to think that......

[MamaBear17]

When a little baby or a toddler smiles at a stranger in the street they should smile back? I took my DD out in her trike pushchair thing earlier and she was smiling and chatting to everyone she saw. A few people smiled back and even said hello, but I was shocked at the amount of miserable gits who kept a stony face and didnt even acknowledge her. One woman actually glared at me!! A smile costs nothing, surely?!

Um, yes. lots of people won't even have noticed. Or might be having a rubbish day.

I would hardly notice your kid chattering or smiling, it's below eye level and I have my own thoughts.

Most people block out mindless chatter around them in the street.

YANBU to think that, but YABU to expect it.

To flip your question on it's head, I've stopped doing it as often because of how many parents frown at me or give me dirty/funny looks whe I smile back. It seems that if I'm with my charges I can respond to a child's smile/hello, but if I were walking down the road myself or with other adults people with kids don't respond well :(

Miscarriages, hate children, bad day, partially sighted?

Any number of things that you don't know although if I ever see the lady in the restaurant who gave DD the evils again, she will be sorry.

Aw yes people should smile but I think sometimes people are preoccupied and don't mean to be grumpy. You are tuned into your toddler cos she's with you, but when you don't have one they can dip under the radar.

In a cafe I was having lunch and the toddler at the table in front turned and fixed me with unflinching stare. I'm afraid I moved.

1. Not everyone finds your child as cute as you do.

2. Some strangers will be afraid to engage with a child.

Although MY world revolves around my children and I find every smile and word heartwarming and endearing I don't expect everyone elses to. They probably didn't even realise, or they might not like children or they may have other things on their minds.

MamaBear - I remember being upset by that - people who didn't respond to mine when they were babies. I think someof them didn't want to make fools of themselves. Some were just miserable. Bit sad really, but some people don't care much about babies.

Perhaps some of them had been working in the toddler room all day at nursery and were enjoying a Childfree walk home from work?!

Yabu. They're not miserable, grumpy, moody etc. they just probably do t care. Nothing wrong with that.

werthers I have one of the creepy staring toddlers! I tell him to turn around and stop staring all the time. If someone elses toddler does it to me I have moved before. I don't like been stared at

Seriously, don't worry about it. Their minds were probably consumed by their own thoughts/issues. How many times has a stranger smiled at you whilst your mind is elsewhere, and you've smiled back only when it's too late for them to see?

Yabu.

Plenty of people don't like children/don't see them/are in a world of their own/busy/sad/etc.

I know well, all of the above, (and agree with most of it, particularly about other people not thinking my kid is as cute as I do!) I just think its a little sad that people can look directly at a smiley, happy kid and not respond with a smile. I wasn't really referring to random people who didn't notice us.

Blimey, what's with all the expectations that strangers minding their own business are somehow obliged to interact with kids that have no connection to them whatsoever this week? I got the evils and humphed at today for doing this very thing (ie nothing) in a cafe.

My dad died recently, my dog died shortly afterwards, I have chronic pain, my leg is swollen and is agony, social services are refusing to provide the care my specialist says I need and I'm trying to prepare myself for my appeal hearing in half an hour, I've got a migraine, I feel sick, I'm worried stupid, scared, feeling very vulnerable, and I'm autistic and don't do eye contact or smiles with strangers at the best of time. JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! ARRRRRGH.

I'm on the fence.
I usually ignore a child who's behaviour is bratty a bit exhuberant.
But today a little boy asked my 12.6 yo DS if he wanted some of his drink.
Sweet.
DS said "No thank you. I'm fine".
What would he have thought if my DS had blanked him/scowled/gave him evils etc.

YABU to title this thread as you have.

Not sure if YABU about people who don't smile back at babies/toddlers. I love smiling chatty little ones and will always smile back but I don't think you can take too much umbrage at those who don't.

I always smile and chat back as I can't resist

Not everyone likes kids or may only like the ones they know and are under no obligation to interact with your child. Why are some people with kids not able to understand this

Its like groundhog day on here sometimes

I don't see it as interacting with children, I see it as being polite.

Completely agree with Kladdkaka. You cannot possibly hope to know what other stuff might be going on - perhaps the person who didn't acknowledge your little bundle of cuteness had eyes that were blurred with tears? Did YOU notice that? You just don't know so get over yourself.

I agree with Shelley - YABU to have posted a thread with no indication in the title of what you are talking about.

YA also BU to expect me to interact with your child. When I'm walking down the street I do not see a bunch of lovely friendly people who I am dying to interact with. I see moving obstacles that I must avoid in order to get where I am going.

Wouldn't it be better if everyone smiled at everyone else? no just children?

Would make the world a nicer place.