Being out in public

twinmama2b

We took the babies out today for the second time ever (other then dr apts) to babies r us for a short trip to get a couple of things and could barely get through the store. People kept stopping us to look at the babies and to ask questions. At first it was kinda fun but then people kept stopping us and reaching in to touch them. A couple people even grabbed the shade of the carseat and pull it down to see better and someone else reached in to pull Evan's blanket back to see how big he is!! I expected some people stopping us cause I have read your stories but WOW!! How do you handle this??? I would never ever reach in to touch a strangers baby and can't believe that several people did this.

JBSugar

I am SO not looking forward to that!  The few times I've been out already for doctor's appointments and such I've felt the stares and some people have come and look but nobody has touched.  I think I'd be super peeved about it.  I'm interested to read what others say....

BabyDavison

Put your head down and walk fast- do not make eye contact.  LOL... seriously, if I'm not in the mood for it, I avoid looking at or engaging ppl.  I just nod and keep moving- although I was chased by a lady at the Dr's office once!

CMW

Ditto BabyDavidson, I must always look like a total B because people never try to stop me.  I think I would totally flip out if someone tried to touch one of my babies without asking! 

 

lajolla09.30.06

seriously.... the head down fast walk does wonders.  you'll leave a trail of people with gaping mouths who were in the middle of inhaling to start the sentence "oooh are they twins?" but you left them in the dust before they got a chance.  people are always trying to put their hands in/on our stroller.  for some reason when you have twins eye contact = invitation for other people to talk to you.  if you don't want to talk then just keep on walking!

MelZull

We also avoid eye contact if we are not in the mood to chat. I have never had anyone reach in to touch my girls, I think I just might slap someone if they did!?

itsallover

That still happens to me with my 2 1/2 year old so I am prepared!  When he was only 4 weeks old, we were going to the doctor's and since it was raining out, I had his carrier  cover closed as well as the one on the stroller so you actually couldnt tell there was a baby in there.  Some woman pulled back the cover for the stroller and went in to touch his face.  I told her very firmly to stop and she actually had the nerve to suggest that I was weird! 

ncsubride

You can either tell them no or just smile and let it happen.  It doesn't get better as they get older either. 

amygdala

Like pps, when mine were babies, I generally kept moving, avoided eye contact, & tried to look unfriendly & like I was in a hurry when out in public! ?I also just kind of physically put myself between people & direct access whenever I noticed someone approaching. ?

It always astounded/angered me how many people felt my babies were public property! ?When we were leaving the hospital w/5-day-old 36-weekers, an elderly woman actually accosted us in the parking garage & poked her face/hands into the babes carseats to get a better view! ?Without even thinking, I actually batted her hands away! ?I think I told her that they were preemies & the Drs. didn't want them in contact w/the public (which was true!). ?She was offended, but also rude imo so I didn't care.

macchiatto

Wow! We've gotten some attention but nothing like that, and no strangers trying to touch the babies; I would be pissed!
One thing that I think helps is when we've gone shopping together, DH and I each take a cart with a baby in it (in his carseat) rather than taking the DSNG. That attracts a lot less attention b/c people only realize they're twins if they're really paying attention.

macchiatto

Two other things:

1. your siggy pic is adorable!

2. I know you can get little badge-type things to hang on the carseats that say "Please wash your hands before touching mine" with a picture of tiny hands. We don't have them,, but i've heard they work fairly well in getting people to stop and think. (Cos in a store it's not like people are going to go run and wash their hands and then come back ...)

Oh, OK, a third thing: I'm glad I'm not the only one who hasn't taken my babies out much yet! (We've been to the store 3 times, church 3 times, the park once, and a friends' house for a small birthday party once.)

lstaylor73

You need to get very assertive and turn on the mommy radar to avoid situations, especially when you have multiples.  I highly recommend you get a couple of these and keep them on the car seat handle at all times.  This sign "Please wash your hands before touching mine!" is like a magic barrier to keep people at a distance.  It works every time.  They may say what's wrong with your babies, but at least you know they aren't coming in contact with strangers so they will get their germs.  This sign has stopped old ladies dead in their tracks from touching my babies. 

 https://www.mytinyhands.com/

kimby3679

I got the stop sign thingy to hang from the carseat as well. I basically got one right away before I started taking them out because I worked in retail and I know how people are with babies. Especially older ladies seem to feel that they have a right to touch them (usually the same people that wanted to touch your belly when your preganant and minding your own business!) I also avoid eye contact like the other ladies, if you give them even the slightest chance to engage you, they will!

cands

We get attention and comments all the time.  For me, it's been a kinda weird flash back to childhood (I'm a twin, and my older sister is less than a year older, so people always thought we were triplets, and we got a lot of attention).  But we haven't had too much of an issue with people touching them.  The worst was actually when DH had Sarah alone.  They were about 3 months old, and DH took just Sarah with him to get a video at Blockbuster.  A woman got in the checkout line behind him and commented that she was such a pretty baby, but that such a pretty baby shouldn't have a pacifier in her mouth.  And then this woman actually took Sarah's pacifier out of her mouth.  My DH apparently screamed at her "get away from my baby" and it was a scene.  I wish I had been there.

SusRed

I hate that!!  When my youngest was a baby I put a stop to that. I live in Dubai (UAE) and here it's "normal" to touch and kiss on babies. And when we moved over here ds was 6 mths old, blonde and fair skinned (unlike most babies here) and I would catch people before they touched and tell them NO. And if they did touch, I would wipe him down asap.  I would never reach out and touch someone's baby and I don't want strange people touching my children!!!  I may be a little mean about it, but I don't care really. I don't want stranger touching my children esp kissing on there arms/hands.