Babies hitting others at baby groups

[ComeonComeon]

I know, I know, I'm sorry and it's been done a million times before but not about MY pfb

So at both baby groups I go to, there are lovely mums who don't stop their babies whacking my 6mo DS over the head!

I must seem like such a helicopter parent as when it happens I launch across to scoop DS away from offending child. But he's too small to have to put up with that surely? Isn't it totally expected that you just would not allow your child to whack another whilst smiling indulgently?!

Thing is, I nearly posted in AIBU but I know I'm not BU and I felt like I was the one who came across badly at the group. Fair enough if they were toddlers, but I just don't see why DS should be hit by children of mothers who don't seem to take responsibility!

/rant

That's the sort of age the other babies are. I get that it's a developmental thing, but at baby groups there are some really tiny ones and it's just not on IMO. I move DS before it can even happen now. Why not keep the older babies away from younger ones if they are likely to do this?

And I am judging the mums who know that their child will do it and watch them crawl over to DS to hit him. Is it my job to helicopter over him or is it their job to prevent hitting in the first place?

I'm annoyed because I really felt like I was being judged for being overprotective.

I agree that if you know your baby's at the stage where he's going to be rough and grabby with other babies - even if he doesn't mean any harm but just doesn't understand how to be gentle yet - then it's sensible to keep a close eye on him around smaller babies, or move him away from them.

There are ways you can protect your ds a bit more subtly - sit close to him and watch out for approaching babies, preemptively distract rough older babies with a toy and a friendly smile or show them how to stroke your ds gently. There's no malice in their hitting, they're just being curious and exploring. I would expect the other parents to be stepping in if it's real hitting going on/it's persistent, and not just a friendly pat, but sadly not everyone will, and that's life. You'll just have to remember this experience when you have an 11mo who is very interested in the smaller babies.

It gets worse at the toddler stage, trust me, the hitting can be malicious, there can be biting/snatching/kicking as well, and the gulf between different types of parent even more obvious...