People looking in babys pram

[Stepawayfromthebaby]

Do people not realise we are in a pandemic? Two strangers this week have come.close to me and tried to look in my newborn babys praim. The anxiety is unreal. I just want to shout at them!!!!

I think you need to add a sign if really don’t want it.
I also have had baby born during Covid, he’s still a baby obviously. I don’t really throw him at random strangers, but I’m happy for neighbours and friends to hold him and play with him. Frankly I think the chance of him getting ill is slim, and his day to day health in terms of socialising, seeing friendly faces and contact is more important.

I did try and avoid everything whilst pregnant ( but was already 7month at start of Covid), and the first few weeks people kept back. But I just feel I would end up completely neurotic if I did if for any longer.

He’s now 11 months. He spent a hour yesterday being cuddled by neighbour who fed him too many biscuits and played duplo with him and made him laugh constantly. I don’t want him to be 2+ years at this rate having fear of people

I find it bizarre that the op is being told to see her GP because she's trying to follow government guidelines

@PumpingPamela

I find it bizarre that the op is being told to see her GP because she's trying to follow government guidelines

Completely agree. OP you are totally not being unreasonable feeling this way, some people have no boundaries and it's downright rude. You can coo/smile at the baby from a few steps back, there is no need to get up close and personal!

I also agree its bizarre. Its a personal preference, not a diagnosable condition 😂

Getting too close, let alone touching a baby without permission, is rude even if there wasn't a pandemic.

Maybe a mesh fly screen or suchlike would help?

@PumpingPamela

I find it bizarre that the op is being told to see her GP because she's trying to follow government guidelines

Absolutely this.

She doesn’t need an anxiety diagnosis and therapy.

She needs people to do what they are supposed to be doing and stay 2m away.

It’s not acceptable to do this. People should know they aren’t supposed to. They can’t miss the fact we are in a pandemic.

I’d say wear a sling and carry baby that way OP but that seems to encourage idiots stroking their cheeks and getting even closer to baby.

PumpingPamela
I find it bizarre that the op is being told to see her GP because she's trying to follow government guidelines confused“

This: she’s not “anxious”, she’s bloody cross. Quite rightly.

Totally get you OP. Even during normal times, it's just polite to acknowledge the mother before sticking your head into a pram.

It really bugs me when people trot out the 'babies are low risk' line with regards to covid. Regardless of that, you may not want to risk catching it yourself (via baby or otherwise). My biggest fear during the pandemic has not been about my child catching it as I'm sure he'll be fine, it's about how would I manage to look after him while isolating if I'm severely unwell myself.

@DDIJ

People should get into the habit of pushing king cobras around in prams to discourage this.

That is an excellent idea.

Nobody should do more than glance and smile at a baby in a pram, no matter how gorgeous.

People should get into the habit of pushing king cobras around in prams to discourage this.

There’s a local woman who proudly pushes about five sphynx cats (the really ugly bald ones) in baby bonnets round out local park in a Silver Cross pram, cooing over them the whole time. It’s comedy gold watching the horror on people’s faces when they look in. She’s always offended when people have the reaction.

This used to drive me nuts. DTs were 31 weekers, both had lung issues and people were always trying to look in the pram in the bloody middle of flu/cold season. I used to put the rain vcovers on if we had to go anywhere busy, the hospital recommended it. They're a bit older no so don't know if this has died out but I had several people try and drop a coin in the pram too.

@PumpingPamela

I find it bizarre that the op is being told to see her GP because she's trying to follow government guidelines

She said she's much more anxious than with her first baby and linked it to a traumatic pregnancy history. I think that's worth mentioning to the GP, yes.

You're being a bit precious

I have newborn twins after multiple miscarriages and several rounds of IVF and all 3 of us in danger so had to have an emergency c section

I love showing them off - old people always come up to have a look and a chat and honestly I'm fine with it - I realised with older DD that many old people don't really have much contact with young babies so love having a nosy in the pram. Everyone has spent the last 12 months very isolated as it is

Can you put one of those cat nets over the hood so people can't see in the pram?

I've never had this problem, no one comes near me or my child's pram.... I wonder if it's because I'm Asian.

However, I think it would annoy me if people did. I don't mind people looking at all but draw the line at people I don't know touching my baby. It's not ok to go around touching people, I don't see why that's different for a baby.

I took my baby out in the sling round town the other day and it was lovely to see smiling faces cooing over him, I really can't get worked up about it as frankly it's just quite nice to feel some normality but each to their own.

I think those saying pfb are forgetting we are still in a pandemic and also some people just don't like strangers touching their children

Well wishing strangers can catch a glimpse from a suitable distance and make a kind comment without touching the baby.

Right at the start of the pandemic in the doctors surgery waiting room an old man was cooing over my son, reached across stroked his cheek with his crispy hand and I asked the reason for my visit!!

I’m amazed some people think it’s an anxiety thing when it’s a pandemic and the government guidelines are in place for good reason. If a very young baby gets it it’s quite likely a hospital trip because chances are your doctor won’t want you to be giving a baby so young calpol ect if they have a fever. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want to avoid catching it anyway let alone your baby. In the circumstances to me this is a sensible attitude. I’m pregnant with my second and it won’t be a free for all with my newborn either. I don’t mind people having a quick glance but You can’t be sure that’s all it will be and I certainly won’t be letting strangers lean into the baby or touch them. I am also pretty laid back although I’m sure I will also be considered anxious by some on this by the sounds of Things! I see absolutely nothing wrong or out of the ordinary with wanting to follow government guidelines to keep your child safe.

Put a raincover on the pram so they can't get too close if you're that bothered.

@idontlikealdi

This used to drive me nuts. DTs were 31 weekers, both had lung issues and people were always trying to look in the pram in the bloody middle of flu/cold season. I used to put the rain vcovers on if we had to go anywhere busy, the hospital recommended it. They're a bit older no so don't know if this has died out but I had several people try and drop a coin in the pram too.

This used to happen with my eldest when I lived in a city. Old ladies would coo over him and then when I got home I'd find a quid. He was a charmer as a baby waiting to catch an eye and would break out in a huge grin. Apparently the coin is for luck.

I don't think I'm being precious, ott or have anxiety, I just don't want my tiny baby to catch covid and like others have said, I don't want it either, I'm tired as it is with a newborn without covid so can't imagine how hard it would be if I was feeling rough. Also, good idea with the pram signs etc but really people should just realise not to go too close to people in a bloody pandemic. Know the boundaries people 🙄 you have no idea what area of the country I am in to know the covid rates, also find it sad that whilst everyone goes on about protecting the elderly , apparently a newborn baby is completely different.

@Stepawayfromthebaby I’ve had to politely tell 2 people this week that they can’t touch my baby 😳 random strangers in the street when we’ve been out for walks in our village. My DS is 5m now and it’s really surprised me how many people think it’s ok just to touch other people’s children 😅😅

Clearly the people who think this is funny haven't lost a child before or a loved one to Covid. I'm with you OP. Sorry some people are so ignorant and selfish.

Some really mixed responses here. Everyone has their own boundaries. People just love babies and probably forget.