AIBU to keep telling toddler ‘No’

[Zeesajid1994]

So little girl is 19 months but hasn’t really seen other children as her entire life has been spent in a pandemic. Went to first ever mum and baby group today and she was unsure about a new born and wanted to go upto him and give him a toy car and a small ball. I was on edge but the staff said it’s fine and to let her explore. They said if she does anything then to move her back. NB’s mum was totally chill about it but I was terrified she would hurt him. How do I teach her that babies are delicate without being an overly cautious mama. I felt a right idiot being told to take a step back and let her ‘explore’. So, I think my question is AIBU to keep telling her to stay away from the babies or not. Do toddlers really need to be totally free to explore and only removed if they do do something wrong

I'd stay with her and keep using the word 'gently' if you think she's getting too boisterous.

If she's not one of those toddlers who are in the habit of throwing things or grabbing, biting or pinching, then you probably have nothing to worry about. You still need to stay within arm's-length just in case, till you are confident that she's got the hang of it.

The only two options aren't jumping in and saying no or standing back. You can talk to her as she's approachibg baby saying "aww cute baby, we must be gentle with babies." Etc.

Just model for her. She's not going to learn how to act around babies if she's not shown! So ignore when people tell you to sit back and let her explore - babies can be hurt!

Let her explore other experiences, outdoors or with different materials and objects and foods. But with a baby, model and reminding about being gentle.

She’s not a biting toddler more of a “here, play with my toy” kind of toddler. Which is great with anyone older but a baby won’t be able to protect it self from a toy car being thrusted into its hands which is where my fear comes in.

Im glad no one else would just step back until something happens as my instinct was to step in beforehand.

I’ll show her how to be gentle next time. She has no siblings or cousins so I have been modelling the gentle behaviour with her dolls. She went from throwing it across the room to placing the doll gently in the toy cot so I guess she is learning.