This mum just blocked my toddler from approaching hers

Yes, that does sound twattish

. As another pp said, not everyone thinks other people's kids are cute
Especially not in M & S

I suspect the toddling child excited with his new toy was getting in the way of actual shoppers

Entitled parents think the whole world is a playground and we're all there to coo over their darling children

Maybe so, it is is genuinely alarming to see how much rude behaviour is regarded as perfectly normal and acceptable on this thread. What on earth is happening to us?
In the past, people welcomed conversation and interaction with others. Nowadays, we don't need it because we come on sites like this and social media to get our interaction so we don't 'need' to speak to real people and the fact that most on here don't seem to have a problem with a woman blocking a THREE-YEAR-OLD from taking to her child speaks volumes.
Ban or control all interaction outside the home, don't answer the door, ban visitors until baby is XX weeks old, go no contact with people over the slightest issues - then go back on social media to whine that you've got no-one to help out/babysit. Does anyone else think we are going mad?

I would have agreed if they’d been at a train station or close to a busy road. But a two meter distance inside a supermarket is not exactly ‚wandering off‘ and it doesn’t seem like the kid was running around (which wouldn’t have been great, I agree).

Ask your self op why you bothered by this interaction. I can see 100s reasons why a mum wouldnt want the children to mix especially as your child had toys in his hand. Let it go but why you overthinking this.

<ul><li>"toddler: 1 to 3 years"</li></ul>

The NHS is wrong there because it is indeed 1 to 3 not 1-4 so they become a toddler on their first birthday and stop being one when they turn 3. I studied child development and that's what we were taught and that's generally considered to be the age range for toddlers, not 1-4.

Exactly. Can’t believe that some posters actually said it was rude of the three year old to approach the other kid 😵‍💫

Having seen the latest; so you have a non verbal autistic 3 year old and you are letting him wander off? As the mother of an adult with ASD please put him on reins, letting him wander around is just an accident waiting to happen.

That's what kids do, they talk to other kids, they don't have to make an appointment to talk to people.

Kids are naturally friendly and don't have any hang ups it's the adults that have them.

Or maybe she's just a misery.

I think you have a point here. I remember my mil, who was so malicious to us, telling me that it was hard to name her children because she was a teacher and she couldn’t use any of the names for all her many years’ worth of students as she didn’t want to be reminded of any of them. I was surprised at the time because that meant she didn’t like any of her students. I understand not liking some, but all? I think it is disturbing when a person doesn’t like children generally.

From what was described in the OP, it is patently clear the other parent did not want the OP’s DC to interact with or get too near her DC. Who knows why but it sounds like more of a how dare he approach my little prince rather than fear her DC might have meltdown and try to get the toy or prevent OP’s DS from following her. If that was the case, she’d have exchanged a few words saying so.

Very aggressive act to put her hand in front of him and I’d be a bit WTF too. Normal behaviour would be to smile and say ‘that’s a nice toy’ etc to a small child and move swiftly along (not that that would really be possible with a walking 2 year old).

Unfortunately this is the way society has become, rude, insular and not even willing to exchange a few pleasantries for a few seconds to a fellow parent while walking along or encourage normal social interactions between young children. The responses on this thread are a case in point!

Hate is a strong word but I'm definitely not a child person except for my own and my niece and nephew.

She probably was making sure he didn't follow her and get lost. I'd do the same if the child's parent wasn't immediately to hand as I wouldn't want him to follow me and then not be able to see his mum. Plus her kid would possibly chuck a fit at the sight of cool toys he couldn't have. You know what toddlers are like, unreasonable little fuckers, sometimes you just have to avoid temptation.

This.

I have a hearing loss and am ND and an introvert. I struggle to even look at the face of an unfamiliar adult when I'm out and about, never mind speak to them. I'm better with children, though.

I absolutely wouldn't have said anything, or even looked at the OP.

I wouldn't say I'm "weird". I'm just wired differently to you, that's all.

All of this

Bit off topic snd not necessarily saying anyone on this thread is “a child hater” but generally speaking many “loving mothers” could also be considered “child haters” lol

I have a friend who is a doting mother of 4 kids who openly says she can’t stand other peoples kids. I read it on here all the time about people who don’t like kids outside their immediate family.

Most of my teachers were mothers and fathers and at least half of them seemed to dislike kids.

@Sugargliderwombat I wouldn't purposely ignore a kid that was trying to say hello or whatever but if anyone was right next to me wangling something around and didn't speak, I would probably blank them. I know that probably makes me a bad person.

🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm not worked up, I work with little kids and think it's a weird thing to do.

https://service-manual.nhs.uk/content/inclusive-content/age#:~:text=baby%3A%20during%20pregnancy%2C%20at%20birth,child%3A%204%20to%2012%20years

• "toddler: 1 to 3 years"

If I felt they were in my personal space I would.

Again, we have no idea what kind of day the other mum was having. Maybe smiling wasn't an option. A stranger also isn't entitled to know where someone is going or why they don't want to engage with a random child.

Im sorry but who do you think you are? Does everyone owe you an explanation of their life and day to day comings and going’s ? If I was in a rush I absolutely would blank an adult and walk past - none of your business is it at the end of the day!!! I can’t imagine being so worked up about this, it’s the most minor interaction. I’d probs smile if I was in the mood to.

Do you talk to everyone you make eye contact with in the supermarket or something?

And yes, I will talk to people if I’m not in a hurry and I’ll always chat to the checkout staff etc etc.

So smile and say that ? You wouldn't blank an adult and walk off so why model that to your child ?

YABU for referring to a three year old as a toddler.