If you are a mom who has taken her baby anywhere in public, you've probably been stopped more times than you can count. And why-oh-why have you been stopped? Because your baby is the sweetest thing that stranger-lady has ever seen. And because your baby is just precious, said stranger feels the need to touch your baby. On the face, on the hands, on the feet, etc...
I must be from a different generation (or sometimes I even think different species) than the people that feel the need to touch my daughter's face. I certainly wouldn't go up to someone I don't know, and introduce my germs to their face or hands. I'm not even the type to go up to a stranger with a cute puppy. Those tiny hands that stranger-lady just touched with her own hands, will probably end up in my daughter's mouth. Way to go.
I'm not a germaphobe. Really, I'm not. My fingers sometimes find their way to her mouth, and that's okay. I know where my fingers have been. Nothing against older people, except that it is usually the over 50 crowd that feels the need to reach out and touch. I don't know where their dusty old hands have been.
I've also noticed more and more that parents of children in the toddler age are letting their child touch or get way to close to my child. Their intentions are to use my child as a distraction. I don't feel right disciplining a child that isn't mine, but if I even think for a second that their child is about to pose a danger to mine, I'll go all super mommy.
Which brings me to my first question, when strangers touch your baby, what do you do? I've been trying to keep my baby in the sling, close to me and out of range. But I've still been getting people touching her. I try to smile and redirect, but some people are just bossy!
Leave me a comment, telling me your stories and solutions. If there is one that sounds promising, or a story that is just too funny! I may share it in a later post!
This is part one, of what could be many posts.
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2 comments:
I did notice that a lot when my kids were babies. I wore my oldest in a sling or in a carraige style stroller so no-one could touch him for a long time. Our daughter I used to wear in a carrier also. I have also noticed that parents will let toddlers come up and put their dirty hands all over our strollers and our kids drinks. I have even had kids drink from my kids cups. These were complete strangers. I understand it was Disneyland but if my child is in the stroller anything in it, doesn't belong to your child. Honestly I don't really know what to do. We bring anti-bacterial wipes with us everywhere to disinfect our kids when needed.
I don't know if you read this when Hubby posted it but here are his thoughts - http://www.ourlifeupstate.com/2009/02/hands-off-baby-hands-off.html
Personally, I try to keep a distance, if Big Sister is in the cart - she likes it there now - I try to stand between her and the people who are coming over to bother us. But really most people are pretty relentless. I get all frustrated but I never have the guts to tell tem to get lost like I should.
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