to be annoyed at strangers touching my children in their buggy?

[penona]

A man literally stopped me in the street today, blocked my path, and then peered into the buggy and we went through the usual 'Are they twins?' (yes) 'Two boys?' (No the one in pink is a girl...) 'Are they identical?' (no, it's a boy and a girl).... and then he leaned in and STROKED my daughters face and started to stroke my sons foot! All the while cooing aren't they lovely etc etc. I just stared in shock and did not know what to do.

In the end my DD screamed so loudly he backed off apologising.

What is the etiquette here? Lean over and yank at his moustache and say 'Oh how bristly' or something? Ask him politely not too touch them please? I couldn't very well run away with a double buggy in tow.

Or was he just being friendly and I am being a bit precious? (This happens quite often to me so I should learn to deal with it).

Please tell me if IABU!!!!

Seeing, fine. Stroking not nice unless the child has indicated that he or she is happy with it. Why should children be treated rudely just because they can't speak?

my dd2 loves it when strangers stop to coo at her. she has a special cheeky grin reserved just for cooing strangers. of course dd1 then has to get in on the action and sing them a song/do a dance/tell them how much she helps me /tell them how pretty they are etc. she usually gets money in return which is the only thing i dont like. i just smile and say thank you. its a compliment they think you breed adorable children.

YANBu being secretly pissed off but YABU if you say anything to said cooing strangers who are just trying to be nice

Totally respect if people dont want to let others touch their dcs.

But please, for the sake of us who dont mind, dont be too too vocal about it, just gently remove their dcs from the situation...I wouldn't like anyone to be put off chucking my wee ones under the chin!

I find it quite neurotic to worry about what the have on their hands.
It's not freaky- it's a natural reaction

YABU and way too precious.

So what if someone touches your child in a friendly manner? fgs some people are so bluddy uptight in this country

I am shocked at how many people are paranoid about people and germs.
Fair enough if the child gets upset by it but being worried about germs is totally over the top and bizarre.

I don't agree about the germs/ people touching etc. That is precious. The issue I have is with people thinking they can stop you in the middle of the street, sometimes barely acknowledging you and stick they're head in the pram. That is NOT precious.

Well I personally would be OK with it. But I know that some people find it intrusive. I loved it when my children were appreciated.

I would have thought with a double buggy you'd be more fed up with the tuts and irritable sighs that are likely to be forthcoming.

YABU and precious

Message deleted

YABU i love stroking babies hair and their little feet.

[broody]

Is that really your name Herpes?

my dd hates strangers, she is perfectly happy sitting in her pram and then some old dear will shove her face in the pram and then dd is screaming. the old dear scurried off then saying oh dear, someone's not very happy as if its dd's fault. drives me crazy!

I second ggirl re the totally OTT reaction about germs, really bizarre. I've seen similar reactions on other threads and am always about it.

Forget antiseptic wipes, I think a clear perspex living bubble is needed.

YABU and yes you are being a bit precious.

He was just being friendly, would you prefer it if he glared at you and your children and muttered something rude to himself as so many people seem to do.

I would not be worried about germs

I would only be bothered if the child didn't like it

And as for germs, children will put things into their mouths that have far more germs than the hands of your average stranger.

And children have a very effective alarm system for telling people they are too in their face. They probably dont need their mums to do it!

in some ways it sounds like your dcs handled it very well all by themselves.

God you are raving.
be thankful people even acknowledge your kids. They won't in ayear or so when are snotty nosed toddlers.

lol moondog

I'm serious. Brits hate kids apart from tiny window when buggy bound.

ahem, DS is a snotty nosed toddler and still gets cooed over

YABU, it's a natural reaction to coo over babies!

Generally I agree with you moondog. My 5yr old DS#2 looks (falsely) like such a little angel that he still gets the fuss. And does not appreciate it.

Even less popular when they are slouching, sulky looking pre-teens with long hair, baggy jeans and and a skateboard under one arm. They don't tend to chuck them under the chin then. Well not more than once...

admittedly he does take the initiative by wandering up the random strangers and shouting HELLO at them

This makes me so sad. Old ladies often stop in the supermarket to coo over my little one and quite often I can see they are gagging to chuck her little cheek but hold back as they think they're not allowed to.

Unfortunately being English and reserved myself I haven't quite managed to say "go on give her a pat" or whatever as it might sound a bit weird and I wouldn't know how to put it.

I find it depressing that simple instinctive contact between different generations has been lost in this way. It only serves to make us all more isolated in the long run.