To hate the phrase "No Thank you"

[Wishingplenty]

I really hate the phrase "No Thank you" often said to a very young child, usually in a high pitched condescending tone, often when said child just wants to interact in a friendly manner with whoever is saying it's child.
Case in point, my 10 month old baby who has just started crawling, crawled up to a child about 3 and wanted to look at her boots. Mother of said child says loudly in a really high pitched condescending to tone oh "No Thank you" to my baby son.
Why say this to a baby? and why are you teaching your toddler to be totally unpleasant to a much younger child?
I have encountered this a few times to varying degrees with other children and just find it so utterly rude and nasty and most of all completely unnecessary!

Stop letting your baby crawl up to strangers and try and touch their things.

She is not really saying it to your baby, is she? She’s saying it to you because she doesn’t want her child to interact with yours. You need to help your child not invade other people’s space.

She’s teaching her daughter that she shouldn’t have to put up with unwanted touching from strangers of any age and to politely tell them not to. What is wrong with that?

If you think that's rude, you live a sheltered life

Exactly. She’s saying it to you. Via your baby.

It isn't unpleasant though? It's more polite than 'Get off me!'.

Shouldn't you be grateful she stopped your baby before they got hurt by her toddler by accident?

This. The mother was telling you to remove your baby and teaching her 3yo a polite way to do that. Because a baby looking at an unwilling 3yo's boots is going to get one of those boots to the face before long.

Would you really tell a baby to 'get off me'?

Sounds like she is teaching her child boundaries and that she does not have to interact/be touched by people just because they are a baby, a relative, a family friend etc. It does seem to you extreme because it is your baby but it is important that children learn from a early age that they do not have to have their boundaries disrespected to keep other's happy.

Ooh a "my baby isn't the pride and joy of someone else's universe!" Shocker....

Well we were at a baby group and her child was actually a little bit older than everyone else. I have never felt the need to be so rude, and always taught my older children about babies and their different stages. Really people need to stay at home in that case if a baby is so easy to take offence to.

What phrase would you prefer her to use to indicate that your ds's advances are not welcome?

Not sure what you're complaining about here OP.

I'd keep your baby away from much older toddlers, who might whack him on the head with a toy.

What? You think a 3 year old would kick a baby in the face?

What would be your preferred phrase?

Why would you want your baby touching someone's shoes anyway?

No one has been rude though!

Being an older toddler at a group doesn't mean the kid needs to let other children touch them if they don't want them to.

Hmm both DDs say this when they don't want something being done to them. I always think it's a bit nicer than just NO 

I think it's fine to teach your child to say no thank you if they are subject to a behaviour they don't like. Sure, it's a baby and we as adults can see that it's not a big deal, but I think it's only right that toddlers are taught how to say when they don't like something happening and speak up about it.

I do think it's a bit weird the mum saying it and not the kid, mind you. I assume it's meant to be a 'teachable' moment.

Very strange replies on here. A bit sad to not want a baby coming up to you/your child at a baby group! Why go to a baby group if you don't want babies coming up to you? Sounds bat shit to me.

Have to laugh though at the idea that mothers need to protect their 3 year olds boundaries from babies at a baby group.

What an odd thread. I'd tell the 3 year old to be careful of the baby? Especially if it's in a baby group setting.

But you're the only one offended? She just wants your baby to go away.

Teaching a child to assert their boundaries in a polite way is good parenting.

I'd do this if my 3YO was liable to be irritated by the baby. 3YOs are volatile little things (obvs yours won't be OP), and some days any tiny thing can cause a shriek.

I don't know what you'd prefer OP?