Holding a strangers baby

[Imzadi]

I'm sorry, it is odd to leave a one week old newborn on a bar in a carrier to go have smoke. It is odd to hand a one week old newborn to a stranger to chat up your neighborhood bartender. It seems the new mom is not accepting of the changes that come with being a new mom and perhaps was not ready to start a family yet. I won't even discuss the smoking issue.

OP - Despite it being a strange situation, I am happy you got some fun baby time.

Perhaps, as a new mom, she just doesn't know all the ins and outs yet of what she's supposed to do. This obviously isn't a snowflake baby to her.

 

[marcyinPA]

I don't think either thing is all that weird, to be honest.

The term "smoky bar" would never even enter my thought process, because it's been illegal to smoke in bars here for years.

But it does remind me of that line in Sweet Home Alabama... 'You have a baby! In a bar!' For some reason, that line cracks me up.

I immediately thought of that line too!

I do kind of find it odd. I mean, if I were in line at the grocery store oogling over a baby (which I have done before), I'd find it strange if the mother placed the baby in my arms!

 

[FireDancer]

Well, if it is a dive bar with spittoons, smoke and bar fights that is one thing. Around here a lot of "bars" are really just restaurants that also have a bar area. Even some of the proper bars are just restaurants during the day.

I play on a co-ed softball team that is sponsored by a bar. Almost everyone on the team has children of one age or another. The oldest is 15 and the youngest will be born in October with just about everything in between. After almost games the whole team all the kids come to the bar for food and some people grab a drink. No one is allowed to smoke and there is no loud music. It is pretty much just a restaurant that has a bar and bad food. Nothing more.

Different strokes indeed (no Gary Coleman pun intended).

 

[Sparx]

I don't think either thing is all that weird, to be honest.

The term "smoky bar" would never even enter my thought process, because it's been illegal to smoke in bars here for years.

But it does remind me of that line in Sweet Home Alabama... 'You have a baby! In a bar!' For some reason, that line cracks me up.

I was thinking the exact same thing!

 

[KerriK85]

the teen mother story made me drop my mouth LOL

wanna hear a wierd "mother in a store "story?

my friend was in the grocery store and noticed a child begging the mother for candy (he was believed to be around 4 or 5). mommy said no soo many times...finally the child yelled in front of all, I HATE YOU MOMMY! I WISH YOU NEVER HAD ME!!! The mom yelled right back ,with no hesitation i might add, I DIDNT WANT YOU EITHER, YOU WERE JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A BJ!(i condensed the words for staying appropriate on these boards) of course everyone stopped and stared, what happened after that i have no clue lol

 

[emer95]

I would hold a stranger's baby in a bar. I relish ANY chance to hold babies. I too have a 9 1/2 year old and serious baby fever. There is nothing like holding a soft, snuggly, fresh-from-Heaven infant. You're lucky, OP!

And KerriK85- HOLY MOLEY!!!

 

[klacey1]

I used to work at Babies R Us. I was checking out a new dad who had his baby boy with him one day. Dad realized at some point that he forgot his wallet in the car, so he says, "Here, can you hold him for a minute?" and runs out to the car to grab it. It was kind of funny, although a small part of me was hoping desperately that he didn't get in the car and make a run for it.

Another time, I was shopping in Walmart and there was a teenaged mother there with her young baby boy. Walking, but not verbal, so a year? Anyway, the baby was crying and then he looked at me and smiled. She sticks him out toward me, and I automatically reach for him, not knowing what else to do. (I was a teenager too at the time). She plunks the baby in my arms and says, "There you go. She's your mommy now." I stand there open mouthed while she walks off down the isle and turns the corner. The kid looks at me, I look at the kid, then the mom pops her head back around the corner and says, "Just kidding! Bet I scared you huh?" Takes the baby back and leaves. I'm pretty sure I just stood there for a minute thinking of all the things I should probably have done in that situation before just shaking my head and leaving the store.

Uh....that would have left me thoroughly perplexed...
Aww, OP, I think as long as your baby fever doesn't leave you hanging out sketchily around daycares, you're fine to relish in holding another's infant!

