To have to tell someone

[FairyDust92]

Not to reach in and touch my child! Happened yesterday and my son is 10 weeks we were out for lunch and the waiter bent down and stroked his face! I said 'please do not touch my child' she then continued to touch his legs so I said again 'don't touch my child'. She actually took offence to this but I don't think I should have to tell people not to touch him. I don't know who she is or where she has been and to touch his bloody face! Wtf. Maybe I am over reacting but I cannot stand people touching him that I don't know. What comes over them to think they can stroke someone else's baby... it's bloody weird! 🤬

OP YANBU, babies have immature immune systems and harmful germs can be passed on by a simple touch. You have no idea if they washed their hands after they used the toilet, or even when the last time they were washed. I would have reacted the same way x

YANBU. They should ask first

Just have your baby laminated, op.

*And do we really want children growing up boundary-less, with the belief that total strangers are entitled to pat, pinch, poke and fondle them without warning or consent?

Where does that lead?!*

Not an over reaction at all 🙄 she touched a babies cheek ffs

Jeepers. Another thing to try to remember not to do in future (along with catching a cold sore).

@HeadintheiClouds

Yabu. My pfb was being touched and generally prodded by farm/ horsey types at a much younger age. It never occurred to me to be anything other than delighted they thought her so lovely they wanted to touch her.

A waiter is highly unlikely to be carrying infectious diseases on his hands so yabu about that too.

Since when is it ok to touch other people's babies?! A baby isn't public property, I'm not sure why people can't control themselves around babies.
YANBU, I've told people similar.
Actually a couple of weeks ago i popped into work with DS to see my work colleagues and someone from the house keeping team, who i hadn't even met before came up to me without saying a word and tried to take my son off me to hold him. I asked her what the fuck she thought she was doing. I don't care if i was rude, I'm not happy with strangers touching my baby, and someone shouldn't assume the parent is.
Babies have very little immune systems and would find it very hard to fight off illnesses/infections. You don't know where someone's put their hands, or if they're hygenic!

Yes, why do people ask and then expect people to answer that they absolutely agree with them? So pointless.

@Greywalls12 did you actually say “what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” to a colleague?!

HeadintheiClouds

Just have your baby laminated, op.
🤣🤣🤣

YANBU. I’d never dream of touching a random baby. Total personal space invasion. She’s weird, not you.

It's an English thing, maybe? When I've been to Italy, Greece, Norway etc ....when mine were babies, waiters , shop workers would take them from me and walk round with them, it's a normal thing.
We have, as a country, become totally paranoid about strangers even looking at our children.

Just have your baby laminated, op.

Great idea! You could also wrap baby up in bundles of cotton wool

It's not going to hurt her to be touched lightly by a stranger so don't worry about that.

However

YANBU about not wanting strangers to touch your baby.

Everyone who thinks you are being OTT should imagine themselves being out for a meal and then having the waiter lean over and gently stroke their face, and then touch their leg.

Why is it okay to touch a baby without permission - an adult would never accept it for themselves?

If a parent is okay with the attention then great. If they say no I'd rather you didn't then respect that.

When you don't mind it's fine - I was so grateful to the air steward on KLM who walked my nine-month-old up and down the aisle so that I could have a quick bite to eat. But I can imagine being very stressed if I'd told him not to pick her up and then he'd continued to do so.

Why can't people learn to keep their fucking hands to themselves? Anyone who doesn't stop touching another person immediately when told to (outside of medical staff or someone trying to prevent the person from hurting themself or someone else) is in the wrong and it's perfectly fine to shout at someone for continuing to paw you/your DC after being told to stop.

What was the bloody point of bringing your baby into work then, Greywalls? They must have been so thrilled to see you, and hear you screeching at them to get their filthy hands off your baby
I’m surprised you weren’t seen off the premises.

I like nothing more than a squishy baby. I would never just reach over and touch a stranger’s baby without asking first, though.

Sorry but I think you are totally over reacting. Get over yourself

YANBU. People should ask first imo

The people who think your mad I'd love to see how they react if you walked up to them and started stroking there leg/face. I hate strangers touching my children too. I have 4 of them. Not just babys my eldest is 10 if a stranger stroked her hair I would 100% tell them to piss off.

YANBU. I would never touch a stranger's baby.

I do think you’re being a tiny bit precious. When we were on holiday in Cyprus one guy working in Taco Bell asked if he could KISS my 1yo. Now THAT was weird... I said no.

YABU and a tad precious.

I agree with you OP, keep them away! I have this all the time with my one year old. It really pisses me off. How would these strokers feel if I went up to them and started touching their face. Boundaries people!