Old lady keeps approaching my toddler, making me feel uncomfortable

You don't have to feel guilty about this
Just don't give the lady mixed signals
I would simply hate this over friendliness- it's my personality. If I saw her I would run the other way, or if she approached I would say Sorry we are in a hurry.

You run the risk of raising a child with irrational fears and self doubt. You sound very controlling.

And none of them were killed with their mother's present

Assault Toddlers in buggies with their mother there? Not heard of any cases of that

Complete bollocks.

YANBU. It’s the extent of it that sounds wrong. I’m sure we’ve all had older women come up and admire our babies and toddlers or make a comment about their lovely curls or cute outfit or whatever, but there’s a difference between that and someone looking out the window, rushing out of her house and touching your child even though you’ve asked her not to and your DS doesn’t like it.

Trust your instincts. Something about this woman makes you feel uneasy. She made your OH uneasy too. Next time cross the road, walk on quickly and blank her. Your son is a person not a doll. His boundaries matter - and so do yours as his mother.

Why is her age relevant?

Actually I would agree that getting involved is often not worth it.

You are being ridiculous 🙄

How true. Just an old lady who is now being painted as a dangerous pedo.

Its no wonder society is fucked when the OP thinks being polite to a probably lonely and isolated old lady is a big ask and makes her uncomfortable.

Oh good lord you can't be serious. As if that has ANYTHING to do with the situation in the OP.

Cool story.

My DH grabbed a child who was about to run into the road the other day as her parents weren't watching her. I said, jokingly, you shouldn't have intervened as the police will accuse you of molesting her. Not too far from the truth. After reading this thread I will never intervene in any situation or interact with any children.

A perfect example of what I've just added 😂

It s just an old person being friendly. Have you been anywhere outside the UK? If you go to any Mediterranean country a hundred old ladies ll do that. And about touching to be touching if your little one was less than a year old I would understand, but a 2 year old. I think you are exaggerating in my opinion.

Please just ignore posters who use this expression for women in their 60s. They are just trying to wind people up so they will get a response. 😂

There's a lady about the same age down my road who does this, I think she probably has the start of dementia as she always asks the same questions "are they twins?", she then says God bless and kisses their heads. At first I was a bit shocked but they are 3 now and they give her a warm smile. It probably makes her day every time she sees them, I see her face light up when I say " Yes they are twins! " . You could always flip it if you feel uncomfortable about the touching by saying "oh don't touch him he's just recovering from a cold and would hate for you to get it" If the other things you say haven't worked.
But I do agree with others it's probably innocent and times have changed

My view is be kind get a grip and just whst is the world coming to?
BTW 60s is not old!

I wouldn't like this at all @housinghun.
You've made it clear to her you don't like her touching him and nor would I. If you have to pass her, I'd start ensuring your body is in the way in front of your son or lift him up so you can turn when she reaches out. I did that once when an old man reached out to ruffle my son's hair, having done it the week before at church, and I know he absolutely hates people touching him, or even talking to him, tbh! The chap looked at me aghast as his hand hung in mid air, but I thought no, you don't get to be offended, I'm offended at you, how dare you try to touch someone without their consent and then have the cheek to look upset.

If you look at the post I quoted I was simply confirming that this custom is traditional in Northern England, not aware that I made any reference to the OP….

Yes but he will know his friends touching him a stranger on the other hand is totally different.

OP I’m sure there’s no need for alarm it would be different if he was on his own but he is with an adult. You have asked her to not touch him so if she continues then I would have a stern word

The old lady may also be lonely, no family and loves babies.

When you are the same age as the lady, you may know what this experience feels like.

This thread is insane. So many entitled women of a certain age.

I'm so so sorry for what happened to your brother. For what it's worth, I think that women are absuers far more often than we like to think. The reason that this isn't known is that people shout stories down as being andectotal and 'not based on statistics'. It is very cruel.