to be concerned when strangers touch my baby?

[workinggally]

when he's in the pram out and about they come up and admire him (which is ok). But often they touch his feet and hands as well and even the face!! Should I stop them? Someone wanted to pick him up!

[JeremyKylesPetProject]

I like strangers. One of them gave dd2 a £1 for no reason. I was well happy cos it meant I didn't have to break a Lady Godiva to pay for a cheese pasty.

[Pagwatch]

People touching your baby vs stranger danger.

If you don't know the difference I would seek the help of a professional.

[IWantToBeAFairyWhenIGrowUp]

Actually JeremyKyle funny you should say that. DD was out with DP the other night when this old chap asked her to help pack his bag with him. She helped him with his shopping and he gave her £1. I thought that was rather sweet.

[squeakytoy]

You can buy boxes of surgical gloves quite cheaply. I suggest that you take some with you, to hand to any unsuspecting unclean stranger that may take a passing interest in your child. Perhaps invest in some surgical face masks too, in case they breathe a bit to heavily.

Failing that, ensure said child is safely bubblewrapped from head to toe at all times when out in public.

[strawberrymewmew]

I feel quite bad that you are having the piss taken out of you so much, but I think it's more to do with all your threads put together.

You seem very OTT and a bit precious when it comes to your baby. I have read a couple of your threads. Including the one about the nurseries and nappies which was a bit strange.

Stop worrying so much and just enjoy your time with your baby.

[StyleandBooty]

I wish I'd offered mine around a bit more when they were babies, tbh. One elderly lady held dd (3m) for me in a car park when I had a luggage tsunami trying to get the change bag out, and the joy on her face was priceless. 100 other old dears materialised from around the car park in seconds for their turn.

[ChippingIn]

I'm now sorry I wasted so much time on your BLW thread - I thought you were a genuine poster in need of guidance, now I see you are just stiring the pot - still, makes life easier to know who is dwelling under a bridge and who isn't.

[ApocalypseCheeseToastie]

Meh, it's that weirdo from the other week. The name escapes me now but I can spot 'it' a mile off.

[CurrySpice]

REally OP you are going to send yourself mad with these worries :(

[missorinoco]

I think you should capitalise on it. Next time someone asks to pick him up, say "Marvellous, just off for a latte. I'll meet you back here in fifteen." Just don't forget to leave the changing bag.

[vintageteacups]

Nobody ever tried to touch my babies in the UK but in Germany, when dd was about 18months-2.6yrs, old men and old ladies used to pull her curls and twiddle her pony tails. I found it strange to start with but they were really nice about her and were only being kind. They used to say "schone lockige haare", meaning pretty, curly hair. She used to chat away to them and loved being the centre of attention.

[JanMorrow]

Well I know that every old lady that wants to touch my baby's face is actually a germ riddled closet paedo so I have a taser - anyone who even looks at her learns a swift, sharp lesson.

[Cartoonjane]

What dont you like about it? I always think it's sad sign that the British are reluctant to touch young children when other Europeans are much more friendly and tactile.

[MonstaMunch]

oh fgs

its people like the OP who have made me think twice about even smiling at a kid, let alone speaking to it or god forbid touching it in case it shatters into a million pieces

how sad for the poor kid who grows up with such a neurotic parent

[Ormirian]

My mum got called a 'horrible old witch' once when smiling at a little girl in the queue at Safeways. The mother turned round and instead of apologising to my mum and maybe having a word with the girl for being rude to harmless old ladies, gave my mum a hard stare and said 'Quite right, we don't talk to strangers so we darling?'

[GrumpyOldHorsewoman]

Orm, reminds me of the time I was watching DD1 at a gymnastics contest. I was 8 months PG at the time and a man sitting in front of me had a bonny, smily baby on his knee. She kept reaching towards me with her chubby little hand, so I reached back and touched her fingers. Dad turned and glared then proceeded to wipe baby's hand! I was mortified.

[Cartoonjane]

Re the stranger danger thing: I don't teach stranger danger to my daughter. I have told her what to do in the highly unlikely event of soemone trying to get her to go somewhere without me knowing but other than that I teach her to be friendly. She will gain far more from being trusting and friendly than she will from being wary and suspicious.

[Jemma1111]

FFS, get over yourself OP,

[pigletmania]

Oh dear is that all you've got to worry about op. Stranger danger and a newborn baby, so have you started teaching your baby about stranger danger

[TakeItOnTheChins]

I don't see why the OP is getting so much stick. I used to hate it when people touched my babies. It's all very well banging on about how their immune systems need building up and all that, but when you've got some old gimmer waving a disgusting hanky in your baby's face it's difficult to think "Aww, how sweet"

[exoticfruits]

She is getting so much stick because these threads turn up every few weeks. It is much better for you baby to be sociable than live in a plastic bubble! YABU. No wonder the British go down as child hating-they try to engage and it isn't liked! People in Greece, Spain etc just wouldn't understand how anyone could start such a thread!!

[TakeItOnTheChins]

It is much better for you baby to be sociable than live in a plastic bubble

Yes, because all the people who dislike their baby being touched by perfect strangers have actually suggested the plastic bubble, haven't they?

Don't be absurd. There is a middle ground between cutting babies/children off from everyone else, and allowing them to be pawed by anyone who fancies it.

Are you seriously suggesting that in order to be sociable, it's crucial that children are touched by strangers?

[exoticfruits]

I think that it is mean to stop old ladies for touching a foot etc.

I find it very annoying when people then moan about the places not being child friendly. People are child friendly on the own terms-the problem being that mothers want places to be child friendly on their terms and it doesn't work like that!
In child friendly countries people touch babies-they wouldn't understand all this my baby thing-as if it is a possession and not a person. If the baby doesn't like it -the baby will make it plain. Generally the baby is fine -it is the mother with my baby who has the problem!
It takes a village to raise a DC IMO-and good to be sociable early.

[whitechocolatebuttons]

Can't help thinking some of the responses to this thread are somewhat....flippant.

Its okay to tell someone not to touch your baby if you don't want them to.

[thisisyesterday]

it's fine for you to not want people touching your baby.

it's slightly odd to be "concerned" about it... i mean what exactly do you think will happen?