What would you do in this uncomfortable situation?

People will stop if they see any baby in a store or whatever. People like to look at babies, mainly the elderly. It happens to every mother out there. If you don't like it, then you might just have to speak up. You can let them know in a kind way that you don't mind them talking to him or making faces, but please don't touch. It's not rude, it's your child and you have the right. When he gets a little older it will stop, so just hang in there.

I think that I would have been uncomfortable with this as well. Babies less than one year old don't have an immune system and I wouldn't want some stranger's saliva on my child. I probably would have tolerated it like you did though. You could step in the lady's way and just say something like "he's just getting over a cold, wouln't want you to get sick". That sounds kind and should get the point across. Not the best solution but it just might get you by!

I don't have any kids but I wouldn't want my child touched by anyone either. Maybe if they asked me first I would say okay, but not to have them simply come up and start to kiss and hug my child. Maybe touch his or her hand. I have always felt a little uncomfortable around other peoples children, because how I would feel about a stranger around my child I try to keep my distance and admire form afar. I'll say oh what a sweet baby and ask what his or her name is. I may talk a little to the baby and say hi, but there is a line. Plus you wouldn't want to perhaps be carring some cold or flu virus and pass it on to someone elses child. That would be aweful.

My son always had an audience when we were out and about. I'd say something like "oh, he has a cold and explosive diarrhea", then the strangers would run lol. I also found that they'd leave him alone if I was wearing him in a sling, then I'd just get weird stares since I lived in an ultra-conservative town. No one wants to touch a baby strapped to it's mother! Now that he's older, he doesn't have anyone wanting to touch him, but he still has "conversations" with anyone who happens to walk by.

When my kids were small, I went through that. It's a parent's protective instinct to not want a stranger to touch their child. Also we teach our children not to talk to strangers, so it makes our job harder to have strangers approach our children. She was more than likely harmless, but I would be upset too if someone kissed and hugged my baby. In this day and age, you just can't be too careful, and people should realize that it is not appropriate to touch anothers child. Now that my kids are grown, I will admire other's children but I won't touch them unless given permission from the parent. If I want to hold and cuddle a baby, I will do so with one of my grandchildren.

I know how you feel it's happened to me before and I didn't say anything either I mean you don't want to hurt an old lady's feelings!so now I usually hold my baby when we go out, but it does take a while for that uncomfortable feeling to go away. It freaks me out when people kiss my baby even people I know, I'm not a germaphobe normally, just when it comes to babies.

wow..that was just crazy! lol..and i to know whatyou are going threw..and i had many people cooing..and touching his little cheeks..although the one woman u mentioned that tapped his head i would have flipped out a bit..being a soft and having the soft spot and all..anyways,,i really believe that the elderly lady ment no harm..and i firmly believe she forgot what kind of world we live in that you cant just do that anymore like they could back then..it was acceptable..and everyone was like that..but if it bothers you again..if it ever happens..i would just cut in and say you had to hurry off...even if that ment getting out of line and pretebding u needed something else..

WOW! What they did sounds really bold! Although it doesn't sound like they meant any harm, I definitely think they were WAY too close for comfort. I am not necessarily a confrontational person, but I think if I had been in your shoes I would have had to step up and say something or shield them away or something. I don't think I would have been comfortable at all. I don't think I would have the nerve to hug and kiss a baby I didn't know. I think maybe they thought it was all OK because you didn't get them any type of signal or hint that they overstepped their boundaries. Some people are totally clueless when it comes to stuff like that.

Some people just don't understand the importance of personal space, and protecting your children from unwanted/uneeded germs. In a grocery store, you have so many sources of germs to worry about, from the filthy grocery cart, to the bag of chips you buy, that someone else touched, after using the restroom, without washing thier hands. It's no wonder, that we as parents are walking around with our hands around our little ones, saying, please look, but do not touch. In this situation, I would have picked him up out of the cart, and snuggled him close. Most people, for some reason, have no problem invading your babies personal space, but will usually think twice about doing the same to an adult. If he was snuggled tightly to your chest, they would have a hard time reaching the things that could harm him most, his mouth/face etc. They could still get to his hands, but you could try to quickly wash them before he shoves them in his mouth. Our babies have always soliceted much attention, especially by older people. I think they just miss thier grandkids, and it's been so long since they've had to deal with babies, that they don't even think about that. THe other day, the hubby had the 7 month old in a cart at Walmart, and an older man went in to touch his face, and almost got punched. My husband didn't realize what he was doing, and caught himself before he knocked him out. The hubby thought the guy was trying to take the baby, and it was his initial reaction, I don't think the guy even noticed. TOo bad, maybe he would have thought twice before touching someone's baby w/out permission. (:

If it makes you uncomfortable, you should speak up. I would not dwell on it later though. I am sure she meant nothing by it. I think that this older woman just misses having a baby around and was enjoying playing with your baby for a moment. She was perhaps reminiscing moments with her children or grandchildren.

