Ugh! DD is only 5 months old...

[Tasha+Scott]

and already seems to be a magnet for the weirdos!

Strangers are constantly wanting to see her or/and touch her. I know she has a head full of hair, bright blue eyes (although the picture in my signature makes them look brown!), is a pretty happy baby and will smile at anyone. So I understand why people are drawn to her. Heck, I am drawn to most babies myself but I know how to restrain myself! BUT she also seems to draw a lot of weird people to her!

For example, earlier today I went to walmart (yes, walmart...gasp! ). I was on the aisle with the deodarant when a lady said, "Oh, what a cute baby!" I mumbled, "Thanks," as I was looking around for the quickest escape route. Nothing personal but I have come to recognize that hungry, I am about to touch your baby look that some strangers get in their eyes! She had "the look." I am not a germaphobe or a prude or a witch or anything like that but I do have a problem with a complete stranger putting their hands all over my not quite 5 month old baby. I don't know if that person is sick or where their hands have been. It's that simple. I would never touch someone's baby if I didn't even know them but apparently a lot of people think it is okay. Anyway back to my story...

I am looking for my escape route when I see the perfect aisle to quickly turn down. Wrong! The woman follows me and says to the girl in front of me, "Brittany, look at that adorable baby!" Turns out Brittany is the woman's daughter and she is blocking my escape. Brittany is about 20 and seems normal enough at first. She comments about how cute my baby is and I say thanks and try to politely make an exit. Brittany quickly steps in front of me so she can see Kylie (my dd). Now Kylie is almost asleep and has her binky (paci, nuk, whatever you want to call it) in her mouth. Brittany grabs Kylie's binky out of her mouth and says, "I bet you want this, don't you?!" Then she starts moving it toward Kylie's mouth and every time Kylie tries to get it she takes it away from her. Now I am just standing there thinking wth? What is wrong with this girl to think that it is okay to take my child's binky from her or to put her germs all over it? I am trying to think of a way to be polite but after dealing with so many people just like her in the course of 5 months I am running out of patience. Kylie, on the other hand, is just looking at her like what are you doing? She is quite good at the smart aleck looks already! I am just glad that she is not crying since she was so tired and about to fall asleep before dear old Brittany came along!

Finally, I am like, "Um, I don't mean to be rude, but my dd was about to fall asleep and that helps her sleep so if you don't mind..." Brittany just laughs. So I snatch the binky from her and say, "Okay, well, we have to be going." We get out of there as fast as possible. I think I handled the situation rather well. But I will say that I know I won't be able to handle it as well next time...and yes, there will be a next time. There always is. Am I the only one that thinks it is rather strange to just start messing with a stranger's baby? I would never do that and it irks me to no end when others do! And the sad part is Brittany is not even the strangest encounter we have had! I don't even want to get into some of the strangest ones!

Okay, I am not looking for any advice or anything like that. Just thought I'd share and I feel better just to vent! Thanks for listening! Oh, and yes, I sanitized her binky as soon as we got home! I really should go to bed now! Night!

 

[Beth76]

That's so strange. I always have people comment about my 1yo because he has very pretty blue eyes and loves to show people. But, no one's ever touched him. I'm not sure how I would handle something like that. You did fine though.

 

[luvthatduke]

For example, earlier today I went to walmart (yes, walmart...gasp! ). I was on the aisle with the deodarant when a lady said, "Oh, what a cute baby!" I mumbled, "Thanks," as I was looking around for the quickest escape route. Nothing personal but I have come to recognize that hungry, I am about to touch your baby look that some strangers get in their eyes! She had "the look." I am not a germaphobe or a prude or a witch or anything like that but I do have a problem with a complete stranger putting their hands all over my not quite 5 month old baby. I don't know if that person is sick or where their hands have been. It's that simple. I would never touch someone's baby if I didn't even know them but apparently a lot of people think it is okay. Anyway back to my story...

