“Can I hold your baby?”

I had no issues with letting family and friends hold my baby, I trust them and I know they wouldn't hurt her. If you don't let your close family and friends cuddle your child, I imagine it like saying you don't trust them, that would be my thoughts if my sister or best friend didn't let me hold their baby.
Holding a baby isn't for no good reason it helps create bonds and relationships 🤷‍♀️

When my baby was a week old my sister wanted to hold him (8 year old) so I was sitting with her and she was holding him, to me it was cute and obviously told her to wash her hands first, no kissing etc and while she was holding him our grandmother came over and snatched him from her, no head support just scooped him up before either of us could even react to her coming over, immediately sent my anxiety spiralling, before I even spoke she started kissing him fully reaking of cigarettes (only person in our family who smokes cigarettes.) didn’t give him back when I asked and he ended up getting pimples on his cheeks the next day where she kissed😄I only ever kiss the top of his head, his dad doesn’t kiss him at all so not sure why she thought that was okay but since I’m literally traumatized and nobody is allowed to hold him other than me, his father and my bestfriend, she’s the only person I trust with him that’s not us.

I loved people holding my baby. I loved watching those who loved us (my husband and I) also develop and show that love and care for our daughter. It made me feel loved, happy and proud. I loved just watching them dote on her. It also gave me a little bit of 'me' time which I could use to maybe shower, nap or just sit back, relax and chat with them. I've never understood this need for the parents to be the only ones who could possibly hold their child. I prefer to spread the love and joy of the new arrival.

I really feel like this. Or I don't mind them holding baby a little but sometimes it feels like pass the parcel and then they don't pass her back. I just want to hold my baby, she was in my belly for so long I just want her close. It makes me anxious when they don't pass her back, especially when she starts to cry and fuss. Like give me back my baby!!! I'd rather no one hold her if they're gonna make me feel like that. Everyone makes me feel wrong for wanting to keep her close but it's my baby and I'm mum so what I want should matter more than everyone else wanting to hold her. Why does it matter so much to people. I completely get you.
If someone else had a baby I'd wait till they offer. Sometimes people try to take baby out of my arms at it makes me feel so protective, like can you wait till I offer? And if i don't then don't be offered just because I want to hold my baby. Go and have a baby of your own if you want to hold her so much!!!

I’m happy for people to hold my baby as long as he’s not crying. My husband and I have a rule that if he’s crying then my husband will need to bring him back to me. Like others have said it creates bonds and meaningful relationships. There is nothing I love more than seeing my loved ones spending time with my little one, having fun with him and laughing and playing.

Depends- no one but me or my husband is holding our babies fresh outta my body..after a week or 2 sure close family (grandparents) can hold for a few minutes.but when I say id like my baby back I expect baby back at the very second

I would let close family and friends hold my baby but definitely not pass her around. I also don’t ask to hold other peoples babies unless they offer for me to hold them. I plan to baby wear through the holidays to help reduce the asking🤞🏼

I passed my daughter round everyone. She was a chill and sociable baby, and it never bothered me. But I never felt weird about it, perhaps if I had I would answer differently. I was thrilled to let others hold her and give me a rest.

Ok, so no one should be grabbing your baby, but from what you've expressed, you don't let even the baby's own family hold them, and this is unusual. I say this with good faith. You may want to step back and consider the possibility that you are experiencing some postpartum anxiety.

Your baby's grandparents are important. They need family in their lives. They need that bond. My child has many people in her life who love her and have held her from birth. Her bond with my parents is incredible to see. My husband's dad and stepmom can't be bothered to even visit her, and honestly, it breaks my heart how much that hurts him, I wish they would show any interest at all. I'm going to have to explain to her when she's older why other people in her family don't want to see her.

"He hasn't expressed interest in being held" - I'm sorry, but are you kidding? He's a baby. The only thing he expresses interest in is feeding and pooping. He can't tell you if he would like his grandmother to hold him or not.

Tl,Dr; I'm not sure it's fair to hold your child's grandparents to the same standard as strangers. They are not strangers. They are family. Unless there is a legitimate reason you feel your child may be unsafe with them, there's no reason to deny your baby or his grandparents the opportunity to bond with each other.

🩵🩵Thank you all for the responses, what’s most common in everyone’s answer is a mother’s intuition which I think is what’s strongly advising me against letting strangers or people hold my baby. The people that have tried to hold my baby definitely are not people that “love” me or what’s to share in that love with my baby and I think that’s the biggest difference here, the people who are attempting to hold him just want to see me uncomfortable it’s also people I never see or interact with so them having a connection with my child also just isn’t a priority for me. In regards to my mother or my son’s grandmother its-a little more specific my son is 6 months and 25 pounds, so by no means is he an easy baby to hold. My mom has suffered from severe falls 4x more within the last year and her mental filter on correct boundaries is more difficult to handle than usual. So this is where my hesitation comes when carrying or caring for my son. Which is also why I stated my son has no interest.

My son will grab and pull at me when she’s forcing me to let go, he’s openly upset and showing he just doesn’t want to be held or taken from me. I try to let him feel it out but when he’s clearly upset it’s probably for a reason. I think babies are more intelligent than we think and they pick up on more than we do. So I will stay grounded in being his safe space and to me THAT is what should be considered normal and healthy. Not being shamed for my son having a genuine connection with his mom and knowing where his boundaries are even this young. I think each situation is different as is each family and I’d probably feel differently if the people around me were genuinely full of love for me.