At what age is a baby most likely to cry when being held down on an exam table?

At around 7-8 months, infants experience significant developmental milestones, including increased awareness of their surroundings and heightened separation anxiety. This age marks a period when babies become more socially aware and begin to show preferences for their caregivers, which can lead to distress when they are placed in unfamiliar situations or handled by individuals they do not know well.

When placed on an exam table, the baby may feel insecure and anxious, resulting in crying as a way to express discomfort or fear. This reaction is part of a normal developmental phase where separation from caregivers causes emotional distress, and the desire for security is very strong. The developmental psychology surrounding this age group explains why babies would be most likely to cry when being held down in a situation that feels threatening or unfamiliar to them.