A new mom has sparked a debate online after telling another child at the doctor's office not to touch her baby.
In a post on Threads, @teretrytowrite wrote: "I just got my a chewed for telling a random kid 'please don't touch my baby, because your hand have germs. It's not because of you.' This woman said she would ~never~ say that to a kid. Like what?? Am I wrong here? We were at a f doctor's office."
Newsweek reached out to @teretrytowrite via Threads.
The post, which has received over 12,000 likes and comments, divided opinion on the platform.
Many users, moms especially, argued that no explanation was required at all. "'Don't touch my baby' should be sufficient," one commenter wrote. Another added, "I would never let my child touch a stranger's baby. Especially in a doctor's office."
Several responses reframed the issue as one of personal boundaries rather than germs. "The germ part was unnecessary. Just leave it at 'please don't touch other people without asking,'" one person suggested. Others echoed that idea, noting that children are capable of understanding bodily autonomy even if they don't fully grasp microbiology.
Some commenters offered alternative phrasing they felt might diffuse tension while still protecting the baby. One suggested redirecting the child: "Maybe 'he/she doesn't like to be touched, can you wave to her,' then give the child's caregiver a look that says come get your kid." They added that if the behavior continued, firmer language would be appropriate.
The original poster (OP) pushed back gently, clarifying that her intention wasn't to be harsh. She explained that she didn't believe she was aggressive, only that she "explained the reasoning," which in her mind centered on germs -- particularly in a medical setting.
That reasoning resonated with educators and healthcare professionals who joined the conversation. A teacher commented, "We don't want to share germs with our friends. That's how we get sick," explaining that she regularly reminds students to wash their hands thoroughly. A former pediatric nurse with 30 years of experience was even more direct: "You did exactly the right thing."
Parents also shared similar experiences, including one who recalled stopping her own child from kissing a baby in a stroller at a museum. She explained the situation calmly, encouraged her child to wave instead, and said the baby's father thanked her for intervening respectfully.
Others zoomed out to the social lesson at play. "The mom who felt bad for her kid needs to learn how to teach her kid that no is a part of life," one commenter wrote, referencing the often-invoked phrase "it takes a village."
The most pointed takeaway came from a user who distilled the entire debate into a single line: "We all need to practice saying, 'I don't care what you think.'"