Was this a total overreaction?

[Sundancer77]

This morning we were at the beach with our Dd, 19 months. Dp was in the sea and dd was sat with me on the sand. Gorgeous day, people walking by with dogs etc and saying hello. A couple of ladies walk past and stop to chat to Dd, it happens a lot as she’s obviously little and most people generally like babies/toddlers. She then puts her hand out and tells her to ‘Come on’ and to walk down to the sea with her. My natural reaction was to quickly say no and grab her, is that normal? The lady then started saying it’s ok she wasn’t going to steal her etc and they laughed..I then felt like a bit of a dick.
To put in into context a bit more, we live in another country and being British, I’ve noticed I’m not as easygoing in this respect. I just felt a bit like a miserable, uptight, mistrusting person afterwards..but still wouldn’t have let her go! Aibu?

@Sundancer77 I am not British and from one of those more relax it takes a village countries, ... not ok to take a small child without fully engaging the parent first, most definitely not ok.

If it was a perfectly normal thing for people to offer to do there, then the way you declined was disproportionate. There was no threat, just an offer, yet you treated as a bad thing. You could probably just have said "Oh that's kind but not today. I don't want her away from me right now." or whatever passes for an acceptable excuse there.

But it's very difficult to recalibrate your reactions, and particularly difficult to do so accurately and recognise when someone isn't just being "relaxed" in the way of the local culture but is, in fact pushing boundaries.

@Danaiztaygana, "have" in those circumstances is an auxiliary. Ridiculous point you're trying to make, seriously.

@Danaiztaygana You seem to have a teenie weenie (huge) chip on your shoulder with British people.

I'm not in the UK either and would consider it a very strange thing to do to attempt to take a child without permission from the parent. I think you may have been a bit sharp OP, but not an overreaction.

Just a cultural difference. In the UK it would be weird to walk down to the sea with a stranger's child but might be perfectly normal elsewhere. I think since it's not culturally OK in the UK you might make the assumption that anyone who attempted to do this was a bit odd where as in other countries that's not the case.

I remember living in one country abroad being really suspicious when an elderly lady asked me to help her bring her shopping into her home, another mum I'd just chatted to for about 2 seconds walking down the street invited me and baby DD into her house to play - I thought that was really odd but in that country it was totally fine and normal.

Thanks all.

I’ve lived in this country for many many years and travelled extensively, so I’m very used to the culture, have also had her played with, picked up at the restaurant, touched on the cheek and chatted to regularly etc, no problem, it’s a sweet thing and I’m very open to the warmth and kindness. This instance, although I’m sure was totally innocent felt different, I’d barely engaged with the lady, I was sat with my girl in my arms, my little one hadn’t had chance to even chat to her at least, to stick her hand out and tell her to come to the sea with her didn’t seem appropriate, if I’m being uptight, so be it.
I also done put her to bed at 6pm, she goes much later, comes out to meals at night with many others etc etc..there’s warmth and showing kindness and involvement to children, then there’s a slight crossing of boundaries I’d say.

*Don’t put her to bed at 6pm

You felt uncomfortable and responded accordingly. I would have done the same. I was once on holiday in Oman, and having a lovely time in the pool with my 9 month old baby who was snuggled into me, half dozing off. A woman came up to me and tried to take him off me. I told her politely but v firmly to feck off