Small things people have done for you when you’re out in public with a baby

[Tryingandhoping2020]

Twice this week I’ve been touched by small acts of kindness from strangers when out with my 8mo.

A few days ago outside a supermarket a lady came over while I was trying to placate frustrated DD and helped me pack my shopping into my car.

Today, I was grabbing a quick lunch at a fast food place and cleaning DD up after her lunch (purée, not fast food!), an employee came over completely unprompted to hand me some more napkins to clean her up with and asked if there was anything else she could help with.

Both very small things that neither lady probably thought twice about, but meant a lot to a tired FTM. Thought a thread would be nice to share lovely things that people have done in public when they see you struggling!

on my first outing with my first newborn and I was trying to work out breastfeeding etiquette. I decided to sit in the baby change room, when a group of old ladies came over and encouraged me to stay at the table in the quiet cafe. They chose a table where they could block us from view and then told me what a brilliant job I was doing. I successfully breastfed both babies for almost 6yrs in total.

another lady (customer) silently brought me a glass of water when I was breastfeeding in a cafe of a hot day.

and best of all, when I was a harassed mum with two feisty toddlers so many young teens hanging around playgrounds would step in and help entertain. I remember one small group that happily held my two little ones on a long rope swing that was really too big for them.

A few weeks ago a woman came up to me on the bus and said “I think you’re a brilliant mom”
she sees us on the bus everyday on the way to work/nursery. My son and I usually song songs or read stories or point out colours so she’s seen all our antics but her words made me glow.
he’s 2 and that lady seeing just a snapshot of our day and wanting to comment on it made my week!

Oooh lots of lovely stories.
Mine is not as great, but I loved how once when I was waiting for my coffee at Starbucks the barista heard 3-4yo DD ask what name they would call when it would be my turn, I explained they would use my first name as it is only her who calls me Mummy. DD was a bit disappointed. Cue the barista calling loudly « a latte for MUMMY » DD was delighted.

I once was driving poorly DD2 when she projectile vommed all over herself, the car seat, the seat in front and floor. I was on the motorway and left at the next exit, pulling into a lay-by with some lorries parked up. It was December and pitch black, I had to strip brave little toddler in the freezing dark, who didn't cry, and try to clean up with baby wipes, dressing her in the one spare pair of trousers and my own adult size 12 hoodie. I could see a shadowy man lurking in the corner of my vision and tried not to worry (otherwise occupied) but he came a little closer and asked 'are you alright love?' - he then offered me extra wipes and tissues because he said, he always has loads being on the road for days. Bless him!

I was always amazed in the pram days how many teenagers would open a shop door for us. They all get stereotyped as glaring and unhelpful, but time and time again, boys and girls went out of their way to help. Maybe there is hope for humanity after all.

Popped into our local supermarket for a few bits with my DDs aged 4 and 2. 2 year old in the buggy. Basket balanced on top of the buggy and stood in a huge queue when DD2 did a Houdini and escaped from the buggy, causing it to topple and my shopping to scatter. She then threw herself on the floor when I attempted to pick her up and put her back in. 2-3 shoppers immediately helped, standing the buggy back up my and collecting all my shopping, all whilst I try to deal with a toddler meltdown whilst very red faced and flustered. Eventually got DD2 back in the buggy to find my place in the queue gone and I nearly cried at the idea of having to go to the back of the even longer queue with my very fed up kids. Another lady (who had been just in front of me in the queue) kindly ushered me back into my position in the queue and then then death glared the guy who was behind me when he opened his mouth to say something

There’s a cleaning lady who works in the Peacocks centre in Woking, on the ground floor of the food hall bit. When I was trying to have lunch in there with a baby and a 2 year old, I think she helped with my trays and moved chairs around for me. I can’t even remember exactly what it was but she just made my life easier and was so nice. She’s still working there 12 years later and I am always happy when I spot her.

It was the second day of me doing childcare for my daughter after her maternity leave finished. Took my grandson for a walk In His buggy to our High Street, he was eight months old and we were just getting to grips with this new situation. There’s a shortcut through our doctors car park, it was going well until I got to the end and found a stile gate, there was no way to get the buggy through it. Two young lads on bikes appeared and lifted the buggy and baby over the stile. They then pointed out another way to get back, avoiding the stile, it was a little further to walk but downhill.

I'm sitting sobbing while reading this, DS is napping and I'm feeling DC2 kicking and just feeling very emotional and happy. Thank you for all your stories.

Oh, I've remembered one of my own. I had DS in the carrier crossing a supermarket car park when he was about 6 months. I slipped on a pamphlet someone had left on the ground and fell. DS grazed his forehead and had a bump, I hurt my ankle and both wrists and I was a blubbering mess from the shock of it and worrying that DS was hurt.

All of a sudden I was surrounded by people. One couple helped me up, a man got a first aid kid out of his car as my legs were bleeding, a woman held DS and calmed him down while her daughter pulled faces to him and someone bought me a bottle of cold water from the supermarket. I had offers of rides home or to the hospital, but we just lived down the road so I hobbled home and drove us myself.

Their kindness stopped me from being in an even worse state.

I’ve handed out plasters, bandages and wipes to distressed mums, held babies so mum or dad could eat, entertained a littler girl in a queue in Aldi, by magically finding 5p coins from behind her ear. It was worth the 20p to see her face. Shielded a breast feeding mum from gawpers. DH was with me, we stood with our backs to mum, pretending to look at a map, blocking her from view.