[ASleaster88]

My daughter is 7 weeks old and she's a baby so she's cute. (all babies I've seen are cute) and some people have issue with manners. They'll just go up to her when she's in her stroller or even in my arms and go 'oh she's so cute' and start touching her little hands. Sorry, I don't know where your hands have been, and my baby puts her hands in her mouth! I've put the little tag on her stroller that says 'wash your hands before touching mine' and I even have a little thing of hand sanitizer RIGHT THERE in the front cup holder (she's too young to reach it right now) no one seems to get the hint and then get offended when I wipe my daughters hands with a sani wipe (made for humans not surfaces) then a baby wipe.

[Mrs.MLT]

I never felt the need to be polite to strangers when they attempted to touch my DD as a newborn. My kid, my rules. The second I saw them reaching for her, I would immediately block them to prevent them from touching her (or, if she was in her Moby wrap I would turn to the side so she was out of reach). In my experience, most people are understanding and won't try to touch a newborn. Those who didn't seem to "get it" got the stink eye from this mama and a firm "do not touch her, please and thank you", LOL.

[esquala]

I used to tell the kids at my son's school that they were welcome to touch his baby sister's feet and toes, and they were very good about that.

Since no one can wash their hands before touching your daughter's hands, how about a sign that says something like "thanks for touching my feet instead of my hands"?

I volunteered at a function this week that took place at a large church meeting room with a bare floor. A lady came in every day and let her baby, about 6-7 mos old, crawl around on this floor. I said, "you must have older children as well". She said, "yes, I have three, why?" I said, "a first time mom would never let her baby crawl around on this floor!" We both laughed and shared a couple of stories that would make your skin crawl.

Not to worry too much, Mom - they grow like little weeds no matter what you do!

[ASleaster88]

I know that a sink and soap aren't always near by but that's why I keep the hand sanitizer in the cup-holder in the front part of the stroller (since she's way to young to reach for it right now) hoping that people would at least use that. I tell people 'please use the hand sanitizer first.' I've puller her away, or turned away. It seems to happen a lot at checkouts more where I'm putting things onto the counter, I keep the stroller right next to me FACING the register but that doesn't stop people. One fear I have is someone trying to take her. Someone tried to unbuckle her to pick her up. I heard the buckle and I almost got arrested for assault. (she threatened to call the cops but didn't. I thought she was taking my baby so of coarse she got punched!) I literally just took my eyes off her for a second to pay the cashier.

[ASleaster88]

*note I don't condone violence, especially in-front of my children but I thought she was trying to take my baby. I feel horrible as well since I'm a martial artist so I pack a mean punch.

[LuvMyCuddleBugs]

Lol! This made me crack up. I would lose it if someone unbuckled my baby! My daughter is 6 months old and everywhere I go people (especially the elderly) try to touch her. I scoot the cart away and tell them "my other kids don't even touch her... So please don't". They do get offended but oh well. Better to risk offending a stranger with no manners than your baby getting their *germs*

[ILoveAddisonRaine]

My daughter is 2 and a half and even she knows to ask just to SEE someone's baby let alone touch them. Some ladies get mad at my DD for wanting to see their baby, and that annoys me to no end, but she knows no means no, and please don't touch the baby means don't touch, but she can blow kisses bc she loves babies.

[ASleaster88]

My nephew is only TWO and he asks if he can see his baby cousin and he knows not to touch her head or hands. My son even asks if he can see his sister so I don't get why adults think they don't have to ask.
People who do ask, I do let see her and my daughter is a happy baby, but I think she sense when I'm not happy because she's never smiled at anyone that doesn't ask before they start trying to touch her. She actually starts to cry (even in her stroller) People that ask she's cooing and smiling at them. (so either she knows when I'm not happy with people or she doesn't appreciate strangers coming up to her either)
as for my nephew and son, she loves them. They can almost always make her smile. My son though, he's starting to become a protective older brother. He'll 'guard' the stroller at checkouts, but I don't always take him with me since he's normally in preschool or summer day camp (though it's only a half day) when I go out.

[mefreire89]

I really hate confronting people so when I had my son (first time mom) it was a real struggle for me. I'm a young mom (22) and for some people I guess that means that they don't have to respect my boundaries. I still have problems (he's almost two) with other moms at the park touching my son. He's short but loves to slide and play on the monkey bars and even though I'm maybe 4 ft away they look at me like I'm putting my son in danger. (By the way I'm very protective and extremely attached to my son so at the park I try to ease up and just let him be a kid).

[SPOILEDTCANGEL]

Originally Posted by ASleaster88

*note I don't condone violence, especially in-front of my children but I thought she was trying to take my baby. I feel horrible as well since I'm a martial artist so I pack a mean punch.

You should't apologize for this I had almost the same thing happen when my DD was born 14 years ago there are sick people in this world and as parents if we can not protect our children no one will.......... Honestly who tries to take a strangers baby out of a cart or stroller its ridiculous and I believe any law enforcement would have seen your POV on it I mean WTH goes through someones head doing that.

