Did I do something wrong?

[Sebski]

DS and I went to BRU today and got on line behind a mother and her infant daughter. The DD was sitting in her floppy seat cover and I was standing at the head of my cart rifling through the toys I was about to buy for DS. Anyhoo, the lady and her DD were about 10ft away and DD started smiling at me (more likely the toys I was tossing around). I thought it was adorable and told her "well aren't you a cutie" and she smiled even more. Her mother turned to me and gave me a dirty look... sorta like "how dare you". To add insult to injury her mother promptly stepped between my cart and her DD. I don't get it - I didn't approach her DD or even step closer when I addressed her. I was pretty embarrassed because there were other moms standing around. Did I break some sort of mommy-protocol by addressing her DD? DS is only 5mos old, so I'm still sorta new at this. :confused:

[BooeyJ2]

You didn't do anything wrong! Sounds like that mom was just a rude b*tch. Sheesh, what's wrong with some people?

[PinkMartini]

:confused: I'm not a mommy (yet) so I'm not sure, but I always talk to babies when I see them (well not always, but pretty darn often, especially when they come through my check out line at work) and I've yet to get a dirty look... So please, someone tell me if I'm breaking a rule?

[Daniel's Kitty]

That is not a very common thing as far as I know.

I think I have only given dirty looks to the people that cough on my child while talking to him, but that is cause they sound so sick that they shouldn't be out of the house much less a foot away from his face.

[Etoile]

I'm not a mommy (yet) so I'm not sure, but I always talk to babies when I see them (well not always, but pretty darn often, especially when they come through my check out line at work) and I've yet to get a dirty look... So please, someone tell me if I'm breaking a rule?

Me too! Whenever I see babies/kids I smile, talk to them, tell their mom how cute, ask how old, etc. Nobody has ever seemed offended by this behavior--most say "Thank you".

[Sebski]

Whenever I see babies/kids I smile, talk to them, tell their mom how cute, ask how old, etc.

That's how I normally act too and that's why I was so taken aback by her reaction. I mean, it's not like I was all in her DD's face.

[magdesilver]

No, she was rude. I think it's weird when DD is purposely trying to get a person's attention- smiling, "talking", gesturing, etc. and they ignore her- on purpose. :rolleyes:

[Pink_Converse]

You didn't do anything wrong at all. That behavoir was ridiculous.

[neenbean]

I think you were completely wonderful by talking to a little child that obviously enjoyed your attention but did not approach her or touch her.

Complete strangers often touch DD's cheeks, hands and head and as much as it freaks me out, I usually just say "thank you" when they remark on her being so cute. I am proud to have a daughter people enjoy talking to but would never begrudge someone for being nice/friendly toward her.

That lady must have a real issue and you should know you were really sweet for even caring to say hello to her DD. ;)

[BTB]

People have done weird things in stores and so on - asked to hold her; asked me her first name, then when I tell them, say "and what's her last name?"; swooped down and pinched her cheeks before I could stop them... all those things irritated me. But not someone talking to her. That mom's a wee bit paranoid.

[scout]

That mom has a whole lotta issues!

I love it when people talk to my son! You were sweet. She was rude.

[Sophia]

The rude one was her, not you.

[DisneyGirl]

For years I worked in baby clothing store and I always talked to the babies and ever now and then I would get some morron mother who gave me a dirty look as if I just comited some type of crime by saying Hello to their baby. I always found these moms to be so stuck up and to cool for their own good and felt that everyone else was so much below them they had "no right" to talk to their darling child.

So, nope you did nothing wrong infact I would no stop saying hello to other peoples babies when you see them.

[NYN]

i don't think you did anything wrong. i'm sure that mother had something wrong w/ her that was still very raw that caused her to have a bug up her ass. but i have to confess that i am one of those people who will (in most instances anyway) ignore your kid if s/he is smiling at me and i also ignore most people when they talk to DD. i don't really have a reason for being that way, i just really don't have an interest in other people's children (when they are strangers, obviously i love my friend's children) and i really have nothing to say to someone who is smiling and talking to my DD. in most cases 10% of me is thinking "there is someone talking to my baby" and the other 90% of me is thinking "baby shampoo on sale, score!"

[catmom]

I tend to treat babies like anyone else... if they are smiling at me and obviously trying to get my attention, I think it's rude to ignore them. Whenever a baby smiles at me, I always smile back and say "hi."

[jo&sean]

I don't think you were in the wrong either - most people love to talk to a cute baby. I don't mind at all if people talk to DD when we are out shopping - she gets a big kick out of it.

The only time I shoot people dirty looks is when they aren't paying any attention and nearly ram their cart into ours or into DD and her stroller.

[lady1297]

I don't mind people talking to DS, it has saved us many a time in line if the person behind us helps amuse him. But I do NOT like when people touch him. At a year and a half, I think it's too freaky still. I'm afraid if they will touch him, will they snatch him, too? Just paranoid, but I don't think that is appropriate. But talking? Hell yeah, do that. It helps a bunch!

[Kristeen]

DS is very outgoing and flirtatious. He will charm almost anyone, chatting to them in nonsensical baby language, blowing kisses, huge smiles, you would have to actively ignore him to avoid being sucked in! Anyway, it's kind of hard to take him places because inevitably we end up stopping to talk to every other person. By the end of a shopping trip, I have been so frustrated I will ignore people unless they ask me a direct question. But I have NEVER been rude about it. You didn't do anything wrong.

eta: yeah, if it looked like the person was going to touch him or pick him up, that would be something else entirely, mommy teeth and claws would be bared...

[spps]

I agree with all the PP. Nothing wrong with talking to a baby. Though don't start commenting on the stuff that the mom is purchasing.. Last time I was in BRU some woman started talking to DS and that was fine. Then she proceeded to give me product reviews for everything I was buying... UGHHHHH

[BusyBee]

I think its adorable when someone talks to DD while we're waiting on line. Everybody is so cheerful around a baby. DD is mesmirized by new people and looks them over very carefully, but quietly and usually not smiling. Then she gets a little upset when they leave :rolleyes:.

[Tenny]

She was rude...not you!!!

[newmommy]

Just one more person here to tell you she was RUDE!!!!!!!!!!

I've always smiled/spoken to small children(in an appropriate way) and the mothers usually smile back!!! Now that I'm a mom, I totally feel fine with other mothers smiling at my DS!!

So, no worries!!!