Learning fear

[kismetbaby]

My 9mo is suddenly deathly afraid of the vacuum and the blender (the loud noises I guess? and I mean really afraid--trembling, crying, panic). A month ago he didn't bat an eye at these things. What's happened?

He has been mobile for about a month now and has had the separation anxiety to go with it. . .and that I get, it makes sense to me. If I don't come IMMEDIATELY when he wakes form his nap he becomes hysterical. But he has learned that we are two beings and I (and he) can move away from each other and of course he doesn't know/understand where I have gone when I am not there. So I get this and I am trying to reassure him and respond very quickly when he wakes or gets frightened.

But I am just wondering how they learn to be afraid of things in general. . .why are loud noises suddenly scary? He was so totally fearless until recently. He has also been having a lot of trouble sleeping lately and I assume its partly these new fears/understandings.

Any thoughts?

[Abraisme]

I have no idea why these things happen, it's probably different for each child. However, it is totally normal. My 10mo DD is also very suspicious of the vacuum and has suddenly decided that the bathtub is terrible place to be, before this she loved bathtime. Most of these fears are short lived and work themselves out.. Perhaps it's when kids start to get some sort of imagination? Who knows..

[texaspeach]

I don't know how it happens either but it is a stage of normal development. ds is terrified of a big rubber ball we have. it's just a generic 12" ball but when he sees it he tries to hide behind me. he hasn't been hurt by it or anything, it's just scary to him. same thing about the coffee grinder noise. it used to be ok but is now like a monster to him.

[leam811]

Hee hee - DH stuck a wild turkey decoy (big plastic bird) in our little backyard garden a couple of months ago, and DD (almost 11 mos now) regarded it with grave suspicion. She would keep her eye on it the whole time we were outside, and cling to me. It cracked me up - I mean, the thing is a little ridiculous looking, but about the same size as her!

Now diaper changes are the new horror. She's like, AAggh! Helllppp! She's stabbing me!!! O the agony!!!

[cristeen]

We're getting this too. The other day I was getting ready to leave and went to lower the security door while he was on my hip - and the noise of it (which really isn't that loud) had him burying his face in my shoulder and shaking. He's always hated the vacuum though.

[tzs]

we went from hating the vacuum to not caring about the vacuum to hating the vacuum again. and she is the most independent fearless babe.
it's the baby and the dog huddled together in the corner. i dunno. scaaaaary!