How to handle people touching baby

aamari15

since my daughter was born ( she's now 10 weeks) people we know have felt it's ok to touch my daughters hands and face. I always had mini panic attacks when she was a newborn when people did this so I had her start wearing the little mittens they sell at the store. Now that her hands are covered people have moved on to trying to touch her face or even kiss her face :O. I don't want to embarrass people but sometimes they don't have common sense , you would think women that had babies would understand . In a few days we will be going to our hometown to visit and will be attending our old church congregation, the last time we visited was a nightmare we were bombarded from different woman that we know . They are actually more comfortable with my husband and his family than me . But they were all trying to grab at my baby and of course she didn't have her shots yet but they all felt comfortable enough to try to touch her face and hands. Do you ladies have any ideas on how to handle people you do know like say members of church from trying to kiss my daughters face or hands or touching her face and hands ? Many of them I am not really close to , even though my daughter does have her shots now it doesn't give the ok to start going crazy touching the face and hands especially since she started sucking her hands and a lot of times people don't wash their hands. Hubby and I believe kissing baby on the face should be for family only : mom , dad, grandparents . Help! Sorry so long

EricandKaren

Do you have a baby carrier you could put her in? If she's all snuggled up next to you/your chest it might be too awkward for a stranger to try to lean in and kiss your baby?! If not (or if your baby is like mine and doesn't always like being in a wrap or carrier) could you tell a little white lie? "Oh, we think she may be fighting something, so we are trying to keep her away from being exposed to anymore germs..."
I don't know of a more gentle way, so you may end up needing to say something more direct?

Anxious to hear what the other moms say, I'm sure they will have good advice

We went out to eat last night (doesn't happen often!), my LO was fussing so I stood to rock him, and this lady came right up to us... I swear she was a second away from asking to hold him! I just tucked him into my chest and kind of turned away from her a bit while still smiling and engaging in small talk... I think she got the message by my body language!

chelsco13

Even if I'm holding my baby close to me people always reach for her hands and face. I started just pulling her away from their reach and if some did happen to touch her I clean her face and hands right after!

readermom1

Our daughter usually sleeps through church, so we keep her in the car seat and drape a muslin swaddle blanket over it. Then when the touchy-feely ladies want to hold/kiss her we just say that we don't want to wake her.

aamari15

So it seems like I might have to be more direct

TwinsCitiesMomma

I like the sick thing from PP. Or just ask them to please not touch her face or hands. I doubt you'll get any push back.

riquelhensom

I have two nephews 3 and 2 and they love coming up and grabing his hand and touching him I got to the point to always having his hand in a blanket or I'll just put my hands over his if I see them coming over they go for his face and I just move away and say don't touch his face I do the same things with with his hand I feel like there mom thinks I'm to protective over him but he has already cought a cold from them and they are always getting sick and I don't want that for my baby she is have another baby in October and I don't think she would like it if my LO would be coming up touch her newborn hands as far as everyone else there really is nothing else you can do but clean him good after people touch unless you want to tell them not to touch I understand and am in the same boat there are just to many things out there and I do not want him to get it hang in there