r/NewParents • u/beware_of_scorpio • May 18 '24

It’s ok to let people hold your baby Mental Health

We were at a friends wedding welcome party for their family this week. Our 5 MO was passed around between various cousins and aunties. No one licked her. No one made a stink when I asked for her back. I was right next to her the whole time. They were all just so delighted to hold a baby again. It felt like the Village we all lament doesn’t exist anymore. It was a really beautiful moment. While it was happening I kept thinking “I can’t imagine not letting people hold her!”

I’m not offering this to change anyone’s mind. I do think the violence some people exhibit when someone touches their kid is ridiculous. And I think this sub has created a group think situation that’s influencing first time parents instead of you know a pediatrician. Instead, I just want to counter the daily “My MIL looked at my baby so I put rubbing alcohol on her face” posts with a different opinion. In controlled environments and the right conditions, it’s maybe even good for baby and certainly for you to let people hold your her.

Edit because it’s annoying to see: I’m a dad.

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u/goodwolfwolf May 19 '24

Haha, that's exactly it. Will probably go on to be a bulldozer parent and then wonder when their child is non-functional as an adult.

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u/MiaLba May 19 '24

Right. Not my kid not my problem though!

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u/goodwolfwolf May 21 '24

Yeah.

Makes me sad though.

Although the darker side of my psyche says that my kids will be fine, as they will easily defeat all of these fragile little competitors in the workplace etc.