Fear of Strangers?

My son has NO fear of strangers. This is funny, because for his first year he had SUCH an attachment to me that he didn't like anyone else. NO ONE else could hold him, not even his father.

Now however (he's 20 months) he follows random people constantly. If someone walks by at the park,. he will follow them. He tries to follow people into their houses. He hugs and tries to do kisses to strangers. Today there was an older gentleman who walked by the playset and Logan RUNS up to him and hugs him, trying to get him to pick up my son. Then he wraps himself around the poor guys leg and I had to detangle my son to get him off. lol

Is this just a normal phase? I don't want to instill fear in my son, but he needs to understand that you don't just follow random people, doesn't he? He doesn't really have much in the way of language or even a great grasp of understanding language, so I"m sort of stuck.

Lol, I've never experienced this, but my DS who is going to be 3 in Feb he tells everyone he loves them, and he only does that when he strikes a convo with them lol. Idk if its normal but I'd say its a good thing ur never far from ur Kiddo lol

Dean was like that, he wouldn't touch people tho he would just go up and start talking to them, around that age I started talking to him about *strangers and getting lost* when I noticed he was about to start his wandering I would re direct him to just say, "hello"

I don't know if it's normal, but my son was the same as he was approaching 2. Now, at almost 3, he still is very friendly but from a distance. Does that make sense?

He still loves to socialize and will begin to approach someone, but shows some apprehension. He now is also wary when a stranger approaches us at a store to talk to him. He will talk to any neighbor who walks past, but doesn't run up to them like he used to with strangers.

At my son's 9 month appt the nurse gave me crap because he didn't have any fear of strangers. Like I was supposed to do what about that? lol

He's always been really ok with going to people, but in the last year or so have become way more careful. (He's 5)

Quoting DeanJade&Maksims Momma:" Dean was like that, he wouldn't touch people tho he would just go up and start talking to them, around ... [snip!] ... *strangers and getting lost* when I noticed he was about to start his wandering I would re direct him to just say, "hello""

I'm just so lost, because he used to be 100% opposite of this and cry if someone even LOOKED at him. Now he thinks everyone is his best friend, lol.

He really has a very limited grasp on language, so he doesn't really "get" getting lost. I generally just keep a really close eye on him and am thankful his sister isn't like this, haha. It lets me watch him closer because I don't have to watch her like a hawk.

my DD used to do that too, she'd just run up to random people and give them hugs. now, she's 4, she still goes up to people and will just start talking to them. every where we go i have a whole conversation with her about not talking to strangers and she says ok mommy, but then two seconds later she's telling every person who walks past us hi.

My ds is like this most of the time. Tells everyone he loves them, will talk to anyone. Will grab someones hand and pull them where he wants them to go. I totally think its a phase!

I'm so glad it's normal! haha. He is a bit behind with his speech, so I think I worry. I was so not used to this total lack of fear, haha. His sister is more reserved, like she'll smile, and talk, but from a distance.

It's also such a huge change from how he was before, haha. I was SO embarrassed for that poor man who he latched onto, haha.