[forevergrateful]

Originally Posted by esquala

I used to tell the kids at my son's school that they were welcome to touch his baby sister's feet and toes, and they were very good about that.

Since no one can wash their hands before touching your daughter's hands, how about a sign that says something like "thanks for touching my feet instead of my hands"?

I volunteered at a function this week that took place at a large church meeting room with a bare floor. A lady came in every day and let her baby, about 6-7 mos old, crawl around on this floor. I said, "you must have older children as well". She said, "yes, I have three, why?" I said, "a first time mom would never let her baby crawl around on this floor!" We both laughed and shared a couple of stories that would make your skin crawl.

Not to worry too much, Mom - they grow like little weeds no matter what you do!

Good advice, Paula!

BTW; cute story: The actor Michael J. Fox was once on a talk show & the host was asking him about his children; and he told a cute story about the difference in having your first child vs the fourth. He said something like,

"With your first child, when the pacifier falls on the floor, you boil it in water before giving it back to your child.

With your second child, you run it under hot water.

With your thrid child, if the pacifer falls on the floor, you lick it to clean it off.

With the fourth child, you give it to the dog to lick it."

I think you got excellent advice from everyone here.

I an only imagine how scary that must have been for someone to unbuckle the buckle in the stroller! OMG!! Some people obviously don't think!!! Talk about nerve!!!! What were they possibly thinking??

[CMLaw]

Originally Posted by ASleaster88

One fear I have is someone trying to take her. Someone tried to unbuckle her to pick her up. I heard the buckle and I almost got arrested for assault. (she threatened to call the cops but didn't. I thought she was taking my baby so of coarse she got punched!) I literally just took my eyes off her for a second to pay the cashier.

Are you kidding me? All you did was punch her?! You have some serious restraint mama! After having been in the Army, in law enforcement, trained in jiu jitsu and t'ai chi, I would have knocked her out so fast she wouldn't have had time to call anyone! The lawyer in me would have argued defense of a 3rd party in imminent danger! I have a 3 month old son and a 10 year old son and I am the mama bear from hell. I've seen too many bad things in my time in the criminal justice field to ever think twice about taking someone out who got too close to my kids! Good for you for acting fast!!!

[CMLaw]

Or, you could just say, "Unwanted touching is a type of criminal battery..." I've used that one a few times

[5kidsmama]

I'd appreciate if you didn't touch the baby...


then repeat as necessary

[Goddessoflubbock]

When my older son was a baby he had the most beautiful blond curly hair. It was like a beacon to every old lady in the mall.

Needless to say, his first words were "don't touch" LOL

[cyndibru]

I totally understand not wanting strangers to touch your baby, and I can't imagine that people would even think it's ok to do so, much less try to unbuckle your child while you are involved with the cashier. Crazy!.......That said, some people seem to be this way even with close family and friends? Unless a baby is medically fragile, why the alarm at someone touching their hands? Even siblings? I most certainly would do whatever "mom" requested, but I will admit I'd think mom was going way overboard. I love to touch a baby's hands and have them curl their fingers around mine........obviously a baby belonging to someone I know well, not some stranger's baby! Maybe it's a generational thing? I actually liked it when relatives and friends were interested and wanted to hold and get to know my children.....nowadays some moms seem really weirded out by that and I'm not sure why?

[Goddessoflubbock]

Have you ever seen a baby with RSV? It's a respiratory illness they can pick up easily and it kills many every year. Babies have limited immune systems that can't fight off the stuff an adult can.

I guess I was lucky, none of my babies left the house before they were 6 weeks old, and very limited time and places until they were three months. The perseverance paid off in no sick kids, not until they were school age. Even then they rarely got sick.

It's unfortunate that is probably impossible for most parents but adults should have the sense not to touch infants, and not to approach any baby without permission. You never know where those ninja moms are lurking!

[thutchinson2210]

That's was always my biggest fear too....someone just taking off with my daughter in the store....(thank u TLC for a special on child abduction when my daughter was about 2 month old...make my paranoia worse )

When someone would go to touch her I would just tell them they were welcome to touch her feet or toes but that's it until she got to the toes in her mouth stage last summer with no shoes on..eek!! Than it was just plain no. But this was also her stranger anxiety stage and she gladly said no in her own way if someone touched her.

If it makes u uncomfortable say no. What mamma says goes. Period. If ppl don't like it they can just put on their big girl panties and get over it.

[332pca]

Tell them not to touch her...who cares if they get upset...you said strangers right...you may never see them again.

[nwfrugalista]

Originally Posted by Goddessoflubbock

Have you ever seen a baby with RSV? It's a respiratory illness they can pick up easily and it kills many every year. Babies have limited immune systems that can't fight off the stuff an adult can.

I guess I was lucky, none of my babies left the house before they were 6 weeks old, and very limited time and places until they were three months. The perseverance paid off in no sick kids, not until they were school age. Even then they rarely got sick.

It's unfortunate that is probably impossible for most parents but adults should have the sense not to touch infants, and not to approach any baby without permission. You never know where those ninja moms are lurking!

