Is it ok to say no to people wanting to hold my baby?

Question

My sons christening is coming up next week. We have around 100 people coming and I’m a little concerned everyone will want to hold the baby. 
Obviously I appreciate everyone coming out to celebrate with us and don’t want to be rude, but I’m a little concerned about people that I don’t know wanting to hold the baby. 
There will be some people there that I don’t even know, extended family of mine or my husband’s, significant others that I’ve never met before, friends of my parents and friends of my in-laws. 
I guess what what I want to know is it ok to say no if someone I don’t know wants to hold the baby? If so how do I go about saying no without offending anyone?

Answer

I’m curious why you’d invite people you don’t even know. 
Personally, I wouldn’t invite anyone I wasn’t comfortable with holding my child, but that’s just me. 
But my preference aside, if you don’t want them to hold your baby you’ll have to say no 🤷🏼‍♀️

Answer

Thats bigger than my wedding was 😳

Answer

And I like the idea of wearing him in a sling or something so you can still get a good look at his little face but he is not easy to pass off.

Answer

It's not making excuses, you just tell the truth. Your concern is valid
"I'm so happy for you to meet him! But we can't let everyone here hold him! it's too overwhelming and his immune system isn't fully developed yet either. To keep it fair he will stay with me."
If there are people you want to hold him and make exceptions for you could do so after the party

Answer

Of course it’s ok to say no. It’s ok to say no to people you don’t know, to people you do know, to closest family. It’s ok to say no to literally anyone at any time.

Answer

Even at small family gatherings, when my babies were little I didn’t even let people hold them. I personally think it’s rude to ask “can I hold your baby” unless the parent has said “do you want to hold the baby?” And I wish people would stop asking. The best place for babe to be is in mom or dads arms.

Answer

I wluld probably use a trick or something... I would be afraid they will feel offended.
With smaller number of guests I would probably say something like "I'm a bit paranoid about the covid- please be aware- I don't feel comfortable if everyone will pick up the baby"
So with 100 guests I would wear the baby a lot in a baby carrier or a sling, than feed him/her, than put to sleep. Anyhow- I would try to go out and tell my husband to tell everyone who asks that such party is just too much for the baby or that baby is sleeping or whatever...
I'm sorry but I still don't get how you ended up having so huge party with so small baby... maybe try to be more assertive in the future?

Answer

You can politely say that you’d prefer if she stay with you. Let them know she has stranger danger or something. My daughter is 11m and still does have stranger danger so it’s easy. I just let them know she isn’t comfortable with anyone she isn’t familiar with. 
I don’t mean to sound rude, but in the future, I definitely wouldn’t invite that many people (I know you said a lot is extended family), but in my opinion, only family and friends you both personally know should be invited. 
You and your husband should do the inviting, not your in laws and such. 😭

Answer

So our child’s baptism was pre Covid and had 60 people. No one except me, my husband, and the grandmas touched our child. We told them ahead of time that germs are passed that way. No one held her. Grandma fed her a bottle and Grandpa drover her around to get her to fall asleep during the reception and she slept in the car for 30 minutes. Worked out well! 
So now with Covid, people will understand. Just say no. Simple as that.

Answer

Hell yes. No one holds my baby, don’t care who you are, unless I feel ok about it. I made my whole extended family wash hands and sanitize in front of me before I let them come over to see my baby, and then I only let a few hold him.

Is it ok to say no to people wanting to hold my baby?

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