This is crazy, put a snake next to a 3 month old and watch the kid try to put it in her mouth. By the time a kid is a year old they have probably been exposed to hundreds of snake related scenarios through various media. The walk in on the wrong part of a scary movie, or are just not familier with the animal in general, and they might be scared for a bit. Unless the fear is truely phobic, it can be overcome in a matter of minutes and a beer or two (ok we are talking about kids, a Zima or two). Also, why would we have an instinctual fear of snakes? We are not on their list food items. An instinctual fear of lions would make more sense, but no, they are cute and cuddly. Bears maybe, nope they most kids first best friend. Hey, thinking about it, the Care Bear Cousins didn't have a reptile representative. Ummmmmmmm