To wish strangers wouldn't talk to children?

[2anddone]

Just home from a rare visit to town and I couldn't believe how many strangers (mainly older people 50+) spoke to dn!
In McDonald's an old man started talking to us both, in queues in shops people tried to start a conversation with her and even paying for the car park ticket!
Dn (3) is quite shy and didn't answer them but that still didn't stop the talking to her.
At one point I said 'sorry she won't speak to somebody she doesn't know, at least the stranger danger talk worked' to which the reply I received was 'It's hard to know where to draw the line isn't it!'
I agree that not everyone is 'bad' and I feel awful that some of these older people maybe just crave conversation as they don't have anyone to talk to, I am more than happy to chat to anyone but AIBU to wish they didn't talk to the children if they don't know them?? (Prepared to be flamed!!)

Didn't twig initially about the older people = 50+. I'm 43 with a 2 year old. I'll stop speaking to him and his friends when he's 9 then I suppose!

Ohh I love it when older people stop and natter to DD 😂they always make my day !

Hahah dearteddy 😂🙈

What a sad post from the OP. A very depressing view of life.

Awwww OP has gone

All us strangers posting on her thread must have scared her off

OP doesn't know ANY OF YOU, so she won't be replying, thankyouverymuch.

Just staring fiercely at everyone from under her tinfoil hat in the corner, her finger primed and ready on the mace button.

My ds is only a baby and people talk to him he makes noises back and I like it.it means he's happy and learning to interact

Struggling to think of what could happen to either of my children if they talk to a stranger with me present. Also, how far does one go with being uncomfortable with them talking to strangers? The bus driver? The person on the till in the supermarket? Teach them about 'stranger danger' but don't let them grow up scared to talk to people that they don't know.

Pinkyyy I've noticed that. Not sure whether it's because of not getting the response they expected or just enjoying the reaction to a 'contentious' thread.

Isitsixoclockalready I think most of the time they make the post expecting everyone to side with them, and then get a shock when this doesn't happen

I always feel bad when men try to talk to my 7 month old, she always bawls her eyes out! (Only men though!), But I want people to continue so she gets used to it, it's so nice when people want to talk to your baby, and she loves the attention (from women anyway )

“Stranger danger” is the worst campaign that has ever been dreamed up.

[manages to resist commenting on the ageism- just]

I have particularly seen on MN this thing of "My child my rules" and "No one tells off my child except me" (including teachers) which can't be good for wider society.

I've just remember when some years ago at a busy family gathering dn was just crawling and about to be trampled. I picked her up and sil leapt over and snapped, "Please don't touch the baby, she doesn't like strangers." Well, that was me told! I crawled back under my stone. (Luckily dh heard and finally believed that sil was a horrid person...)

How can a child learn about people if they aren't allowed to speak with them? They learn how to assess different types and personalities. You have to teach children about stranger Dane, yes, but to over protect them by shunning everyone is ridiculous.
I doubt a tiny child is going to be out alone, especially these days so having people speak to them when you are there is good.

Just in case you do pop back . I will explain a situation when my Ds was that age

Elderly gentleman entertained my Ds at long wait at doctors. I was very greatful. He wanted to take my Ds in the lift. That was a no because nobody I didn’t know was taking my Ds out of my sight. I didn’t think this man was going to harm my Ds but it doesn’t happen. So this man continued chatting till our appointment.

Now Ds is 11 . Last weekend he was in town was supposed to phone me to pick him up. Phone died. He couldn’t remember my number so went into optician and asked if they could phone me. If he never spoke to strangers what would he of done?

She's going to end up being very unsociable and friendless if she isn't allowed to speak to anyone.

I've just remember when some years ago at a busy family gathering dn was just crawling and about to be trampled. I picked her up and sil leapt over and snapped, "Please don't touch the baby, she doesn't like strangers." Well, that was me told! I crawled back under my stone. (Luckily dh heard and finally believed that sil was a horrid person...)

You weren’t even a stranger you were her aunt!

I do think there's a fine line. I think nothing of shopkeepers or anyone like that or other parents or older people talking to the dds.

That said an older chap wouldn't leave dd1 alone in the theatre and made her a bit uncomfortable. Eventually a lady in the row leaned back and said 'for God's sake dad it's not your granddaughter' then to me sorry 'love he's bad Alzheimer's he probably thinks she's related to him!'

My kids are really gregarious though and start chats with strangers!

The OP was just having a laugh. Light the blue touchpaper and stand well clear,! Probably a troll with nothing better to do.

The OP was just having a laugh. Light the blue touchpaper and stand well clear,!
So obvious, and 10 pages later people are still getting in a froth

Probably a troll with nothing better to do.

Or the Daily Fail needing something to copy and paste.

Like many others, talking to random children is not something I would want to do! In fact, if they do look in my direction, I
just look back. Unless the child looks friendly and smiling, I don’t smile back.

And that's enough of the internet for today