The general public, sales assistants and other randoms find that it's completely ok to touch, tickle or pinch cheeks of my child. Why are children considered public property? I think its ok for family, friends and other regulars to interact but complete strangers? Why do they invite themselves to touch without even saying a courtesy "hi" to the child? How do we get older kids to stay away from the stranger in a van with lollipop when society thinks there's no such thing as consent for pre-schoolers? It will become more challenging than it should be when their earlier life experiences are different. I have had so many incidents and I say something every time. On the weekend, I had a complete stranger grab my kid's hand and try to make my child feed themselves when we were out. What the???? It's only on weekends that we get an opportunity to go out as a family and unwind and some kind of invasion of personal space happens every time. This one incident in particular I thought was too much. I told this person off but went home feeling really guilty it happened in the first place. My husband was looking after LO whilst I was getting something from my bag. It happened so quick. Hubby was so shocked it took him a moment to react. I usually tell people don't or I step away etc but people still reach out. Had I made a grown person eat food, tickled them or pinched their cheek I'm pretty sure I'd get slapped. I understand babies are irresistibly cute. My little one sleeps well but I've noticed whenever my child wakes in the middle of the night and is irritable, it's when a stranger has touched them. Are people cool with this? What strategies do you use to keep people away? When DC was small, the pram had a sign saying 'do not touch'. It wasn't effective... Please help out if you have any useful tools. Please don't say things like stay at home because I'm not going to. Child doesn't have this kind of experience at swimming or baby class.