Stranger Anxiety

Daniel and I have been wondering for a couple of weeks now if Elijah might be showing some signs of stranger anxiety.  At church, every time we hand him to the lady in the nursery (Jackie) he cries.  For 2 weeks he did this.  We thought it might be that he just doesn't like her.  (We don't really think she's that good with babies.  She doesn't know what to do when they cry, she doesn't get down on the floor and play with them, really the only thing she does well is rock them.)  Then, last week, at his pediatrician appointment, he was not very happy when the nurse started doing stuff like measuring him and listening to his heart.  But that could have just been that he didn't like being messed with- not that she's a stranger.

Well, after this morning there is no question.  I walked into his classroom as his regular teacher, Justine, was walking out.  She had to go talk to her boss for a minute.  I walked in, put him down on the carpet like I always do, and turned around to put his bottles in the fridge.  I noticed briefly that there were 3 new teachers in the room that I recognized, but had never seen in his classroom before.  I got about 2 steps away and Elijah started wailing.  Like scrunched up face, full on crying.  I was so surprised!  I have never EVER seen him do that.  And especially not at the beginning of the day.  Every single morning he goes straight for the toys and babbles and smiles and loves all the attention lavished on him by his teachers.  So I turned around, asked him what was wrong, and when he didn't calm down I picked him up.  He immediately stopped.  So I held him while I put his bottles in the fridge until Justine came back into the room.  I told her what happened and she was also very surprised.  But at the same time, kind of not surprised.  Like this happens quite often- the stranger anxiety.  She took him from me and he was totally fine.  Smiled at her, no problem.  I walked across the room to fill out his form and he crawled over to play at my feet.  There was only one other baby in the room and she was in her crib almost asleep.  The other 3 teachers were sitting around the room chatting and getting ready for the day.  Justine went over to her crib to pat the other baby's back and help her get completely asleep.  I told her how we had practiced walking (while holding onto our hands) with Elijah all weekend.  I demonstrated for her, and helped Elijah walk over to one of the new teachers.  As soon as he got close to her, he started crying again.  She reached for him and tried to comfort him.  I was talking in a happy voice and smiling to hopefully show him that she is a nice person.  But he wasn't having it.  He just kept wailing.  I looked to Justine and the other teachers and told them I don't know what to do.  Do I just leave?  Eventually I picked him up and comforted him, and he stopped crying immediately.  I handed him to Justine and he was fine.  So I kissed him goodbye and left.  It was really hard.  Justine assured me that he would be fine.  I trust her.  I know she won't let him cry.  But oh my goodness was that hard.

This concerns me because my parents and brother are coming out here in less than a month.  I really don't want Elijah to cry every time they hold him.  I have no idea how long this lasts.  Does he get over it in 30 minutes?  Or will he not allow anyone but Justine to hold him all day?  I honestly thought we wouldn't have to deal with this.  Elijah has always been outgoing and happy with anyone.  Of course we wouldn't see any indication that it would happen.  Just like with everything else, he just changes overnight.  That's how it works with babies.  I'm going to have to do some research.  And now for some pictures from this weekend: