Stranger Anxiety and a wedding...tomorrow!

[RiverandJulie]

OK-so the past month or so my 9mo has developed stranger anxiety. He really wants to be with mom or dad only (especially with me when I am around). HE is even crying when his previously beloved aunts and grandmas hold him.
SO...my younger sister is getting married tomorrow. I am a bridesmaid and DH is a groomsman. She is one of those people who has been planning her wedding since she was a little girl and having a baby in the reception line (is that what it is called?) is not in the plan. She is being very sweet about it, says if we have to, we can hold him....but this is her big day, and I know she would prefer him not to be up there with us.

SO, my MIL has been in town since Tuesday. The plan was, she would be in charge of Riv during the wedding. On Tuesday she got in town while I was at work. (I am a WOHM and DH is SAHD). He went right to grandma without a problem. Next day he had stomach issues and didnt feel good, so was pretty attached to mom and dad. But, since then, grandma has not been able to hold him. He just cries. I have tried to walk away and let them be together some. (but DH tends to swoop in).

ANy suggestions about what to do during the wedding. It is outdoors at my parents house, and he loves being outside, so the best thing I can come up with is for them to walk around and hope to get him distracted by something outside.....


SOrry so long-thanks for any ideas.

[lalemma]

I just met with a lactation consultant who handles my son's (somewhat mild) stranger anxiety in what I thought was a pretty brilliant way: she just sat cross-legged on the floor and went about her business, talking with me. Meanwhile, my baby crawled around on the floor, interested-but-standoffish at first. After maybe thirty minutes of her just sitting there and not reaching out to him, he pretty much crawled into her lap and stayed there the rest of the appointment, happy as a clam.

Maybe your mom could try something like that? Letting the baby come to her? At least for my baby, letting him take the initiative to meet new people seems to really defuse his anxiety. Might be worth a try.

Have a lovely time at the wedding!