I was going to say the SAME thing--my dd was born six weeks early (and in the late fall--so she was very susceptible). We didn't go out much at all that first winter, but once we did I wore her in a sling as much as possible to try to keep unwanted hands out of the stroller. Still, newborns are understandably adorable people magnets, and it helps to have a little speech rehearsed that you can give quickly to stop someone who crosses the line (and to me, anyone who touches a newborn WITHOUT asking is already over it!).

My speech was, "Our Ped told us dd can't be handled yet, since she's still vulnerable to RSV and flu, thanks so much for understanding."

As for the krazy woman who was taking your baby out of her stroller--in my book, she likely WAS trying to make off with your baby, anyone who isn't developmentally/intellectually delayed should know that you never take a stranger's baby! (I add the caveat only b/c my DS has ASD and likely wouldn't appreciate the rules in that situation--so he receives constant supervision )

[BrendaS104]

Never apologize for trying to protect your baby.

I have twin girls, and when they were babies EVERYONE wanted to touch them. Kids, adults, elderly.. they all wanted to touch my babies. I was quite the mama bear when it came to that. My girls DID have RSV at 3 weeks old, and they were only 4 pound premies, so I'd quite literally pull them back when someone came towards them. More than once I actually had to physically put myself in front of them to keep people away.

Old people are the worst too... they just don't take NO for an answer and think they know everything because they've been around the block. I'd politely say "Oh they have a cold, I wouldn't want you to get sick". and if that didn't work, I'd simply pull away and leave.

[sargentkr]

This is one of those situations where I am completely fine being flat out rude. DO NOT TOUCH MY BABY! My son was born 9 weeks early at only 3 pounds. His birthmom did not give him the best start and he did not need anyone touching him outside of our family. I did not offer an explanation. He is my child and I know what is best.

[ASleaster88]

Originally Posted by cyndibru

I totally understand not wanting strangers to touch your baby, and I can't imagine that people would even think it's ok to do so, much less try to unbuckle your child while you are involved with the cashier. Crazy!.......That said, some people seem to be this way even with close family and friends? Unless a baby is medically fragile, why the alarm at someone touching their hands? Even siblings? I most certainly would do whatever "mom" requested, but I will admit I'd think mom was going way overboard. I love to touch a baby's hands and have them curl their fingers around mine........obviously a baby belonging to someone I know well, not some stranger's baby! Maybe it's a generational thing? I actually liked it when relatives and friends were interested and wanted to hold and get to know my children.....nowadays some moms seem really weirded out by that and I'm not sure why?

I let the grown-ups and older children (7+) in the family touch her hands. It's just the younger children that still don't understand good hand-washing, I don't want them to get in the habit of touching her hands, especially my 2 year old nephew. He wears training pants now, but he'll stick his hands down his pants a lot! (I don't know if it's a boy thing, my son did the same thing at that age) We do have them wash their hands before touching a baby but it's not like you can get them to correctly wash their hands, just enough so that they are kinda clean. (working with food, being and LNA and still going to school for further medical training makes me a stickler for proper hand-washing)

[ASleaster88]

Originally Posted by Goddessoflubbock

Have you ever seen a baby with RSV? It's a respiratory illness they can pick up easily and it kills many every year. Babies have limited immune systems that can't fight off the stuff an adult can.

I guess I was lucky, none of my babies left the house before they were 6 weeks old, and very limited time and places until they were three months. The perseverance paid off in no sick kids, not until they were school age. Even then they rarely got sick.

It's unfortunate that is probably impossible for most parents but adults should have the sense not to touch infants, and not to approach any baby without permission. You never know where those ninja moms are lurking!

I personally have not seen a child with any respiratory illness, but I also don't work with children and even when I was at the ER for a brief stint (I was volunteer only, but they had me help with patients since I'm an LNA and they were constantly understaffed, but I left since it was too much work to not get paid for and the admin didn't like it when I asked to be put on payroll considering the amount of work I did.) I only saw a couple sick kids, most that came in had trauma injuries not so much illness.
I have heard of a lot of illnesses that worry me. Especially pertussis (whopping cough) that's why DH and I got the vaccine and I'm trying to get MIL to get it as well

[ASleaster88]

I try not to be rude, but still firm with people.
Yesterday there was a lady telling her daughter 'look at the baby, she's so cute' as I was walking by so I stopped so she could see my daughter (my son loves looking at babies too, but he never touches them.) she was good, when she reached to touch my daughter I told her 'sweetie, I'd like if you didn't touch her okay?' she understood and made faces at my daughter getting her to smile. Her mom seemed to understand too. but then there was another mom with a kid who just let her kid run up and he tried to touch her very suddenly so I pulled the stroller back and told him nicely like I did the girl for him not to touch her he threw a fit and his mom asked me 'couldn't you just let him please?' I told her no. and she started to get very upset. I was trying to walk away and she followed me all the way to my car! I told her 'look just because you spoil your kid and have taught him he gets his way doesn't mean the world is going to bend to his will. Sorry no means no.'
I try to avoid being mean, but she just did not take the very obvious hint that I was done talking to her.

I don't know if it's just were I live, but crazy people seem to be in abundance.