The signs come in every shape, style, and size you can imagine, and some can even be customized to say different things. From the looks of it, they’re a growing trend among parents who are sick of fending off touchy people at the grocery store. While hand-washing can ward off some germs, pediatrician Tanya Remer Altmann, MD, tells WebMD it’s a good idea to require that people ask permission before touching a baby, and that they should only be allowed to touch certain areas. “Parents should ask people to touch or kiss the baby’s feet instead of the hands or face,” said Altmann, since feet are the least likely to make it to a newborn’s mouth (until they’re older, at least). At the end of the day, all parents have different opinions about who should be allowed to touch their baby. To some, signs like these may seem like an extreme way to keep people away. But anyone who’s ever had a newborn knows these signs exist for a reason. Maybe if people started asking for permission before pawing at vulnerable babies, parents wouldn’t need these signs in the first place.
