To think this was weird?

[MintyBojingles]

Took DD 18 months out for a walk in the pushchair today, was walking along a footpath that goes along the back of fields and woodlands within a residential area.

Saw a bloke, probably 60-70 years old walking with a dog, smiled as he passed by, and suddenly he stopped, got right up close to DD and produced a my little pony toy that he tried to convince her to take. when she didn't respond he stuck it on the bar that goes across in front of her. All happened so fast I was a bit gobsmacked. Got round the corner and pulled it off, and it had some kind of wrapping right around the hair and another round the tail - makes me think it was brand new.

AIBU to think this is a bit weird or was it just some old dude who found a toy and wanted to give it a home?

[MintyBojingles]

Ok, so nothing to worry about, just a little odd.

And no, I didn't think he was dodgy, can't see how dodgy type would get a kick out of giving toys to toddlers. Just thought it was odd, as in unusual.

[theycallmemellojello]

Weird. Not because I think there's a paedophile round every corner, just because it's obviously really unusual to give a strange child something right in front of the parent, without saying a word.

[BackInTheRealWorld]

I think it was sweet....and I'm ever so glad you didn't react badly to him.

[mirrorballs]

My next door neighbour used to do things like this all the time, she was a charity shop addict/bargain hunter and would have bought something like the toy you describe if it were 50p or something, and then handed it to the next child who made her smile. My DD has a wonderful collection of tat from her, as well as crazy pens with feathers and lights and stuff on them.

She was just a lonely lady with no children of her own, but loved to interact with them in her own way.

[mirrorballs]

Although it's odd he didn't speak and I can see why that would make you feel a bit weird OP. All sorts of reasons that could have been though.

[ThunderR0ad78]

Probably very well meaning of him but I get that it could have felt a little weird...... Bless him though

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

A man at a bus stop said hello to my 1.5 yr old, she was shy and looked away, so he took a balloon out his pocket, blew it up and gave it to her. He didn't look at me once or say anything to me, I said 'thank you' but he ignored me. I also tried to return it to him when the bus arrived but he walked off. Yes, I did think it strange. Not worrying, but strange that he didn't communicate with the parent at all. And bloody annoying because I wouldn't normally let her play with balloons, and she kept asking for it all day!

[Chinks123]

I was out with DD then around 18 months also, an old man walked past with his wife smiling at me and "awwing" DD as they do, when he grabbed her hand. I thought he was giving her a handshake but it lasted a few seconds and she pulled away (obviously I was like but it happened so fast I didn't really know what was going on) he then did the same to me and walked off. I opened my hand and found 16p in coppers. He'd been trying to give them to DD and she wouldn't take them. Slightly odd as like yours he didn't speak at all, but it was a cute gesture (the fact it was a toy made yours slightly weirder but as PP have said there will have been a genuine reason for him having it I'm sure)

[NotNowPike]

A kind gesture by a complete stranger - sweet
I'd still chuck it away though
He meant well I'm sure

[Chinks123]

Hopelessly agree with the balloon thing it's bloody annoying hate DD having them as she always pops them or let's them fly away. Multiple times I've had strangers (people in shops, happened in spec savers the other day) give her one. It lights her face up but it means earache for me

[Silvercatowner]

A kindly bloke out walking his dog gives a toy to a kid and it's suspicious. World's gone fucking mad.

This.

[TooOldForGlitter]

There's nothing weird about giving money to babies. It's considered good luck, that the person will never be without money. It's old fashioned but its not weird or suspicious.

[ClopySow]

Definitely suspicious. There's probably another man hiding inside the my little pony who is going to take a de-shrinking pill when he gets into OP's house and abduct everyone. He'll probably pull the tail in and jump out of the tail hole. Check the tail for signs of tampering.

[toohardtothinkofaname]

Reminds me of my grandad. He was forever buying or 'liberating' random items & passing them on because he thought someone would like it/need it.

Totally innocent. Slightly odd for a stranger, but sweet.

[Cocolepew]

I do this. I give random children the toys from my McDonalds Happy Meals

[Chinks123]

Just for the record I didn't think there was anything weird about the money, I know it's a nice little tradition, I was just commenting on the fact that like the OP he didn't speak at all and I wonder at first what he was doing giving a baby a handshake

[MintyBojingles]

MrsDeVere - found it odd because I've never had anything like that happen before, never seen it happen when I was a kid (that I remember), and because he didn't say anything to me. Usually when people coo over her they look at me and say something.

Let's just be clear, I never said I thought he was a perv. My initial thoughts was he found it on the floor somewhere and picked it up to give it a home.

[500internalerror]

Sure it wasn't a happy meal one? I buy happy meals if I'm not overly hungry, so i can have a bit of everything, but I rarely want the toy :-)