Old lady keeps approaching my toddler, making me feel uncomfortable

One day op you may be that old lady. I would be polite she sounds lonely. Also she isn’t a stranger if she is someone you pass regularly. Boundaries are one thing but I think you are being ott.

Agreed, but statistically, historically and logically there's an extremely good reason for that.

But it's not so that's irrelevant.

I can’t get past apparently being in OP’s Old Lady parameter ( I’m 62 and this has made me laugh).

Exactly. Also, what's the betting that the answers would be VERY different if it was an old man rather than an old woman.

Bloody hell, some of these responses. "Blank her, ignore her, not your problem" What happened to a bit of human empathy?
You can remind her not to touch your child but really the rest of it you are just being ridiculous.

Goodness.
I am surprised at these comments, normally I think Mumsnet is far too paranoid about old ladies showing an interest in children and I am on the side of the friendly elderly people.

This time however, I think op is NBU because the trying to remove the cap suggests the woman has a problem with appropriate boundaries and that would make me wonder if she is all there.
And if she’s not, it’s not her fault and you can still be friendly, but it would make me want to be extra careful too.

My 5 yr old grandson has developed friendships with some of the elderly people in their local area and it's a really beautiful thing to see especially when it's developed from them literally just waving from their windows to him as a toddler .It's a very difficult world our there and increasing engagement and socialisation from an early age is a great thing but the physical contact thing is difficult.
Perhaps frame it as he doesn't like being touched but I'd encourage the socialisation aspect.

When I was a wee girl I had lots of old folk pals, they were like unofficial extra grandparents, but it was a different world back then, people were friendlier with their neighbours and were trusted, kids could wander freely without their parents it was even encouraged. These days I am the old folk, but I wouldn't dream of approaching a child like that, it's a shame but the world has changed so much.
I think you're right to be cautious and protective , be friendly but keep a safe distance.

At the end of the day op everyone is presuming she's lonely etc but even if she is that's not your problem.

My mum was doing very similar in the earlier stages of her young dementia. She was a health visitor and loved children but had lost many inhibitions due to this awful disease.

Thankfully the parents were always kind to her as they quickly realised her intentions to their little ones were good and her actions were not harmful. It did make me nervous that some might be accusatory but thankfully not.

Obviously I've no idea if this is what's going on with this lady.

Obviously you don't know whether she's an axe wielding pedophiliac lunatic, and she could very well be. But on face value it seems unlikely. She's probably a lonely old widow who loves kids and seeing your son is one of the highlights of her day. She may even be in the early stages of dementia. Bear in mind that until fairly recently it was perfectly normal for "little old ladies" to coo over babies and young children, and even give them a hug. Now I do understand why this is no longer accepted and it is vital to teach children about stranger danger. But it's equally important to teach them to socialise and to recognise different social cues and sympathy.

So tell her not to touch your son and move on.

You do realise that when your child is old enough to make friends, some of them might touch him?

You're going to make him bloody terrified if you don't get a grip on this.

Dementia caused by social isolation????

Not that we know if she has dementia or not but it doesn't just.manifest as a bit ditzy and.forgetful. it can be unpredictable violence.

He probably lights up her day. I understand OP but I couldn't get heated up about something like that.

Oh FGS

It's a neighbour being friendly, it's a sad state of affairs if you're comparing her touching your child with assault.

Why not view it as teaching your child social interactions, chatting etc? It's a life skill.

You are being much too precious about this. It’s a natural human instinct for people to want to touch babies or small children. She’s just a lonely old lady who finds your child cute and enjoys some interaction with him. Is that really so terrible?

Exactly how does she touch him . You’ve only mentioned she went to remove his cap .
And you need to look up assault . You sound OTT

These comments are insane. You don't owe this woman politeness, I would blank her next time.

FGS world has officially gone mad. That's enough internet for me today.