common at this age.

Click here to add your own comments