At what age do infants typically start to exhibit stranger fear?

Infants generally begin to display stranger fear around 6 to 8 months of age. This developmental milestone is linked to their growing cognitive abilities and social awareness. By this age, infants are becoming more capable of distinguishing between familiar faces and new ones, which is a sign that they are developing attachment and recognition skills.

Stranger anxiety indicates that the child recognizes when someone is unfamiliar, leading to feelings of apprehension or fear. This behavior is a normal part of child development and demonstrates the infant's attachment to their primary caregivers, as they find comfort in familiar faces and experiences.

While some may begin to show signs earlier or later, the typical onset of stranger fear around the 6 to 8-month mark is well-established in developmental psychology literature, signifying an essential aspect of emotional and social development in infants.