to not want grandparents to constantly put their fingers in my son's mouth so he can gum them?

[ndavy]

My in-laws spent all weekend doing this to my son so he could gum their fingers. The day after they left he had a bit of an upset tummy (although the two may not be related). I find it quite revolting and have asked my husband to ask them not to do it if we see them doing it again. He's agreed so I don't think he thinks I'm being unreasonble but I wanted to see what others thought. Also, I'm worried about offending them, but should my feelings on this be more important?!

Thanks!

Yeuch, that's really grubby YANBU in my book.

How old is your son?

4 months.

Well, wouldn't really like it myself but don't know how you can raise it without causing offence. Once he starts teething he will just start biting on people's hands and arms and faces anyway. But at four months I can understand you want to keep things as sterile as possible.

YABU

They're just doing the things that loving grandparents do.

It's tricky. I'm tempted to just let it go as we don't see them that often. But it really does bother me when I see it happening.

OP - YANBU. I would feel the same as you. But, as you say, tricky to not upset them.

This would bother me too - revolting

Don't look then

I suppose you could say that DS has a cold. Best not to put their finger in his mouth in case they catch it?

Get him a nice teething ring, anyway, and shove that in first!

what do you mean by gumming their fingers?

Yeah. I've even seen a photo of him with his grandmother's entire thumb in his mouth!

YANBU he is only little. He really doesn't need a tummy upset. There's no need for them to do it - also I can't understand why anyone would want a baby drooling all over their hands!

yanbu. I don't even put my own fingers in 3 month ds' mouth. (why would I?)

bleurgh at inlaws doing it. Bleurgh

Is he your first? I recoiled a bit when my in laws did this to my 1st babies too but have relaxed about it now. It seems no big deal with my youngest. As Cadelaide says, it's one of those things grandparents seem to like doing!

Thanks everyone. I didn't think it was just me! Now I'm going have to think about how to deal with it without upsetting them.

Depends on whether they have clean hands... If not YANBU. However they will soon stop the first time a nice new sharp tooth of your DS's sinks into their fingers

My BIL did it to my DS from when he was only a few days old ! Totally unhygenic but not sure how to deal with it without looking neurotic!

(BTW DS survived the experience).

Ah yes.... Grandparents! My MIL took a photo of my then-3mo DD gumming on her grandfather's finger. Well, I say his finger - he actually lost his finger in an accident many years ago so she was actually being encouraged to gum on the stump Of course this was most hilarious so they had to take a photo. And she had to be encouraged to do this regularly 'look she thinks it's a dummy!!' ha, ha, ha.

runs away jibbering

Okay, I'm going to be sick now .

Lololol normalitybites!

I have a friend who did this to my DD. Its horrible and YANBU. If it were to happen again I would have a clean teething ring avaialble and hand that to the Granparents whilst saying we prefer to use this instead as its meant to help them with teething. Or if you are the direct type just say you would rather they didnt do that. Diificult but sometimes you have to say aomething.

Wait until he gets a tooth and bite em, that'll put a stop to it.

I'd be saying are those hands clean in a gentle but I am serious tone.

I think it is fine as long as hands are washed first

I don't think it's a problem. Obviously it would be better if they washed their hands first, but at long as they haven't just changed a nappy or whatever, it will help the immune system. My 4mo DD2 puts everything in her mouth anyway, and if not DD1 does it for her