My son used to do that with MIL. I still don't know why. It put her off him, as she felt "rejected." To this day, she whines about it. He's a teenager.

Could be MIL's scent - does she wear perfume or scented deodorant?

Could be baby picking up on your anxiety if you're not at ease with MIL.

Could be something your MIL is doing - too loud, too pushy, not willing to put the baby down when she's had enough. Babies have their own way of saying no and some adults just don't respect that.

Babies pick up on anxiety. Is your MIL nervous around the baby?

I meant "daughter" not dad!

My dad who later was diagnosed with sensory issues, would freak with my MIL. My MIL would get too much in her face and talk way loudly, no amount of me telling her not to do it would work.

Is your MIL loud and in your DD's face?

My MIL would virtually scream in a baby talk voice in my DD's face. DD would cry as soon as MIL went for her and as soon as she could walk she would toddle away whenever MIL would come near her. Given my DD is now 4 and my MIL STILL yells at her in baby talk, I can't say I blame the kid at all.

DS used to do this. Full on sobbing, couldn't catch his breath screaming/crying. We had no idea what it was until one day it stopped (he saw her every couple of weeks). She had changed her hair products so we figured it was a smell or something that freaked DS out.

Could be the hair, could be her scent...The baby could also be reacting to your anxiety about the situation.

Any ideas why my 8 month old is upset by her grandmother?

It's not stranger anxiety ... When she meets new people, she's happy to let them hold her. This week an old friend of mine stopped by to meet the baby and they played and the baby let my friend carry her. A new person started working at DD's daycare and the two became fast friends.

But she cries when my MIL gets too close to her. They see each other every other week or so. Is this a phase? MIL has never offered to babysit (she's local) and I'm pretty sure this is why. Could it be the white hair (I am serious)? I think MIL is the only white-haired person DD has met.