How do I politely tell strangers not to touch my newborn child?

Question

I am very uncomfortable with people coming up to me wanting touch my infant. How can I be aggressive in letting them know that I don't like that?

Answer 1

I have had the same problem in the past with my little one and I have asked many people this question the best answer that I got was: tell them that he/she is a fussy baby and you (mom/dad) would rather not upset them right now, but thank you for the complement- I am assuming that with the touching comes " oh what a cute little baby, how old?" or " whats his/her name?"
OR you can pick your child up, politely smile and say thank you and walk away and come back once that person/people have left the area.

Answer 2

I tried everything I could think of to say to people and NOBODY seemed to care-they just touched her face and head all the time. I couldn't stand it. So now, when I see someone heading my way and stop in front of my daughter, I just take a few steps back. This usually makes them miss her face. Most of the time this also stops their intention to continue to touch her. If I come across a persistent person who then steps forward towards her again, I then say, "I would really appreciate it if you didn't touch her-we are trying to keep her from getting sick or coming in contact with germs. This definitely offends some people, but I think it is a small price to pay to keep complete strangers off of my daughter. Good luck!

Answer 3

I struggled with that one too. People are really weird about this. I suppose they think the fact that the are a Mommy too gives them the right to touch all babies or something?

I was actually in a Waffle House one morning after my first boy was born, and after a few seconds of cooing at him in his carrier the waitress actually picked him up and walked away with him!! I didn't know WHAT to think.

I'm not sure what I would say now, possibly that he has just come out of I.C.U. and the doctors advised minimal contact with strangers, or something.

Good luck with this one. If you can answer this one maybe you could also tackle the "Please don't touch my belly when I'm pregnant",issue?

Answer 4

You have genuine concerns. People don't normally wash their hands before they touch other people. Most colds and other illnesses are transmitted by touch. I never touch a baby unless I know them well, and, I feel that my hands are clean. Even then I avoid their hands and face.
Try "I don't mean to sound rude but please try not to touch him/her" If they're so bold as to ask why not, or, they seem to be upset, just smile pleasantly and ask "when was the last time you washed your hands?"
It may sound cruel and mean but you'd lay your life on the line to protect your baby, so asking someone not to touch them is not too hard to do.

Answer 5

I don't know, I haven't had any trouble with it because I've been keeping my baby in one of those "Snugli" chest carriers. People won't come into my personal space to touch, they've even been asking me to look at him. It's also just easy to carry him snugged up like that, he seems quite happy and I've been able to take him to the store and walk around for a good long while like that.

Answer 6

I'm weird about it too. The most polite way I have come up with is blaming it on the doctor. Just saying something like "the doctor has suggested that no one handles the baby until he/she's a little older".

Answer 7

i had the same problem...there was one lady who actually came up to me in the mall and touched my daughters cheek and then told me i needed to put a sweater on her...i had one in the diaper bag but she used to get hot alot and it was inside...anyway i don't think there is really polite way to say it...i don't know if this will work for you but when strangers would touch my baby i would just say, well we have to get going" and try to leave quickly...Good luck and remember that ur the parent and you don't have to let anyone touch ur baby if you don't want to

Answer 8

Well...you can't be polite *and* aggressive at the same time. But if people are being rude to you and your baby, there is no reason you *have* to be polite, either!! If someone comes up and clearly is about to touch, just say, "*Excuse* me!! *Please* don't touch the baby!!" If you're not sure, tone it down a little, and just say "Please don't touch."

Answer 9

There is really no way except to just tell them. I just didn't take my child out much until he was older. If I did need to go shopping I would do it in the afternoon when not as many people were out.

Answer 10

I like most of the answers above. But really, if you don't want to confront them, then a good thing to do is just lightly look away and start talking to someone (maybe your husband or a friend) and just gently push their hand away and then walk away yourself. Just very casually do it and they should get the point.