If you see a stranger with lovely hair, would you go to the stranger to stroke her hair and compliment, “Wow your hair is magnificent!!!”? What about a woman who was carrying a bag from your favorite brand, would you go touch her bag and hold it?
My guess is most likely you will not.
But then what makes it so different when it comes to seeing a very cute baby? As compared to someone’s hair or a handbag, most mothers I believe will prefer you not touch their child if they do not know you personally. And I do not understand why people like to ‘shake babies’ hands, don’t they know that it is not very hygienic? The worst when they try to pinch or touch your child’s face, and it sets off the omg-is-that-hand-clean? Alarm in mommies’ heads. Trust me, most mothers will, though most will not want to voice it out. Even the fruit seller aunty at the market will shoo you away if you start poking and probing her oranges or mangoes, so what makes it OK for you to pinch my child’s cheeks?
I am not sure about you but usually before using my hands to pick up food, I would wash my hands or wipe them. But unfortunately for a baby, they will put their hands and anything their hands can grab, in their mouth at EVERY opportunity. And yes, they will put the hand which they have just shook hands with a stranger straight into the mouth, without cleaning them first, ignoring all the consequences, simply because they are babies and will not know any better about hygiene.
YES, very cute. But also very UNHYGIENIC!
It really gets on my nerves when a stranger touches my kids hands, because they are forever putting their hands in their mouth even when they are only 20 months old. And every time a stranger touches them I have this strong desire to whip out my wet wipes and clean them immediately, but I usually resist the urge so as not be seen as rude, but then I will quickly push the stroller or scurry the kids away at any opportunities, usually citing that I’m ‘in a hurry’. But truth is I just didn’t want my kids to be touched all over by a stranger.
I know they meant no harm and they are just being really friendly (Er hm) but there are ways to play and interact with the kid without touching right? It can be so easy to assume your hands are clean when they really aren’t. Just looking at this link of top 10 dirtiest common things and I am already guilty of touch almost all of them within the past 1 hour as I am writing this post now! And with the plethora of germs spreading around nowadays, I really do not need another one on my list – my children has just recovered from cough a couple of weeks ago and It took them 2 weeks to recover and a $130 bill to boot. Though they can also get the infection by air borne particles but I would really like to reduce the likelihood. Which is also why I prefer to go to indoor playground where it is more routinely cleaned (or so I would like to believe, that I am paying good dollars to go to a ‘playground’, it had better be kept in good condition. Sigh.) than an outdoor one. I know some people would think that I am being overprotective, but it’s no joke handling 2 sick toddlers.
So please dear strangers, will you stop touching my children already?
