Was it rude for me to say "No" to the stranger who wanted to hold my baby?

Question

I was a the store today and a lady came up and asked to hold my daughter. Shes 6 months old. My 21 month old son was in the cart as well. I politely told her no and she got angry and told me I was rude! I'm sorry if I don't trust anyone that I don't know, but there are too many dangerous people out there! Hasn't she seen the news? How do I know she wasn't going to take her and run? She didnt have a shopping cart or a purse and seemed to be alone until I saw her later leaving with a guy. Am I so wrong to protect my child? Why was I so 'rude'? I think she was looking for trouble to tell the truth!

I was nice whaletall. i didnt spit in her face. Apparantly you dont have kids or you would understand

Answer 1

You did the right thing! Mother's know best - always!

Answer 2

Hi Ya

You have every right to tell someone that they can not hold your child whether it be someone you know or don't know. And for a complete stranger to come up and ask you is rather odd to Begin with. And you have no idea what she had in mind.
I wouldn't let someone I don't know take my 6 month old puppy for a walk let alone hold a baby. They could of done anything from start running to drop it. You don't know if this person was of sane mind, on drugs or just some harmless person. YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!!

Sometimes easier said than done but push her comment to the back of your mind. I am sure she made the comment because she didn't get what she wanted. And was just trying to make you feel bad about not letting her have her way. Some people are just like that.

Here's to you!!! Keep sticking up for yourself.

Answer 3

You are responsible for the protection of your children. Which means that ultimately, it is better to hurt a strangers feelings in this case then allow your child to be put into potential danger. You're right, in this day and age you cannot take any chances, and I wouldn't have allowed her to hold my child either. If she called you rude then perhaps you're right, she must have been up to no good. That is not the typical reaction of a mother. Actually, as a mother I don't think that we would even think to ask another to hold thier child like that. When my children were little, my stand by phrase would be "She's got a bit of a cold and I'm trying to get her to sleep right now, sorry." Sure it was a lie but it saved me from having to hurt someones feelings that I guess may have been legitimate.

Answer 4

NO you certainly were not rude. That lady was the rude one by not respecting your boundaries. I hear stories of people like this all the time. My friend was on the bus with her boy who was 1.5 years old and a man tried to feed him chips. My friend said no and the man got pissed off at her and told her she was a bad mother. I cannot wait until people start actign that way towards my daughter because I will seriously have fun telling them off. You are wise not to let some stranger hold your baby and it shows you are a good mom. Dont second guess that. Some people are really friendly and some arent. This world is to screwed up to know the difference.

Answer 5

you were exactly in the right to tell her no. I wouldn't let anyone I didn't know hold my baby. How do you know she wasn't going to turn around and run off with her, or how do you know if she had a contagious disease. You might want to be careful of what you are actually saying though. I remember on time there was a older women at the mall who wanted to just touch my baby's face. I ask her kindly not to because she is prone to getting ill very and I didn't know where her hands have been. I didn't mean it to sound rude but she flipped out at me thinking I was calling her dirty. I completely agree with you 100% just try and think of a polite way of telling them no without getting on their bad side.

Answer 6

I don't know why this is upsetting you so much. I would have done the same thing. I would still be somewhat nervous to let people I kind of know. This is a stranger for god sakes, she could have dropped your baby. You can never be too careful these days. And she's the rude one to ask a total stranger something that personal.

Answer 7

You may have been rude, but being rude is perfectly acceptable when it comes to the safety of you and your children. Always go with your gut instinct, rude or not. I would much rather be rude than to risk some psycho running off with my baby or even just passing on cold or flu germs. It may have been rude, but it was by far the right thing to do! Good thinking Mom!!!

I think SHE was actually the rude one for reacting so defensively! Let her get her own kid if she wants to play with babies!

Answer 8

Hell not near as bad as what I did! You are not rude at all its your kid not hers!
One time I had someone come over and say "Can I see your baby" and I said no shes asleep under the blanket and is a light sleeper and they said "Oh yes I can you cant hide her" and she pulls the blanket and starts touching her. I slapped her and said didnt I just say NO?
She said "If you can not stand others wanting your baby dont take it out in public" and she was lucky she walked away after that because I was gonna **** her up and had no right to say she can see the baby
Listen people who are baby obsessed need to chill and quit stopping people to see their kid
Its a baby people its not an ailien so its not a rare thing! Damn!

Answer 9

I'm never a fan of unkind actions, so rudeness would be... rude, but there's nothing rude about not wanting to hand your infant over to a stranger... That's like (and really worse than) someone coming up to you and asking to hold your $50 bill. Of course it's well within your rights to refuse. This woman doesn't even make sense to me.

Answer 10

I would have been like "NO, are you kidding me?" and walked away. Then when she called me rude I would have been like "yea well, it's pretty rude to walk up to a stranger and ask to hold their baby." That seems fishy to me. I don't think you were rude in saying no at all. I wouldn't be too concerned with what she thinks of you..I mean who does that????? You did the right thing.

Answer 11

No! You are not rude. You are a parent and therefore have every right to decide who holds your baby and who doesn't. Sounds like this woman is a bit off. You did the right thing. I would NEVER allow a stranger to hold my baby. It's too easy for her to run with it. Or even just pass on a cold. Stand your ground, you did the right thing. I wonder why she wanted to hold your baby in the first place. Seems a bit odd to me.