I am looking for my escape route when I see the perfect aisle to quickly turn down. Wrong! The woman follows me and says to the girl in front of me, "Brittany, look at that adorable baby!" Turns out Brittany is the woman's daughter and she is blocking my escape. Brittany is about 20 and seems normal enough at first. She comments about how cute my baby is and I say thanks and try to politely make an exit. Brittany quickly steps in front of me so she can see Kylie (my dd). Now Kylie is almost asleep and has her binky (paci, nuk, whatever you want to call it) in her mouth. Brittany grabs Kylie's binky out of her mouth and says, "I bet you want this, don't you?!" Then she starts moving it toward Kylie's mouth and every time Kylie tries to get it she takes it away from her. Now I am just standing there thinking wth? What is wrong with this girl to think that it is okay to take my child's binky from her or to put her germs all over it? I am trying to think of a way to be polite but after dealing with so many people just like her in the course of 5 months I am running out of patience. Kylie, on the other hand, is just looking at her like what are you doing? She is quite good at the smart aleck looks already! I am just glad that she is not crying since she was so tired and about to fall asleep before dear old Brittany came along!

Finally, I am like, "Um, I don't mean to be rude, but my dd was about to fall asleep and that helps her sleep so if you don't mind..." Brittany just laughs. So I snatch the binky from her and say, "Okay, well, we have to be going." We get out of there as fast as possible. I think I handled the situation rather well. But I will say that I know I won't be able to handle it as well next time...and yes, there will be a next time. There always is. Am I the only one that thinks it is rather strange to just start messing with a stranger's baby? I would never do that and it irks me to no end when others do! And the sad part is Brittany is not even the strangest encounter we have had! I don't even want to get into some of the strangest ones!

Oh, girlfriend, not only did you handle it well I am not worthy
to be in your presence!
... ... ... ...

My DS was/is still the same magnet, add to that he is allergic
to antibiotics and guess what you have?
ME - the mama who actually gripped a waitress' wrist and nearly
broke it until she finally dropped the feeding spoon she had taken
out of my hand & proceeded to feed my son with!
Add her to the many other strangers who think it's just fine to put
their hands on my son's face, or *gasp* try to rub noses,
and I have left a trail of "insulted" people!

Now, I'm not rude by nature, and I do try to give everyone
the benefit of the doubt (especially older folks who LOVE children),
but there are some things that will NOT happen,
and I am glad the binky episode didn't happen to us,
that's all I can say...

 

[Beth76]

and I have left a trail of "insulted" people!

That reminded me.....I was watching a rerun of ER the other day. Nurse Carol was pregnant and an old lady asked to touch her stomach and she said no. Went on to explain that everyone touches her without asking. The old lady sort of agreed, but then added, "But, I did ask", in a very snotty tone as to imply that Carol was rude.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

That reminded me.....I was watching a rerun of ER the other day. Nurse Carol was pregnant and an old lady asked to touch her stomach and she said no. Went on to explain that everyone touches her without asking. The old lady sort of agreed, but then added, "But, I did ask", in a very snotty tone as to imply that Carol was rude.

I dealt with that a lot when I was pregnant too! Only noone ever asked me if it was okay! I guess dd was attracting the "weirdos" in utero too!

 

[Sleepy]

You would not want to live in Italy.

 

[T16GEM]

Tasha - you handled it well! I get a lot of people wanting to touch my belly and it drives me insane - why do people do it?!?!? I wouldn't dream of invading somebody like that!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

You handled it quite well. My youngest was a tow head with deep blue eyes. Everyone one stopped us. He reminded so many people of their own children when they were a baby. I felt like a race car driver in some stores!

People would say, "do you know you have the cutest baby?" One day my DD6 said, "we KNOW, we KNOW, everybody tells us!" She was sick and tired of it. (Maybe a little jealous too)

I did try to take some time with lonely, elderly people. It was okay if they touched his foot or rubbed his leg. It's the baby maniacs that you have to watch out for.

Lori

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I think you handled that well. I admit to telling people their babies are beautiful, but I would NEVER touch a stranger's baby!!!

 

[SDFgirl]

If I see a really cute baby in a store, I may say, "Your baby is so cute!" but that is all. I would NEVER EVER touch someone's baby or get anywhere close to them. I stand a respectful distance back then end the conversation. It would totally creep me out if people fawned all over my kid.

