Old lady keeps approaching my toddler, making me feel uncomfortable

[housinghun]

I have a 2 year old and and when we go out sometimes we will see an older lady (about 60s early 70s) and she will always approach my son.

It started off as "Can I say hello?".
I agreed.

Next time she attempted to remove his cap "to see his face".
This made me feel extremely uncomfortable, touching my son.

OH took our son out last week and he told me that an old lady had smiled through the window at them as they walked past.
She had come running out the house and shouted "hello" but by that time they were gone down the road.
It was her.
I had never really mentioned this to him and this was the first time he has seen her.

I know it's innocent but it makes me feel really uncomfortable now going past as I don't want a stranger touching my son.

I did tell her "please don't touch him" as I don't want him getting used to strangers touching him.

I am over protective of my son but just wanted others views.
AIBU to feel this way?

AIBU

It’s not the done thing to touch babies or toddlers like it probably was in years gone by. Your perfectly fine telling her not to touch him. She may be a mad woman or she may be a lovely woman but you don’t know that so do what you feel is right for you.

@TapestrySkirt
No I don't, I just don't want strangers touching my son.

Lovely stuff. 10/10 Mumsnet

FGS, OP, it's just an old lady who thinks your child is cute.

That's rude

Jesus, I really despair on here sometimes. It's just an old lady being friendly.

I don’t see what the issue is. I’m assuming she’s lonely and just looking for interactions but yes I wouldn’t feel comfortable with a stranger touching my child especially if it makes my child uncomfortable but then I would ask them politely not to do that and make small chit chat with the elderly lady. It maybe the only interaction she gets.

I think it's a very sad world we live in nowadays.

Yes I get that but there is no need to touch him.
I would never dream of walking up to a baby or toddler and start touching them.

If a man did this to a woman it would be called assault so why is it OK for someone to do this to a child?

I did ask her very nicely not to touch him and the next time she tried to do the same thing again.

It's fine to lay a boundary and physical touch but in other respects I think you're being unreasonable

A lady well into her 80's approached my dd and her dd last week. She had bought her a doll and a teddy from the charity shop nearby. They all stood in delight watching dgd accepting the toys..
A lovely moment dd said.
It's hardly a safeguarding lesson ..keep the elderlies away....

• toys had a cycle in the washing machine. More risk from the toy's germs than 1 little old lady imo..

She sounds lonely and she sounds as though she possibly has dementia caused by social isolation.
I understand you don't want her to touch your son. It might require you to ask her not to touch him on a regular basis but I really don't see why you should feel uncomfortable about her.

FGS world has officially gone mad. That's enough internet for me today.

These comments are insane. You don't owe this woman politeness, I would blank her next time.

Exactly how does she touch him . You’ve only mentioned she went to remove his cap .
And you need to look up assault . You sound OTT

@BettyJoanPerske Exactly.

You are being much too precious about this. It’s a natural human instinct for people to want to touch babies or small children. She’s just a lonely old lady who finds your child cute and enjoys some interaction with him. Is that really so terrible?

It's a neighbour being friendly, it's a sad state of affairs if you're comparing her touching your child with assault.

Why not view it as teaching your child social interactions, chatting etc? It's a life skill.

She tried to touch his hand and give him a hug.

Oh FGS

He probably lights up her day. I understand OP but I couldn't get heated up about something like that.

It's not a neighbour.
It a woman who lives by the local corner shop who we see as she lives on the same road.