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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Random old ladies touching my baby's hands!

319 replies

MsKLo · 21/01/2011 20:17

AGHHHHHH

So this happened again...

In Tesco's the other day and my baby is in the trolley and I am shopping away when an old lady (I only put old as it has always been old ladies who have done this!) comes up to us and takes my baby's hand in hers...

I really really hate this! Why do people I do not know insist on touching my baby's hands? She puts them in her mouth still, I don't want random strangers who I don't know touching her hands.

Get orrrrfffff! I don't want people touching my baby's hands! One time, this other old lady who was coughing and sniffing came up and went to touch my baby's hand and was offended when I moved my baby away!

Do any of you ladies get annoyed by this or does it not bother you?!

OP posts:
AmazingBouncingFerret · 21/01/2011 20:18

It's never happened to me. My children mustny be as cute and adorable as yours! Wink

Minshu · 21/01/2011 20:19

I feel the same way, but they are just trying to be nice...

strawberrie · 21/01/2011 20:19

I think you are being a little precious - it's really not going to do your baby any harm. Give your baby's hands a wipe once you're out of sight if it makes you feel better.

Toughasoldboots · 21/01/2011 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RavenHairedPrincess · 21/01/2011 20:20

PFB by any chance?

rubyslippers · 21/01/2011 20:20

So not bothered by this

Babies are washable and wipeable if you are worried about germs

ISNT · 21/01/2011 20:21

This sort of thing has never bothered me, TBH. But I know from previous threads that lots of people do object to this sort of thing, so it's not just you.

PigValentine · 21/01/2011 20:21

I think it's lovely. It doesn't bother me at all.

ShowOfHands · 21/01/2011 20:21

Unclench.

They're being moved to make human contact with a beautiful baby. You're being very precious.

sunchild77 · 21/01/2011 20:21

PFB alert!!!!

You can't protect them from everything you know...

Aussieng · 21/01/2011 20:22

Ah - three old men came and did this to my 3 month old DS today at the supermarket. One of them was scruffy. TBH I love it that in passing old people can see how cute adorable and friendly my ds is and that he seems to be a real people person and revel in the attention.

DS puts all sort of cr*p in his mouth - I try to stop the worst of it but mostly I just tell myself that he is building up good immunity Smile

MissBeehiving · 21/01/2011 20:22

Those damn old ladies, always smiling and saying nice things to babies. Get a tazer and USE IT. That old bid needs sorting.

5Foot5 · 21/01/2011 20:23

Are you serious? Do you really get upset about some nice old lady wanting to hold your baby's hand?

If you are so anxious about germs I am surprised you don't keep her in a sterile bubble!

tinierclanger · 21/01/2011 20:23

Awww. I started the same thread when DS was little and got a good and probably deserved telling off for being PFB. YABU but I totally sympathise. :)

KenDoddsDadsDog · 21/01/2011 20:23

One grabbed my DDs hand this evening in the supermarket. I quite like it actually as it means people are being kind to her.

MoonUnitAlpha · 21/01/2011 20:24

Never happened to me but wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

PigValentine · 21/01/2011 20:24

Why do people object to it though?! What is going to happen to your baby if an old lady strokes their hand?!

Changeisagoodthing · 21/01/2011 20:24

They put a £1 coin it babies hands in the north- random strangers.

mutznutz · 21/01/2011 20:25

Oh get over yourself they're just being warm and kind for goodness sake Biscuit

Aussieng · 21/01/2011 20:26

Change - it is supposed to be a silver coin but that is inflation for you!

BlueFergie · 21/01/2011 20:26

God no it never occured to me to be bothered by this. But then I have a very relaxed approach to germs in general. I think they are overhyped! I think my DD had the same feeling as you though. She used to snatch her hand away anytime anyone tried to touch it when she was small. Could actually be a bit embarrassing!

supersewer · 21/01/2011 20:26

I appreciate your hygiene concerns but I think it's such a shame that we no longer allow our kids to be petted or talked to by strangers - If your hygiene concerns are so important carry some alcohol wipes. OUr children are in danger of becoming rude and offensive if we continually withdraw them from these situations and poor old ladies who only want to reach out and share a moment with someone are bearing the brunt of our hygiene and stranger danger concerns.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 21/01/2011 20:27

Never bothered me.

When your child crawls round the floor and shoves all manner of things into their mouth - including but not limited to - slugs, snails, cat food, cat litter, mud... then the light touch of an old lady's hand is nothing to bother about.

My eldest went through a phrase of sticking his thumb up his arse. After that, I don't think I would have cared if old ladies came up and licked his hand and passed him their false teeth to play with.

daisyj · 21/01/2011 20:27

I think it's lovely - I'm always shocked and a little resentful at how little attention English people give dd; it's usually the foreign ladies who coo over her, and I must admit I lap it up! So yes, YAB a bit U.

HecateQueenOfWitches · 21/01/2011 20:27

phrase? phase. obviously.

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