To be annoyed by strangers touching my baby?

[Handsoffmybaby]

FTM so I’m not quite sure what’s generally accepted, prepared to be told IABU. MN regular, NC for this.

Have a six month old baby, it really irritates me that people touch her. Waitresses in restaurants, strangers on the street, etc, will reach out and touch her face or rub her cheeks whilst she’s sat in my lap or in her pram.

I further find it irritating when children touch my baby. I was in the queue at Sainsbury’s and a small child (maybe 7 years old) was in the next queue over and kept coming over and stroking my baby whilst she was sat in her pram. This has happened on the bus too-when another pram comes on and the other child pulls on my baby’s toys and reaches in and starts swatting at my baby. None of the parents ever say anything, is this just the norm for having kids? I know she will get exposed to germs at nursery and I don’t mind when other babies touch her at baby classes but it’s strangers and their kids that irritate me. DD also hasn’t very sensitive skin and often comes up in hives when people (friends and family) have held her if they’re wearing heavy lotions and perfumes, so I am especially irritated by strangers doing it.

I don't like random strange adults touching my baby. I don't overly mind if they just tickle his feet but I hate them touching his face and hands

Other babies and children doesn't bother me, they're just inquisitive and it's good for him to interact socially with them. I don't let him chew other children's toys etc though

@fluorescentorange it's not just about germs though. It's about respecting the personal space of the parent and baby.

No-no square

What a bunch of miseries.

Just wear her in a sling and nobody will touch her.

But really you're being very precious.

I would hate people touching my child (I don't have one yet) as I have OCD. I'd find it hard actually to even let family members hold them.

I'm sure I'll be popular in the future when I have a baby.

Tbh actually I even hate it when people come up to my dog! (He loves it though)

No No square- gosh thats all a bit territorial aggressive? Surely one of the worlds greatest free treats is to feel a babies hand curling around your finger or breathing in that gorgeous baby smell?

I jsut feela little bit sad when I read these kind of posts. It seems as though so many of us feel the need to withdraw ourselves from the most basic human communication.

How does the no-no square work?

My DD2 is 6 months and the friendliest little thing, she loves smiling at everyone. When we're out we often get people coming over to say hello to her. I wouldn't dream of telling them that they can't interact with her, if she's happy with it. For some people it might be the nicest interaction they have all day.

Of course it's different if the child is ill or sleeping, but seriously, never??

YANBU. A Grandad /possibly Dad in the playground did this to my 5 month old DS a few weeks back. He was smiling at him which was fine but then just launched himself into the pram and squeezed his cheeks. I found it all a bit unnecessary and was taken aback. I think some people forget babies are human beings, not toys.

Really outpinked? I think some people forget what being human means.

Babies no matter what age aren't public propert, they shouldn't be touched by strangers and I don't know why people think it's okay to touch a random persons child. I certainly wouldnt walk up to a stranger and stroke their cheeks so why do they think it's okay to touch my child with their gross hands.
Next time a stranger goes to touch your child go and touch them and see if they like it 🤣

I hated this too. I have identical twins so you can imagine how many people flocked to the pram every time we went out. It was crazy! I actually had people yell at me when I politely asked them not to touch my babies!

And it wasn’t just about germs. It was awful when my girls were going through the stranger anxiety stage and people were following us around the supermarket getting in their faces. I then had 2 screaming babies and a grocery shop to finish.
The germs were a factor too though, especially as my babies were prem and tiny and been in Nicu.

I’m happy to have other babies interact with her at baby groups as that’s the point. Also happy for strangers to smile and chat and wave and make funny faces, etc. it’s when conplete strangers come up and feel it’s alright to pop their head/hands etc in the pram and start stroking away. A man who reeked of fags did it and stroked her face where she’s just gotten over a bout of Excemza. I can’t believe there are people that think this is alright to do?

I do think it’s quite rude as not something we’d do to adults or even children really. A baby is not a toy! It’s the same to me as approaching an animal, you’d never rock right up to a dog and start stroking, you’re meant to ask first, I believe. Why are babies different?

Surely one of the worlds greatest free treats is to feel a babies hand curling around your finger or breathing in that gorgeous baby smell?

LOL - yes but not some stranger’s baby. Christ.

i always have told my daughter you need to ask their mummy or daddy if its ok to play with them first.Just seemed like common sense to me seems rather rude to go touch someones baby without permission.

I remember seeing in aldi once some stranger grabbed someones baby's cheek so strange.The mother was so shocked i said are you ok.

Surely teaching your child to ask at a young age discourages this sort of behaviour as a adult

Yes I cant imagine I won’t teach her to ask before approaching other babies and children. For this if you who think this is acceptable, what do you teach your DC about interacting with others when bit at play group?