 

[SDFgirl]

I love holding newborns! And I love giving them back!!

 

[Magpie]

Honestly, I figure new mums are all sleep-deprived, and hardly responsible for anything they do.

A friend of mine once stuck her baby seat - with baby in it! - on top of the stove while she was washing the dishes. Somehow the burner was on. She didn't realize until she smelled melting plastic!

The baby seat was ruined, but the baby was fine. Thankfully!

Me... I managed not to do anything like that, but I sure did have lots of strangers holding my babies at one time or another. First time was when my daughter was a week old, and we went out to dinner. The entire restaurant staff oohed and aahed over her, passed her from waitress to waitress, and she somehow ended up in the kitchen. "You eat, we look after baby!" I ended up having to ask for her back!

Another time, the elevator in our building broke down and I was trying to hike up to the seventeenth floor with a stinky baby in my arms. A very nice Middle Eastern gentleman plucked her right out of my arms and took off up the stairs without me! I ran after him, trying to explain that she was getting baby poop all over his nice leather jacket, but he didn't understand English so he just kept trying to reassure me that he wasn't kidnapping her. He handed her back at my floor with a big smile. So I just thanked him and took off. I sure hope that jacket wasn't expensive...

By the time my second came along, I was exhausted. They're only 21 months apart, plus no car, and it was the middle of winter. Every morning I took the kids to a free preschool drop-in program, and what I loved most about it was walking in the door and having someone immediately take my baby out of my arms. I didn't really care who it was, it was just so nice not to have him stuck to me all the time.

So yeah... it may be a little foolish to hand a baby to a complete stranger, but I have sympathy for Moms who do it!

 

[ZachnElli]

I don't think either thing is all that weird, to be honest.

The term "smoky bar" would never even enter my thought process, because it's been illegal to smoke in bars here for years.

But it does remind me of that line in Sweet Home Alabama... 'You have a baby! In a bar!' For some reason, that line cracks me up.

That's what I was going to say! Love that movie!

 

[PatsGirl]

Oh lucky you! I'm edging on 50 here and just starting to get the maternal urge again but I do squash it almost immediately, lol.

FWIW, when DD was born we stopped on the way home at a chinese food restaurant/bar, put her carrier under the table, ordered a pupu platter and a scorpian bowl.

I had some strange rules that I put on myself (no babies to the mall until they are several months old, all napping should be done outside if the weather is cooperating, and no baby shoes! to name a few) but letting strangers hold my babies was not one of them. I especially liked it when the tween-age girls would circle around and you just know they wanted to hold them, I'd just hand him/her over and let em get a little practice in.

DD13 is just starting to get baby fever and we've lucked out that a friend of ours just adopted her grandbaby, a beautiful 6 months old baby girl, who we will have 100% access to as needed

 

[KandD]

OP I know exactly what you mean!!

I am in my late twenties and trying to finish up school. I've had baby fever on and off for a few years now. I work in a court house and one day someone was in front of the judge and their baby was crying so I offered to hold her out in the hallway.

So I was out in the hallway in all my glory holding this precious little girl and she started HOLLERING!! Oh my gosh, I'm sure my face was priceless! Everyone was staring at me and this screaming baby! The first thirty seconds were really nice though....

 

[smidgy]

I see nothing wrong with the young mom bringing the baby into a bar. she didn't say "strip club", "brothel"."pick up joint" "night club" she said "local bar".

these are places where nice people hang around to converse,.
for 11 years I tended bar at a place where families were welcome. we had chili and hot dogs. the owners were an older couple, and swearing was not allowed.
but even before I worked there, we would stop off after our sons' soccer games for a couple beers and some chili.

growing up, we had a cottage on a river near Chicago. we would go to a couple "taverns" for broasted chicken. sis and I would feed the ducks.

there is nothing wrong with bringing a baby into a "bar". not all bars are horrible places with who knows what going on. (and, before anyone jumps on it, of course the driver watches what he/she drinks).

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I don't think the bar is at all the issue. Lots of people bring babies into bars, but not when they are one week old and they don't go out for a smoke leaving him/her to be watched by someone who is working and total strangers.