to not want strangers to touch dd?

[mookickkick]

On the bus, in shops, on the street... Would it be rude to tell them NO DON'T TOUCH HER? She chews her hands all the time and the thought of all those germs -- yuck.

Obviously I mean she bent down to say hello to the baby!

I think it's a shame to get shouted at for saying hello to a small child, but do wonder if she bent down to talk to the child without talking to or acknowledging the mum first. I think that is what annoys people most. Adults who will totally ignore the adult with the child and start chatting to and prodding a baby as though the parent isn't there and their opinion on whether or not they wanted a stranger interacting with a child didn't matter.
I have always taught my kids not to pet strange dogs and if they want to pat a dog to ask the owner if its OK first. It seems courtesy to do the same with children

So, if your baby is in a buggy/pushchair/sling/stroller 'whatever' and is smiling at me, you want me to ask you if it's ok to interact with them? Do I need to ask your husband if it's ok to interact with you? (or vice versa??).

Don't be so precious, soon she will be crawling all over your carpets where people have walked outdoors and where pram wheels have been wheeled outside, will eat soil out at parks, put hands on climbing equipment that has probably been sprayed by cats etc at some point..........get the drift. Children need germs to build immunity. Peoples hands touching them will be the cleaner of the evils pmsl

Oh and my 1yo has also been dabelling in the evil catfood
My friends dd found the litter tray and mistook it for a sandpit even though it was locked behind a gate!
Another vote for sand.
George- I completely agree with your posts. Not allowing strangers to interact with babies and toddlers makes them wary of new peopkle and situations and isn't a good way to go.
On holiday in Portugal that friendliness was so helpful as the waitress in the quiet restaurant, took the then dd1 at 6mths, on a walk round while we ate in peace. I was proud she felt the need to show her off to all the other staff and diners

I hated this when DCs were babies as well. But what I hated more than that was friends putting their fingers in my childrens mouths . Gross.

YANBU - I hate strangers touching my dd. But I am over the top as didn't want anyone t kiss her when she was newborn. I dont mind family and friends kissing her now, she is 20months.

But when she was newborn anyone kissing her would make me cringe. So I made it clear to everyone that I dont want them to kiss her.

I dont hink the OP said people cannot interact with her dd, just not to touch her.

My mum lets babies hold her finger when she see them, babies she does not know and I always say mum you shouldn't go around touching other peoples kids.

I just think it is weird to go around touching people you dont know. You would never do it to an adult so why touch a baby?

I thought of this thread and the fear of germs yesterday in a sing and sign class as my DS put a shaker, that had probably been in at least 4 other babies mouth's, in his mouth and then proceeded to try and eat my shoe.

For a lot of people, it's more about respecting personal space.

but most babies have no concept of personal space.

But their parents do!

That's the thing with kids though - some people seem to think they should be able to do what they like with them. And if the parents object, well, how dare you for having a different opinion?