To wish people wouldn't hold my baby's hands

[anicegreentea]

especially at this bug ridden time of year.
I keep telling myself not to be uptight and just go with the flow. You can't stop people cooing over cute babies.
But yesterday lady in department store came over to talk to him, holding both hands for ages. Then he grabbed her pen which she thought was cute/funny. I didn't say anything - what can you say anyway?!
Today he has vomiting, temperature, runny nose. I know it might not have been from this lady, but also It might have been!
Also had uncomfortable incident when an old lady who looked almost homeless did something similar in marks and spencers a few months ago.
Do these things annoy anyone else?!

[anicegreentea]

Tis quite amusing for you to suggest.

[zoobrown]

I don't think YABU, it really annoys me when people touch my baby! I don't mind people coming to say hello, and I know they need to be exposed to germs, but I don't like strangers touching my baby.

[Summerblaze]

Wow. Never even thought about that. I love it when people want to talk to/touch my baby and say how cute he is.

[EdwardtheEagle]

I don't think you're being precious. I don't like it either. I've bought a snooze shade to put people off
Anyone who says you're being pfb can fuck right off - you're only having your turn of being pfb just like they did. Maybe you'll feel different with number two, maybe not. It's your turn like they've had theirs.

[IFartInYourGeneralDirection]

I covered the pram with a blanket, not because of germs, i did it so the baby would sleep longer as he had nothing interesting to look at.

I reckon kids are more germ ridden then the average person so i wouldn't worry.

[Summerblaze]

Never met anyone almost homeless before though .

[Gigondas]

Why would anyone touch a baby if dont know you or ask? Yes play peepo, pull faces Etc but I think it's intrusive.

But do agree that bugs are everywhere and can't live I a bubble.

I thought the covered pram thing was a she who can't be named idea about having dark for naps.

[Summerblaze]

I also didn't mind anyone touching my first born either.

[CuriosityCola]

I have seen this kind of thread on here lots of times.

YANBU to think this way, but there isn't really anything you can do (apart from a discrete baby wipe afterwards). I can understand having a pfb and not wanting them to get unwell. It is good for their immune system though.

The only thing that bothered me was people who tried to feel for 'teethy pegs'. Ds now nips like a piranha, so it's at their own risk

I think people are being a little harsh describing the op as being hysterical

[CuriosityCola]

Gigondas that is what I thought the covered pram was about. Plus it seems to be easier than trying to position and reposition a sun umbrella.

[RedBunny]

Yeah it's a little odd how random people don't want to go up to me hold my hand or go to my husbands six year old and touch his hands or face but because its a baby that is normal? No! It's kind of like nobody thinking its normal to touch your tummy- until you're pregnant and then it's perfectly acceptable. I would rather let my baby get all its germs off friends! Strangers touching anyone they don't know regardless of age weirds me out.

[JenaiMathis]

This blanket over the pram thing is as new as the baby-carrying "fad" on the latest baby-without-a-hat thread.

You're all loons.

[Merinda]

YANBU. I find this disgusting that random people approach and start touching my baby's hands and face. I have told a few people quite firmly to back off. My LO has immune problems and any normal bug that would give a healthy child a snotty nose, creates 2-3 weeks of misery for us and multiple trips to A&E.

And to those who say that bugs are not spread by touch - read some NHS advice FFS, hand washing is the most effective way to prevent spreading bugs. The number of people not washing their hands after a trip to the bathroom, for example, is shockingly high.

[anicegreentea]

He's not a pfb. He's my second.
I just think it unnecessary. I don't get filled with rage or anything. And I don't hold it against people personally. They are just being nice and its not occured to them. But the department store pen, I couldn't help think it had probably been touched by numerous people. The sort of thing that does harbour germs. Have you not seen the flu advert?
I guess it's wishful thinking. It's not going to be something I can stop, but can't help wishful thinking.

[ivykaty44]

Would mittens stop people wanting to touch babies hands?

I never ever had this happen, where people held my babies hands - but I can see what you mean regards to germs etc with the babies hands going straight in his mouth afterwards

[anicegreentea]

Thanks it's nice to get a few agreements!

[Librarina]

I don't think you're BU to not like it - but a lot of people, elderly people especially rarely get to touch a babies soft skin, and it just feels so nice!

I think just keep telling yourself that it's ok for your baby to be exposed to germs, it'll help strengthen his immunity and then feel gladly smug that you have a lovely baby to squish, and be generous and share him just a teeny bit.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

curiositycola people put their fingers in your baby's mouth?! Hope he bites their fingers off. That is really really odd.

[DownTheRabidHole]

Yanbu. I think it's disgusting the way strangers want to touch babies. I also detest that "type" of woman who goes "squee I want to hold the newborn and the VU mother wouldn't let me". Fuck off.

[HipHopOpotomus]

Whenever I've covered the pram it was to cover DD from sun/wind/elements etc, or occasionally with a dark coat for sleeping. Not to keep germy people out :)
Surely it's not a new fad is it?

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Disgusting? In what way?

[squoosh]

You think someone wanting to touch a baby's cheeks/hand is 'disgusting'?

Get a grip. Seriously.

[Princessishavingababyboo]

I agree op, when I had ds2 a woman in boots stuck her head into my pram to look at ds and was touching his hands and face. When she stood back up to speak to me she absolutely reeked of fags and booze, I thought it was just awful, I just don't understand why some people think they can touch other people's babies.

[IFartInYourGeneralDirection]

Blanket things not new, i was doing it ten years ago. My kid was like a budgie, cover it up and he went to sleep.

[anicegreentea]

To those who are objecting to the phrase "almost homeless" would you prefer I said "dirty"? I didnt think it unreasonable to think a dirty person with grubby looking hands and clothes with holes in them might be homeless. I guess I added "almost" as I couldn't be sure. She could have just been an unclean wealthy person. I apologise to any homeless people. Some of you i am sure are very clean.