to not want strangers to keep touching DS without permission?

[Fruitflieslikeabanana]

OK this may turn into a rant

Why is it some people feel the need to touch / stroke / pinch the cheeks of my 10 month old DS? I've just taken him to the GP (D and V for several days but thankfully resolving today) and as I know he is probably contagious I sat as far away as possible from others and kept him sat on my knee. He's doing a lot of babbling at the moment so sat there making bits of noise and blowing a few raspberries which lead not one but two people to come over and put their hands on his face and coo at him.

I'm not particularly confrontational so I don't like just telling people to just go away or snatch DS away. AIBU to expect people not to do this to a child they do not know? It used to happen a lot when he was a small baby but I thought it would stop now he's bigger.

"Touch A Toddler Today"

Brilliant!!

Ah, I like it when people pay attention to DS! I don't speak much of the language here, but there is an international language of chubby baby cheeks needing to be touched. I just see it as a natural acknowledgement that he is the most gorgeous baby ever :o. He seems to like it too.

Nobody EVER wanted to caress dd1. She looked like a scowling Jewish accountant with a combover, even from birth, and anyone who dared approach would be treated to a truly chilling and contemptuous stare. I used to LONG for somebody to admire my baby.

They're quite capable of deciding for themselves.

How true NannyOgg. The mother appears to see them as a possession or an extension of herself. They are individuals. What is good for a precious ornament isn't best for a DC.
It is a terribly sad world if the baby and elderly ladies can't be friendly in a tactile way because mother is caught up in 'my baby' and you must ask 'my permission' (to which she is quite likely to refuse!).

What I find strange is that there is an assumption that if you don't like strangers to touch your child then they will not be socially interacted. DS has a huge extended family, we have a large circle of friends and attend a lot of kiddie groups etc. It's just strangers getting a kick out of it I don't understand.

Maybe I am missing a trick though, I could advertise DS services and even charge - I could do with a little extra cash

Snap Devora, well, except the Jewish accountant bit, dd was quite a grumpy whey-faced whinger as a baby, I was longing for somebody to pick her up or pat her cheeks, or anything really.
She's nice now though .
I can generally resist a baby but not a puppy, but yes, OP yabu. It is lovely when people make a fuss of children!

How can a DC have too much love Fruitflies? How sad to cut off extras because 'you have enough'. Why not humour the elderly lady? She may not have a huge extended family and lots of friends. It is a two way thing-the baby understands it.

'Strangers getting a kick out of it'

what an odd way to look at it

It's just strangers getting a kick out of it I don't understand.

Your turning something that is an innocent act that makes an old lady happy into something horrible sounding.

Despite what the daily mail say there isnt a gang of pedo's constantly following you to snatch you baby when your not looking

It is the whole reason that the British are not know as child lovers. The parent expects 'love my DC under my control' and, not surprisingly the average person says 'no thank you-we won't bother at all'.

I think what the OP is saying is why do people think it is ok to touch a baby. You wouldn't go up to an adult and touch their face...

I'm with you OP it really annoys me and yes i have told people not to touch DD. Not fucking precious (much) Worra just not interested in strangers touching my baby when I don't know where their hands have been.

AIBU has just turned in to if the OP says something, let's all agree the opposite....

ok so maybe the wording not quite right, but like I said, I have never wanted to approach a baby in the street so I guess that's wht I find it strange in others

Why just the old ladies? Today I literally melt at the sight of a 3 months old baby at the school gate.
Having lived in the UK for too long, I didn't touch her

No AIBU has turned into a debate, some people don't agree with the OP ,that's allowed.

Oh and its never been a little old lady wanting to touch DD its been young people who for Londoners should bloody well know better to not even make eye contact with us!

I reckon this is a stealthy old stealth boast

Mmm hmmm

I coo and smile at babies, I never touch them unless I know them!

YABVU, how miserable!

Try not feeding your baby- then s/he won't have those adorable little chubby cheeks. Have a really ugly snotty child with drool. Or perhaps this thread can co-exist with 'Why o why are British people so anti-children? Every time I go out, people glare at my child!'.

Yes she has said she is saying that, Diddley

I don't think your assessment of AIBU (which is about right on most threads) applies here. Human contact is very important and is something we are losing because of society's paranoia and preciousness. There are loads of lonely people out there who never get contact with another person - they are lonely. Babies are small and squidgy and (sometimes) smiley and (usually) adorable and they smell lovely - when they're not needing a chage obviously :) - and they have dewy-soft skin. It is hard wired in us to smile at them and cuddle them and protect them. It's sensory. In years gone by, most people would be able to cuddle babies much more often because of extended families living together etc. Now in this country there are many people who hardly see a baby, let alone get the change to cluck and coo and smile over one

Why can't people be a bit more generous and kind?

CHANCE not change.

I don't mind cluckking and cooing, but not touching her face.

Which is what the OP asked. Not about strangers just generally interacting with her baby, and showing interest. We all agree that's nice and lovely of people.

But don't touch her face!

Well put Ariel, I hope you get your wish.

I suggest OP does not travel too far, DS was pinched and cuddled to within an inch of his life in Portugal, the same happened to DD in Italy. It was lovely.

My first baby is still inside me for another week or two, so am talking purely theoretically here - but given my observations on other people's literally crappy post-toilet-going hygiene, I can't see my postnatal self being all that thrilled by complete strangers prodding my offspring's cheeks with their urine-y (and worse) fingers.

I'll either have to hand them disinfectant gel or train him to snarl like a chubby-cheeked little attack dog as soon as he has teeth.

My toddler gets petted and patted and choochy chooed by the supermarket ladies where I live, although one backed off shat ish when he firmly clutched her breasts and refused to let go.