Strangers Stop Fucking Touching My Baby

[FreddyFireflyCanFeckOff]

Why do people think this is okay?!

Am I the ass hole here, or is this just not on? It drives me mad.

[originalmavis]

I'm the same with dogs. Are dog owners secretly wishing me dead too?

[motherinferior]

Well, no, most of us are operating on the basis that it's pretty normal in our culture. Like those Feelthy Forriners who operate on the basis that it's ok to go for a peck on the cheek.

[Pineappletastic]

mavis Only if you encourage them to jump up. We've wasted days of or lives trying to stop them jumping up and strangers that encourage it grind our gears, especially since they then go and do it to the next person, who invariably hates dogs and is straight on MN to complain!

[Ginslinger]

my baby is 38 years old and lives in a hermetically sealed bubble. He's a brave little soldier

[AudreyBradshaw]

People just give you money and if you take baby home and change from pink / blue outfit and go round again, they think it's a different baby and do it again.

That is inspired! I did an actual LOL

[ManaFleet]

I've just had this debate with myself. A couple of hours ago I was sitting in a café. An older man at the next table made eye contact, smiled and smiled at my baby. He then chatted to the baby for a minute or two before reaching in to stroke his hands. I bridled ever so slightly but am so glad I didn't say anything. He was a lovely and very interesting man, genuinely delighted to be engaging with a baby. As I left he said that we'd made his day.

Funnily enough, I wouldn't even think about it in Mediterranean countries where family and children are so much more publicly embraced.

[YorkieDorkie]

YABU - don't go on holiday to Portugal (I'm here currently), Spain, Italy... Your baby will be stroked, cheeks squeezed, chin "chucked", toes tickled! It's lovely.

[CheshireChat]

I'm not much of a baby person but I do ask if I can get a cuddle of dogs sometimes .

I thought it was funny when I went to a Chinese supermarket and a man ruffled DS's hair and said it's for good luck as he's fair.

What I don't understand is why people hate older people touching their children and the obsession with gnarly hands . If you dislike it surely it applies to everyone not just people with smooth skin.

[PortiaCastis]

Audrey What a good idea.

[gillybeanz]

audrey

I wish it were inspired but tbh this happened to us, we didn't do it on purpose and it was blue to green and a change from me to dh.
ds1 was August born and a bit collicky. I walked him one morning and dh in the evening. We were pretty new to the village and nobody knew dh as he worked away a bit.
We really did get a huge wedge which was so good at the time as we were so poor.
As an aside the church had a jumble sale and kept back books for us, whole cardboard boxes full of children's classics. The kindness of those ladies from Woodton, really helped us out and all 3 benefitted from the books.

[MooPointCowsOpinion]

I only read the first page of comments, but I am with you. I fucking hated strangers touching my kids when they were babies!

Similarly. Get the fuck off my baby bump.

[ApocalypseNowt]

I wonder if after the 'cash for babies' revelations there will be a lot less 'get off my baby' threads....

That's a lovely story gilly. Think we need another of those nice things that have happened to you threads....

[mrschatty]

I don't mind at all. My baby is very sociable and loves smiling and babbling away to everyone she sees and it makes her happy when people coo over her and have a chat.
We go to church where we sit beside a group of Italian nonnas and they can't get enough of her. Constant petting and touching. It makes them happy and it makes dd happy... and they sometimes slip us 50p

[IPityThePontipines]

I'm also gutted to have missed out on coins for cuddles.

Getting admiring glances and pats for your baby is a counterbalance for all the scowls and sighs you'll get when they're a publicly trantrumming toddler. It all balances out.

[PortiaCastis]

Quite right I Pity Currently I have a door slamming stroppy teenager who resides in her floordrobe.
Any offers ?

[wayway13]

I don't really like it and I do bristle when people used to reach in but I tried to just go with it. Babies bring so much joy to a lot of people. There has only been one person that I pulled the buggy away from and said "nope!" to. He was really smelly and dirty looking. I hope I didn't offend him but no way were those hands going near by baby.

[Mrsfrumble]

As always, MrsDV is wise.

If you hate people touching your baby, just make a sign and hang it on the pram. No need for spitting feathers about "gnarly" old hands or having fits of the vapors over germs and your baby's bodily integrity being compromised.

Do you think there's a market for pram-mounted "no touching" signs? I could put my artistic talents to use and make some cash.

[DerekSprechenZeDick]

I have older men asking me if they can give my son a quid or something still and he's nearly 7

They often mention having grandchildren a similar age or they say compliment his manners.

It's sad sometimes that they feel they have to ask and some seem relieved when I say yes.

My son is the best behaved child in cafes because of this. He learnt quickly

[originalmavis]

Oh no, pineapple, I know that dogs aren't fur babies and ask if I can pat the dog first and don't get them all excited and jumpy. I'm a country girl and can't stand badly behaved, untrainined dogs.

[originalmavis]

When DS was small and very cute he used to make out like a bandit when we went to Italy. Mostly cake and ice cream. I think he cottoned on that if he tried out his Italian it was all the better. He was very cute though.

[TheLegendOfBeans]

I have never ever ever had anyone offer my baby a quid!

Bloody London

[originalmavis]

I've seen it in Ireland a lot. 'A coin for the babby'.

[Greenyogagirl]

I do this an older toddler/child I can say 'wow that's a nice dress/cute toy' older child 'what year are you in? What's your favourite subject?' The only interaction you can give a baby is a hand hold or arm rub while saying s/he's lovely, how old? Etc

This is at school gates/waiting in line/sat in the doctors etc I don't go running up to babies and small children just to chat rubbish lol

[PinkyOfPie]

I'm up North in a city and was rolling in it when DD was small from random 'tippers'

Do's:
Make them look all cute and snugly
Hang around co-ops and supermarket cafes
Be pleasant and chatty
Look exhausted (this took NO effort on my part)

Dont's:
Say "we accept cheques and all major credit cards"
Recoil at their gnarly hands
Be on stand by with a anti-Bac wipe to use immediately when the 'zombie' OAP has gone within an inch of your special snowflake's hand
Be sick in your mouth at the forced indignation of being round old people

On a serious note, I met with DH's nanna every week (she sadly passed away earlier this year and I knew at the time that I wanted her to enjoy what would be her last great grandchild). She knew loads of people having lived in the same place all her life so always brought lots of mates to coo over DD, and they'd always give money, one week I came away with £35!

[Trifleorbust]

I'm so surprised at the responses here. Most posters only have to mention errant relative picking up their child for a hold without permission to be told, your baby, your choice. Why is it suddenly the entitlement of a gang of strangers to touch your baby when you're going about your business? I wouldn't dream of just touching a stranger's baby, it's fucking rude.