At what age is a patient most likely to experience stranger anxiety?

Stranger anxiety typically emerges in infants around the age of 6 to 12 months, peaking around 9 to 12 months. At this stage, babies begin to show apprehension when encountering unfamiliar people. This is a normal part of development as infants start to recognize their primary caregivers and establish attachment. By around 12 months, this anxiety is generally more pronounced, as babies are increasingly aware of social connections and have developed secure attachments to their caregivers. Therefore, the age of 12 months aligns best with the period when stranger anxiety is most intense.

While infants may show some signs of anxiety as early as 6 months and these feelings can persist or evolve until around 2 years, the peak and most notable expression of stranger anxiety typically occurs around the age of 12 months.