to think people shouldn't touch a young baby without asking?

[PSeaGull]

First posting but I've been reading avidly since my (now 9 week old) DS was born - mostly while BF at odd times of the day and night.

So, this happened today but similar has happened twice before... I'm standing in a checkout queue with DS on my shoulder - we just nipped in for a couple of things so not worth getting seat etc out of the car - and I notice some movement behind me. The woman behind me has taken DS's hand and is stroking and shoogling it around. At that moment we moved forwards in the queue. Im sure she was just being friendly. But it got me thinking. I wouldn't ever presume to touch a baby I didnt know and even then I wouldn't unless invited to by his / her parents. Seems to me like an invasion of privacy - mine and his. And how does she know he wasn't ill... And was she?!

Apologies for typos - iPhone typing without glasses!

Get a sling, a ring sling or a stretchy one like a Closer or a Moby, and then you can carry the baby very close to you, on your front, and people won't get quite so close before interacting with you first, and you might feel more comfortable. I don't think you or they are unreasonable.

I secretly like it, it confirms my assertion that I have the best baby ever

Actually, I had the best baby ever, which is why I didn't mind either. Perhaps she was an early talker with a precocious vocabulary because sweet old ladies chatted to her in the queue at the Co-op.

There was a bloke feeding his newborn in a coffee shop a few weeks ago, throughout the whole of the process (heating up milk etc) a woman was gawping at him through the window, never taking her eyes off his baby and giving him the occasional thumbs up. (I was sitting directly opposite so could see it all without staring the poor bloke out). As she left she came into the shop so that she could stroke the baby's head! It was creepy if you ask me.

YADNBU but that is obviously not the majority opinion on here. I am not a touchy feely person and I think people should show the same respect to children as they would to adults. I have three children and one is a charming sociable child who has a very acute sense of personal space. It annoys me when people do not pick up on the clues she is giving off and do not back off.

OP, get used to it, it will happen at least once per day. YABU but I understand why as to be honest, at first it freaked me out (PFB) but I soon got used to it. It's mostly old ladies and schoolgirls, and very sweet.

The only time I've really thought, "Get away!" was when it was a drunk tramp on the bus. In that situation, I smiled politely but moved DS away as soon as I could.

However 99% of the time, it is harmless, nice people who just like babies. DS likes it too, he grins at them, so clearly not doing any harm!

YABU.
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