AIBU to be hacked off over ppl touching my child

[choochootrain1]

I would NEVER touch a tot or baby without permission from the parent and knowing I had recently washed my hands...but it seems like the whole of London wants to touch my toddler (shake his hand/hi5 /even kiss his cheek!)

These are not ppl I know - these are random strangers! I'm on the verge of creating a badge asking ppl not to - but a friend thinks that would draw even more attention and ppl would assume it's a joke and do it more?

Thoughts? Advice?

Be happy that people admire your little one? Try to view it as positive interaction? Learn that you cannot keep children in a bubble? Want me to go on...?

Live on a desert island with the other two OPs who don't want anyone talking to their children.

Yes, YABU

To be clear it's not that I mind ppl interacting with my child - talking/smiling (all cool) I draw the line at putting hands ON him

I can't stand strangers touching DS either. Luckily I have a grumpy, unapproachable face. Combined with the usual stance - one hand over him in his baby carrier and the other held out ( a newspaper comes in handy) in front to bat away anyone that comes too close; we mange to avoid the 'baby gropers'

Someone will have to explain the narrow boat references?? First time in AIBU... No idea but sounds like an inside joke or this topics been done before..,

From reading the other replys - maybe this is a London thing!

You could make your self look scary to approach.

Also I do appreciate I can't keep him in a bubble tho I hear ya (but he's still small enough to need some "bubble") if he was 3 or 4 past needing a pushchair.. I don't think it would wind me up so much iyswim

I would hate that

Though I'm fully aware that I'm completely neurotic when it comes to my newborn

She's had bronchiolitis and only just gotten over it and it freaks me the fuck out when people touch her hands, and she puts them in her mouth

I'm terrible, I know

Narrow boat references - there's a thread today from a Mner on a narrow boat holiday who is objecting to strangers talking to her teenage children.

Her title is worded quite similarly to yours as it happens.

Love the tank.... Although unsuitable for public transport

Link to other thread here

It's got 451 posts though, so you might have to take a while to read it.
Just unfortunate for you, you've posted on the same day - on other days, this question gets a more mixed response

OP here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2143576-To-think-strangers-shouldnt-talk-to-my-kids

I don't think your neurotic howaboutno - my child has reasons why I have to be VERY careful about him picking up bugs... Ppl who randomly touch are totally ignorant of them tho and I don't wanna give a life story explanation of why ppl wouldn't touch him...just want to figure out how I could get it across politely or avoid it altogether x

Oh wow ok slightly understand why I'm being jumped on now...

If he was a teenager I'm sure I would have other worries - I'm talking about a tot in pushchair!

off to read some of other thread, mainly to be nosey

Exposure to germs stimulates a child's immune system which can help to avoid bigger problems in the future.

Ok I shall have to learn how to adopt a very scary unfriendly stance in future LOL - I'm not a Londoner, I'm a country girl who lives in London... The unfriendliness doesn't come naturally to me

you wouldn't do well living where I Am then. people love babies they don't mean any harm. I've lost count of all the people on the bus that have known my dd since she was a tiny baby I think it's lovely

I have a beautiful son. When he was 2.5 we went to Turkey and people were constantly kissing him, cuddling him, touching him. Giving him treats (his sister was jealous, no one took the blindest bit of notice of her). In a mosque a couple asked us to take a photo, we happily obliged, then it transpired they wanted to be photographed with our son! Weird, especially the kissing, but I took it as a compliment.

Once I was out with my mum in my home village and she let a family cross in front of her car and waived very enthusiastically. I casually asked
who they were, she said I don't know, but they have a baby, I always wave if there is a baby or young child (same age as one of grandchildren). Oh-Kay, but they don't know that and you totally sound like a crazy old woman.

But it is nice, even if you have to wipe their face and use hand gel on their hands and waive back at the crazy lady. An acknowledgement of humanity.

Newborn no, not unreasonable

Toddler yes, it is unreasonable to expect people to keep away from your kid and for most kids it is a good thing to be exposed to strangers (both socially and biologically!) If your child has serious immunity problems then you may just need to keep some kind of cover over the pushchair.

I think you're being a bit unreasonable.

My friend and I went to a café at night recently with her 1-year-old son, who is a gorgeous, gregarious little boy. At the next table was a small group of young people from about 4 different countries: Malaysia, Italy, Portugal, and...I forget the last one. Anyway, they spent about an hour playing with her son - giving him shoulder rides, playing chasing games, generally interacting physically with him. It was so lovely, and warm, and human.

I wish I was from a more tactile culture, actually. Here in Australia, we're fairly English and reserved in that regard. I quite like the way other cultures seem to 'share' their children more in society.