Social & Emotional
Is shy/clingy/fearful around strangers
Typical Timing & Development Window
Starts
28
wk avg
Median
36
wk
Std dev
±4
wk
Flag
44
wk
Visual Timeline & Milestone Benchmarks
Typical range (68% of babies)
Earliest typical start
Median milestone age
Pediatrician check-in flag
What these numbers mean
Starts
~wk 28
The average age babies first begin showing early signs of this skill. Before this, it's simply too early — there's nothing to worry about.
Median
wk 36
The midpoint age: half of babies have reached this milestone by here, half a little later. It's a typical target, not a deadline.
Std dev
±4 wk
How spread out the timing is. About two-thirds of babies achieve it within one standard deviation of the median (the shaded band, wk 32–40). Wide bands mean a normal range of variation.
Flag
wk 44
A gentle check-in point. If your baby hasn't shown this by around here, it can be worth mentioning to your pediatrician — most often it's still perfectly fine, just later.
About this milestone
The infant shows wariness or distress around unfamiliar people, a normal stage of selective attachment.
What to try & how to support
- 1. Provide calm transitions and allow the infant to approach new people at their own pace.
What to avoid & gentle reminders
- 1. Avoid forcing social interactions; give the infant space while staying supportive.