not to be sure how I should have reacted to this?

[chesgirlNOTgriffins]

Hmmmmm,

Took DC5 shopping today. He is 5 weeks old (and very very lovely).

I was having a browse in H&M and he was sleeping in his buggy. His buggy was at my side at all times.

A youngish woman approached me. She looked very concerned and said'

"you know when you were looking at those clothes? Your baby was facing away from you and anyone could have come and taken him away. You should always remember to face your baby towards you. You should be more careful'

I was slightly stunned. I replied that 'this is my 5th baby (she made a suprised noise) and I havent managed to loose one yet but thank you for your concern'

She muttered something like 'well I was only saying' and scuttled off.

This incident got me thinking. What on earth are you supposed to say when someone says something like that? I was glad I wasnt rude to her because she wasnt rude or aggressive but I wasnt about to agree with her. DC was never at any risk of being snatched away. I was standing next to him, could see him and he was firmly strapped in.

So if I had said 'oh yes you are right, thanks I will be more careful' I would be being a twit but it wouldnt have been approprite to say 'feck off you nosey bat' either.

So what is the ettiquete when someone says something well meaning but bonkers to you?

What on earth mad her think it would be a good idea anyway?

My mum once went shopping with me in my pram, went back home, remembered she'd left me outside the shop (this was 40+ years ago), rushed back to find me still there in pram fast asleep!

How times have changed

I got into the car after unloading the trolley,strapped ds2 in - fastened ds1s shoelace -opened their windows-gave them beakers of juice- got in the car fastened myself in.....and waited.

Dh asked 'you leaving the baby there then?'
Id left new ds3 in the trolley .

nickschick - oops My mil once left my dh sleeping in his buggy outside a shop and walked all the way home before remembering that she might just have forgotten something .

As for OP - wish I had the brain speed to think up answers liike that on the fly. Honestly - talk about this girl's fevered imagination getting the better of her. When was the last incident of a baby being snatched out of his pram while his mother browsed the clothes rails about 15 inches away?! Can't remember reading anything on BBC news recently...

This is the point where I wonder about emigrating to Iceland -

reykjavikdailyphoto.blogspot.com/2008/10/could-not-be-more-icelandic.html

Imagine the girl's reaction to that

I often forget I have a new baby. DD got away with it because she was my first but I am afraid it all went downhill after DSs arrived one by one.

Poor DS4 should probably be fitted with a tag or something.

Hairy funny you should mention matronly bosoms, my MB was precisely the reason I was out shopping in the first place!

libelulle I think you should post that link on the 'other' mum's forum with the title 'I think this is a really good idea, what do you think?'

I think you handled it really well ...far better then i did a few years ago.
Was parked on a forecourt of Tescos express garage - oldest son had got out to use the cash machine - as he walked back past the car my 4 yr old got out and followed him into Tescos to choose some sweets. Ok granted they didn't actually talk to each other ...but this women came running out saying she was a social worker and i was a disgraceful mother for letting a 'young child' go into Tesco's alone and was wittering away about child protection.
Got to say i lost it really (i shouted - didnt swear) and didnt even explain the situation to her - just let her carry on thinking she was in the right.