Stranger awareness means your baby knows the difference between safe and unfamiliar—that's actually a good thing.
These activities support secure attachment during the stranger awareness phase, build confidence through familiar games, and develop the social memory that helps your baby trust.
Crawling is coming! Place favorite toys just out of reach to motivate your baby to move. Celebrate every army crawl and scoot.
Container play is a hit now. Babies love putting things in, dumping them out, and doing it again. Simple cups and blocks are all you need.
Repetition is learning, not boredom. Your baby wants the same game 20 times because each round strengthens a neural pathway.
Hold baby in front of a mirror and make silly faces together — a sweet bonding moment that sparks those first social smiles.
Set up interesting toys around the room and let baby explore while you stay in one spot — building confidence through secure attachment.
Cover your face with a soft cloth and reveal it with a cheerful 'peekaboo!' — a timeless game that builds social anticipation and joy.
Show baby photos of family members and name each person — building recognition of familiar faces and early social connections.
Sit facing baby and roll a soft ball between you — a gentle introduction to the concept of taking turns and shared play.
Practice giving gentle hugs, kisses, and pats with baby and a soft stuffed animal — teaching them to express love through touch.