AIBU - strangers touching baby

[Angeliki159]

It's a but weird when random strangers touch your baby isn't it?
I keep having random people, shop assistants, children, people in lifts etc stroking my LOs face or holding his hand.
I'm not a germophone or anything, I just don't understand why people think it's ok to touch a baby you don't know without at least checking with the parent first.

I was out last week with my DD and nephew and a woman commented on that he had pulled his sock off. He does this over and over again, no matter how often it's put back on, 8 months old in the pram.
She then went to kiss his foot! Multiple times!! I was I actually stood in disbelief, by the time I had come to my senses this lady had walked off!!

When people touch my baby I touch them. They very quickly get the message that it’s creepy. If randoms touch his hands I disinfect them with hand gel in case he puts them in his mouth.

I hated it and still hate it! I got told I was precious though! I don’t see why people need to touch your baby.

It’s lovely to chat, but also not if don’t feel like it!

Love the idea of touching them back

Omg when they touch their face and hold their hands whyyyy!!! My lo was quite poorly recently so yeah i am actually quite precious/rude at the moment with it

Sorry haha yeah it gets me going this one I just don’t understand it

A simple “stop touching my baby” is quite effective.

At least in the UK people are generally quite reserved - abroad it’s often even worse. I guess it comes from a good place and people being delighted by small babies, but still it’s not on!

On holiday once an older Italian lady saw fit
to put her fingers into my 12mo’s mouth to remove the sand she was insisting on eating at the beach! I was furious and on the verge of yelling but somehow restrained myself, removed her hand and told her very politely to where to go.

It’s perfectly sensible from an evolutionary perspective.
It’s harmless and babies are completely edible and tactile. Their squidgy necks, their downy cheeks, their little grasping hands, their beautiful round bottoms (not strangers babies and only post bath!).
The question is probably why wouldn’t you touch a baby?

A couple of weeks ago I went to coo over a baby in a pram, just wanting to look at and admire the lovely little bundle. The mother silently pointed at a sign attached to the hood that said something like "Don't touch! I'm only little, your germs are too big for me." It wasn't a homemade thing, so you can buy them somewhere. I'm guessing the baby was actually unwell and needed protecting, otherwise it seems a bit OTT (also 'big' germs ).

I didn't flinch if anyone popped a finger in my babies' fists or stroked their hair. It has become less acceptable very recently I think.

I was at a family day in our local leisure centre with my then 4 week old son, the police had a stall there and a police woman asked to hold him and cuddle him 🙈

The question is probably why wouldn’t you touch a baby?
Because it isn’t yours to touch? You don’t go around touching adults that you find attractive so why is it ok to touch kids without their consent or the parent’s consent? And that’s before you even consider that you’re passing on germs, especially herpes which is dangerous for babies.

My midwife gave to me a good tip when my DS was tiny and that was to always have there hands in scratch mittens when ur out in case someone touches there hands then they put there hands in there mouth..

I'm not ok with people touching my baby.. I'm not a massive germaphobe but with newborns and strangers I am!

Me too. Though I wouldn't have understood this before I had my baby.

I tell people not to touch my baby.
I know a kid that got HEP because a stranger (that had HEP) touched her face.
NEVER LET ANYONE YOU DONT KNOW TOUCH YOUR KID

Bloody hell, you lot!

When anyone comes up to one of my babyus i move up to them and start touching them to teach them how it feels.

THEY ALWAYS STOP!
[wink}

I'm with Aquilla, bloody hell you lot!

Why waste your time on Mumsnet when instead you could be inventing a giant bubble to transport you and yours around in so that you don't have to put up with the tiresome human contact that comes from living in a society?

I think its great that babies and children are the part of our life that brings people together. Human contact is important to babies. That is why we have evolved to like touching them. It's important for adults to feel connected to babies, done through warmth thoughts to babies, and through touch, so that we protect them.
If you are really so averse to this basic humanity, get going on that giant bubble project.

So OPs question was is it ok for a random stranger to touch ur baby and ur stance is yes that fine??

It’s amazing how my two children grew up to be healthy young adults really.

I didn’t regard people as hazardous to them.

It depends on the people as well. I’d be much less concerned about a respectable clean looking person touching my baby. But it’s always dirty looking people who seem to think it’s ok to touch!

I'm 7 weeks 5 days pregnant and I'm suddenly very aware of 'down below'. I think I can feel my cervix, and the walls of my vagina. To be clear, I haven't 'felt' it, I'm just aware of a sensation/ pressure inside.

I'm not in pain, it just feels weird.

Has anyone else had this? X

I'm so sorry!!! Posted in the wrong place!

mortified!!!

How do I move it?

Cling film. It's the only answer. Or just don't go out. Ever.

Putting fingers in a baby's mouth is just gross and weird. NO. But I don't understand what is so appalling about stroking their hand or patting their leg or whatever