to get annoyed when total strangers touch/stroke my baby without asking?

[GreebosWhiskers]

ds is nearly 6 months & fair enough he is gorgeous (not that I'm biased or anything) but why do total strangers feel the need to have a grab at him when he's in his buggy? Doesn't matter where we are, on the bus, in a shop, whatever, there's someone stroking his cheek or grabbing his hand. I see their manky fingernails or nicotine-yellow fingers & shudder!
I know babies are cute & soft & cuddly but I'd never dream of touching someone else's baby without at least asking first.
So, AIBU?

no unreasonable at all. i HATE that. and they always have to touch they;re face!
the other day an old man poked my DS with the bottom of his manky "been on the ground with shit" cane. WTF?!!

they're being friendly would you prefer them to ignore your children?

I don't know. I'm always happy when total strangers show some vague friendliness...

yes but there's a difference between friendliness and fondling my child!
my DS always flinched when people did it. i would too if strangers poked me in the face!

I LOVE the friendliness but am not crazy aboiut people touching dd2.
There was a very nice man in Waitrose yesterday who was cooing over her but for some unknown reason it made her cry and she was bawling by the time I reached the checkout.
I do like people talking to her and admiring her though.

I'm afraid I have no experience of this, my dc have always been ignored in this country!

I like pple showing some friendly interest. Its the tutters and ignorers that wind me up more.

I used to like the fact other people showed interest. I think your over zealous Nuts.

We have had this topic before ended in the usual row iirc

My dd is nearly one, i felt the same at 6 month ago but seem to have gotten used to it, she also grabs random people on the bus in shop queues etc. so i am apologising for that more!

I didn't have a problem with people being friendly and touching my dd's hand's etc when they were babies.

greebos, stop thinking about this, lets talk about pixies.

(as the american band)

I think it's nice.
You'd better not take him to Italy if that's the way you feel. They're all over babies and young children there and I love it.

I know what you mean - it sort of annoys me. Actually it DELAYS me more than anything because we can't go to the shops without every little old lady stopping and poking her.

I solved this by mostly carrying her in a sling. People don't want to poke quite so close to your norks IME!

We are so uptight in this country and stuck in our little boxes.Better to be like italians and greeks who grab and kiss every child they see and where family and friends really means something.I don't think anyone ever caught anything that killed them from a bit of love You are all mad

well said and x posts spider.(hope to see you soon)

how very sad

i love it when people talk to my dds or pat their head

esp. on the bus

i love it in cafes too

sometimes its an old person who is delighted to see some children, perhaps they have no-one to talk to all day

what sad place society would be if children were ignored

ps dont ever go on holiday in italy if you dont want anyone to speak to your kids

Do yourself a favour, don't move, especially to Mexico.

In many countries, it's accepted and encouraged for strangers to touch babies and children with affection.

x posts spidey

I couldn't agree more, noddy!

I think youre all mad too - nothing is going to happen to them from pple touching them!! How will they struggle on thru' life if never to be touched!

Really, I think this sort of stuff has a lot to answer for in terms of the unfriendliness of society as a whole. God, stop , talk to the old lady who admires your baby. They might have something useful and interesting to say - she was a mother once as well you know!

Lol at Italians constantly kissing children. It's not that true... but yes, there is still more openness among strangers... but not as it used to be