Help dd hates men!!

[KellyJ]

Hi All -
Hoping I can get some advice from anyone that may have some experience in this type of thing. My DD is 13 months old and is scared of any man that she doesn't know exceptionally well. She isn't around too many men as neither myself or my husband have our dads around anymore and we don't see our (mine and my husbands) brothers very much.
She cries whenever a male comes around but strangely enough can't stop staring at them, then will look away and cry but then look back at them!!
I have tried doing the introductions very slowly and giving her a chance to suss them out before interacting with her but this hasn't really helped too much.
Does anyone have any advice on what I can do or is it just a faze that she will hopefully grow out of soon
I would greatly appreciate any advice at all - thanks in advance

[rhyb]

DS went through that stage and now is still very wary of new people. I just rode it out figured forcing anything wouldnt end well so I left it. Sorry

[Hansie]

My DS was also the same. Fine with DH and Grandpa, but any other males would have him clinging to us and crying but at the same time wanted to know where they were at all times. The worse one was his uncle because he lives in ADL and we only see him twice a year. By Sept this year he was much better would shake hands and be in the same room as him without clinging to us. He was 21mths at the time. I think over time he adjusted to seeing men and was able to communicate by saying "man" everytime he saw a man walking a dog. I think it is something that takes time and patience.

[nicjay]

Hi Kelly,

My DD1 was also really wary of men as a little one, even her grandfathers. It has improved now she is older, but she is still a little shy to start with when she first meets a "new man". She soon gets over it now though and is happy to talk to them, but we don't push her either. I wouldn't be surprised if your DD improves as she gets older

Good luck!

[~clover~]

Both my girls were like that from around 8 or 9 months, til around 2. Its just a stage they go through.
DS is the opposite. Not too keen on other women.

[Arcadia]

DD is also scared of new men. She screamed and screamed and screamed when my sis introduced her new bf. Even her pop got some weird looks this time around.

[KellyJ]

Thanks so much for your responses guys - it's comforting to know that her reaction to men is a little more common than I thought - hopefully she will just grow out of it in due time - thanks again!