For saying hello to a toddler in the park with his parents?

[MrBloomsNursery]

We have a new large sandpit area in the local park and I was standing near the play boat with DD, and this toddler came walking up to me with a big grin, so I said "Hello!", as you do to a baby. Anyway I looked up and his father was giving me evils, but the woman was okay. The man had a can of lager in his hand. Anyway, I felt like I had made a mistake by saying hello to his baby, so I took DD to the other side of the play area.

A few minutes later they walked passed me again, and he gave me evils again.

Is it wrong to talk to another person's baby if it is walking up to you? I've said hello to another toddler when I was in the eye hospital with DD before, and his Mum got pissed off and gave me evils too. Are you not supposed to acknowledge other people's children? Should you just ignore little smiling faces? Have I been making a big mistake by acknowledging these children....I feel like I've been making a mistake all this time....

YANBU. I say hello to babies and tots that come up to me or look at me as well - it is normal.

When my DD was 4 we were in a supermarket with my mum and dad and DS.
There was a family in front of us with man, woman and 3 DDs.
As my DD walked ahead the man put his hand out anf gently stroked her head .
I thought "Oh they're friendly in Glasgow".
Poor man was embaressed but joked and we saw the funny side.He'd just seen the blond head and assumed it was one of his.
Didn't think there was anything odd. But then my DD was only 10 feet ahead not out of vision.

My mum says I used to stand at the bottom of our garden and talk to anyone who walked past from about 2 and a half,

The media has created a sensation over stranger danger, this can contribute to people's reactions if they are stupid enough to believe this sensationalism. Stranger Danger generally equates to an average of 3% of crimes against children. The problem has not got worse, we just hear more about it. Thus people are afraid to speak to children / parents can react badly to people who do. Is bull shit really. If my child is lost or something, I would far rather they spoke up to people, the more, and the louder the better!

Maybe he was giving you the evils because you are the kind of sunny lovely person who little children smile at while he is a sad loser who is destined to slink lower into his lager-filled pit of despond. Actually given those circumstances, I might give you the evils too..