I have a 17 month old son who tends to get overwhelmed in social situations. Even if we are just over at a friend's house, he fusses and whines a lot. Often it is when we first get there so I'll hold him for a while or just have him sit on my lap until he warms up, but there are other times when he just fusses the whole time!
He definitely is overwhelmed with larger groups of people (like if we take him to a party or a play gym). But even when I have a friend come over to our house (home turf!) with their baby, he gets fussy and clingy. I give him a pacifier to use but that doesn't seem to help too much. The only place he doesn't do this is at our Kindermusik class (we've gone there for a year now) where he can go for almost an hour without his paci and he is so happy and has a great time.
I know much of this has to do with his temperament but does anyone have suggestions about how we can help him feel less overwhelmed? I don't want him to be stressed every time we go out somewhere. Thanks!
He definitely is overwhelmed with larger groups of people (like if we take him to a party or a play gym). But even when I have a friend come over to our house (home turf!) with their baby, he gets fussy and clingy. I give him a pacifier to use but that doesn't seem to help too much. The only place he doesn't do this is at our Kindermusik class (we've gone there for a year now) where he can go for almost an hour without his paci and he is so happy and has a great time.
I know much of this has to do with his temperament but does anyone have suggestions about how we can help him feel less overwhelmed? I don't want him to be stressed every time we go out somewhere. Thanks!