 

[chrissyk]

People used to to this to my old neighbor's PREMATURE twins whenever we took them out. It drove me and her INSANE!! These babies were 10 weeks early. The idea of some germy stranger putting her hands on the babies was repulsive to both of us. I don't understand what is wrong with people. The only solution that I can see to this is to put your child in a sling when you take her out. That way, she's covered, and the people would be invading YOUR space to sneak a peek. That makes it far less likely that it would happen. This creeps me out too, so I feel for you.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I can understand people noticing a baby and commenting about them, but not to touch a baby! Having 4 children I went through all that, but especially with my oldest since she was so alert and aware as a newborn. She watched everyone and people reacted to that.

Even with babies that I know I don't normally touch them and if I were going to touch them I would touch their foot, not their hand that they might put in their mouth.

I wouldn't have any patience for someone taking the pacifier out of your DD's mouth!

 

[snoopy]

I drew the line at anyone but elderly people touching my baby. In that generation, people handled each other's babies all the time, so I cut them some slack.

Once when we were in the MVA (of all places!) this strange woman my age picked my baby out of his infant seat. DH just about knocked her off her feet he grabbed the baby back so quick. It was weird to say the least.

I never minded the "what a cute baby" comments though, it made me feel blessed and grateful for my beautiful and healthy babies.

 

[meandtheguys2]

I once had a waitress grab my baby from his carrier in a Waffle House. Never went to another again. I was in shock and totally could not react. I just wanted to remain calm so that she wouldn't run off with him.

I never touch other people's babies. I know it made me feel funny, and I wouldn't put someone else into that position.

 

[Serena]

My girls would cry whenever strangers got too close, I guess they had a natural alarm system. I think lots of babies are cute, but I would never go so far as to touch one or to take the pacifier, wow, what nerve.

 

[nliedel]

I probably would have yelled at that woman so you showed amazing restraint and good for you! When my number 3 son (I have four so we number them in conversations) was a baby he was a preemie and on O2 and a monitor. People would come up and ask us "What is wrong with your baby?" I just didn't feel like educating people in the store all the time but we had to grocery shop. It stank.

 

[lillygator]

Tasha - you handled it well...

I think we are a weirdo magnet too....or else people just love babies...it happened with both DD's and contimues to happen with my baby.

I did happen to go off on one old lady one day though, I felt bad after doing it but we were in line at Publix and I was unloading the groceries and she kept touching her hands and feet and talking to her - I had been giving her a dirty look and finally said "STOP touching her!" The lady immediately went to another line!

 

[NMAmy]

Ok, well, reading this has made me a little more understanding of the mothers of babies and toddlers. I'm a kid magnet--anywhere I go--the grocery store, the mall, at work (my coworkers' kids will run over to sit on my lap & talk)--little kids, but toddlers in particular, will smile at me, wave, and I usually start a conversation with them and their parent. I don't touch the child nor am I threatening in any way but I do interact with them. Every once in a while, a parent will act as though I'm ready to snatch the kid and run off with him/her. If they deal with folks like those of you have mentioned, I can certainly understand parents being a little leery of others now. Who would tease a 5 month old with their pacifier?

I'm a mom myself but dd is a teenager now. When she was a baby and a toddler, she would flirt outrageously with any man with gray hair. She had a whole bunch of grandpas who adored her and I think she thought any man with gray hair was a potential grandpa (and admirer).

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yeah, I had strangers ask to hold my babies. Uh, I don't think so! The only time I ever offered to hold a baby was when I used to waitress in a restaurant. There were a couple times that the baby/toddler was fussy and the parents were not able to eat. I was on a slow shift and offered to hold the baby for a few minutes so they could eat. Obviously I worked there and wasn't going anywhere and the parents enjoyed actually being able to eat a meal. This was long before I had children, though, and I didn't think the offer was the least bit strange (now I can't imagine making that offer).

 

[EthansMom]

I HATE it when people touch my baby, especially DD who gets bronchitis with every other cold she gets. Lately, when people start to make the move to touch her, I say, "Oh, you don't want to touch her, she's been sick." Okay, sometimes that's a fib, but I can live with it.

It seems like its usually little girls (3-5 years old) who want to touch DD. It really bothers me when a child with snot running down his/her face goes to touch DD and the child's mother looks on and says nothing. Ugh! I've learned to quickly swoop in and halt any touching in its tracks.

I can't believe some random woman would think that it's acceptable to play keep away with a stranger's baby! Rude! I think the OP handled it well.