COOING over babies has been outlawed at a hospital because they have “a right to privacy”.
The new rule also stops visitors from questioning mothers or looking at tots in maternity wards.
But the drive has been branded “ludicrous” by mums, who say they are proud to show their newborns and claim babies love the attention.
What is there to say?
Lynsey Pearson, 26, had her first child last month at the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, West Yorks, where the ban has come in.
She said: “This ludicrous idea takes patient confidentiality to the extreme. If people didn’t ask about Hannah I’d be offended. I’m proud and want to show her off. Babies love attention.”
Rachel Hughes and her partner Nick had baby Annis at the Calderdale 18 months ago after IVF treatment. Nick said: “We wanted to talk about Annis all the time. She’s our little miracle and we wanted everyone to know.”
The longer I live outside the west, the more I see how weird we can be about babies. In every “eastern” country I’ve lived in, it is perfectly normal for strangers to interact with children. They talk to them, dote over them, give them gifts, etc. And when you get to know a family, you are not viewed as dangerous. I often quickly become “uncle” in Asian families and am encouraged to play with the children.
But in the west? We are so protective of our children that any stranger (especially male) is considered a potential molester.
It takes a bit of a adjustment when my family travels east-to-west and visa versa. I remember the first time I want back to the west as a father, I felt like, “What’s the matter with you people! Why are you ignoring my child?”
Babies that lack attention fare badly… this rule is bonkers! Let’s face it though the whole World has gone mad!
one chick with a really big mouth was shocked and appalled that someone she didn’t know told her her baby was cute, so she lodged an official and passionate complaint with the hospital and now nobody’s allowed to comment on anyone else’s baby. typical stupid humans!