I agree with you that the 2 women went overboard in touching your baby just like that. Maybe looking and talking is okay, but I believe touching should require permission from the parent. But I also believe in not being rude unless absolutely necessary. Maybe next time you feel you're on the verge of another "touchy" stranger, you should grab your baby first before they do, so as to completely avoid the uncomfortable situation.

if you dont like strangers touching your child, then you should have told those women not to touch yr kid whrn they started patting yr kid u seems confuse u says its okay and u says u were worreried so its better to let ppl know that u dont like anyone touching yr kid

I don't like strangers either to touch my daughter, especially when they pinch and pinch her roundy cheeks. I'm so mad. But happily, my daughter is older now and she reacts to those pinching situation. I think it is your motherly instincts that speaks to you, that's why you are still uncomfortable with it. Even just thinking about it. You were the one in the situation, and you might have feel the bad intentions of this persons. I have seen a similar situation at a mall, while shopping. The woman left her bag on the cart, with her cute baby. And for a split of a second, the bag was gone. She just turned to reach out for some slippers. She only remembered two woman talking and cuddling her son. She even talk with them for a while. And she never thought something wrong would happen. Me, myself, I didn't noticed the women. Because it was so casual and you wouldn't think about it. I even thought they knew each other. Unfortunately, the exit was so near, there was a great chance that her one month budget for her family was gone. So don't worry, your motherly instincts may have save you from this kind of situation. Bad persons have a lot of disguise and way to abuse others. Especially for a woman with a child in your hands, because your attention is split and they take this opportunity to victimize them. Our time is not anymore like before of good cuddling grannies only. I'm not saying all are, but you can sense if the feelings of the persons is genuine or not. Maybe next time just pretend to be in a hurry, like have to grab something or to go to the comfort room to get away, especially in this kind of fishy situation. Hope this uncomfortable situation won't happen to you anymore. Take care! (^^,)

I know exactly how you feel. I can remember feeling very creeped out by this when my son was a baby. We always were told to tell our children not to reach out to strangers, but on the other hand we want them to be well-mannered just the same. Frankly, if it were me I would have said something very blunt like "please don't do that", but that's just me. At the very least I probably would have said "he's got a bad cold and I wouldn't want to spread the germs right now" and then just walk away. People do mean well, but they have not clue about personal space sometimes.

I don't like when people touched my kids either. I just smiled and would say we have to go. If I couldn't get away, I just moved the baby to another arm. You are right there are crazies in this world but I notice there are MANY older people who do this. I certainly don't mind when they talk to my children. I know they bring such a smile to my grandma's face so I would assume they would to others.

I would have been uncomfortable because well, you ARE when strangers touch your kids. You can NEVER be too careful in this day and age. I think I would have let it slide though. Elderly people in general are harmless and they all love babies. No matter what you do, you can't prevent people from cooing over small children. When I gave birth to my daughter, I had to stop off at the grocery store on the way home from the hospital. I was with my mom and Dad and my daughter was wrapped in her shawl. As I strolled down the Aisle, I was stopped by 2 workers who cooed and awwwwed over my daughter but acted like I wasn't there. They were asking my MOM all the questions. When one of them held her arms out to take my daughter from me, I turned away and said to my parents, we need to go, she'll be ready for feeding soon and walked away. When we got back in the car, mom berated me for being rude, but I held my own and said "Not half as rude as she was to me!" Elderly people I can handle, but when people no older than me ignore me like that and then go to take my babies from my arms without even asking, THEN I have issues.

I don't know. I think I would have gone with my gut. Did the "icky" feeling come over me? If it did, I would have simply walked away. They were probally harmless but the "whatif" she was sick or something would drive me nuts. I think you did the right thing.

OH wow... I'd be very unnerved too. I don't know how I would have handled it in reality, but, sitting here I can tell you what I would think I'd do. First, I'd probaby do as you did and keep my hand on the child, but as she would start getting too close and the kissing, I think I'd excuse myself and just start pushing the cart away. You are NOT paranoid. More mothers should be this cautious. I don't know how many times I've been in the store and have see a kid just wandering away from it's mom and the mom doesn't even seem to care. It makes me mad. So . . . GOOD FOR YOU! Keep your eyes open and your hand on that baby!

I have had problems like these so many times, and I have learned to be aware of everything, but to smile and be friendly. If people get too close, I will simple come up with an excuse for leaving. I usually say "Well, Shaney, we gotta get going or daddy will be waiting for us", or "let's get that ice cream home, before it starts melting." I always say it to my son, as this kind of takes a bit of the akwardness away, and then I finish off with a "nice to meet you, have a great day" or something similar. I have really found that people's barriers vary to extremes, and although I do not like people I do not know touching my kids, I will allow it with a watchful eye, if it seems like they are alright. As you though, I never let go of my kid, my purse or the cart. My kids are mixed, and this seems to bring them a lot of attention from everyone, and my youngest especially has this thing about wanting to make people laugh. My oldest has always been very shy and reserved, and I can really tell the difference. If I bring my youngest son grocery shopping, I should add at least 20 minutes to my estimated shopping trip, as he always find people to smile at. Take pride in the fact that you have a wonderful and charming son, and then just follow your motherly instincts, as you did in this situation.

I can see how that would be a bit off putting. Personally I would not walk up to a child I did'nt know and start hugging them. You can usually tell when someone is just trying to be freindly. A rule of thumb, if it dose'nt feel right then it probably isn't.