How to deal with unhelpful and unsolicited ‘advice’ from strangers

[Penny2020]

New mum here, just been out on my first trip to the supermarket with my 1 month old and encountered my first interfering granny giving me advice on my parenting. She stopped us in the middle of a busy aisle with lots of people watching. I very awkward. I assume this will be the first of many times this happens and I’d like to have a standard response ready to go for when this inevitably happens again. I’m not one for confrontation so I’d like to be polite but with undertones of ‘bugger off I don’t care what you think so leave me alone’.

Anyone got any standard responses which shut down the conversation without rudeness or an awkward stand off?

I have 4 so get constant comments off strangers 😂

Smile and nod, smile and nod. And then do what you think.

My neighbours had a baby a couple of months ago. They asked for any advice. I told them to always do what they think as they'll have to live with the consequences!

Oooh I would’ve said something too. Sorry but that’s just dangerous.

Well I’ve been well and truly schooled - but thanks all for the advice

I'm another who's never had unsolicited parenting advice from a stranger. I'd just treat it like any unwanted comment. Smile and say "OH THANKS" then move off if you don't want to engage. TBH I think the specific advice she gave was forgivable - that is a SIDS risk, and lots of people don't know it. In fact, I always used to get my baby to sleep that way (including on hot sunny days), and somehow missed the advice against it (even though I felt I was constantly reading baby advice). If someone had told me it was wrong I bet I would have felt cross but I also would have stopped doing it.

I’m sure people will now say this also isn’t safe but I use a “snooze shade” for these circumstances as it’s SPF 50 and breathable. Most of my friends with children also use this. It has a zip on the top and I do a quick welfare check every few mins. My baby, like yours, would wake immediately if not covered