When is it ok to interfere with someone else's parenting?

Only if it’s obvious the child is being physically harmed. Left alone in a car with closed windows, being physically abused, etc.

I think it’s only acceptable to intervene if you see abuse going on. Parenting styles are all different and you can’t just force your own on someone else, but I think we can all agree that children shouldn’t be abused.

So, in your case, I don’t think it was necessary for them to intervene.

When I child has been in physical danger from an abusive parent in public, I have gone so far as to attempt to distract the adult by saying something like, “It’s very difficult, isn’t it”. That’s about as far as I’d go.

Unless the child is being abused. Otherwise mind your own damn business

If there was physical abuse that I witnessed, I would absolutely step in and say something. I would go so far as to call the police if it was pretty bad. Other than that, I’ve been known to glare at many parents in places like grocery stores because I witnessed horrible parenting. One time, a child was asking their parent a question and the parent looked down and screamed, “Shut the hell up! You’re being too god damn loud!”, while at the same time, practically screaming a conversation into their cell. My disgusted look was enough for the parent to quickly end their conversation, extremely embarrassed. Their child was nowhere close to being as loud as they had been, and only asked one, simple question.

As others have said, unless the parent is abusing the kid, others shouldn’t interfere. The same thing holds true for people who think it’s perfectly okay to comment on the conduct of a pregnant woman. Mind your own business, folks.

Unless the child is in physical danger, it is never okay to interfere in the parenting of someone else’s child. It is not your business. I would tell these old ladies to fuck off in the kindest way possible. Once. If they continue I would be rude and nasty.

I would just say thank you for your concern, but my child enjoys the sunlight and he has sunscreen on then walk away. No sense in getting into an argument with every person who comes along with unsolicited advice. There is always going to be someone who thinks they can do better.

I would agree with @Pandora. If you were feeling particularly snippy, you could preface it with, “thank you for your unsolicited advice.”

I’m sorry they are picking on you. None of their business.
Those hoods do protect from sun…..maybe use some sunscreen if you dont hood up.

I am not a mother. i dont know shit.

It seems like the only reason those people are reprimanding you is that for some reason these days people think babies need to be trapped in little bubbles and be protected all the time. That’s actually not good for them. They need a little bit of exposure.

Don’t listen to them. You obviously know what you’re doing.
It bothers me too when people get all nit-picky about other people’s parenting.
I mean, it’s not like you’re dragging him along naked in the snow.

I think its perfectly fine to correct negligent parents. Everyone should do it, except for CPS and other authorities, who go too far oftentimes.

However, not wanting a windbreaker on a stroller is hardly negligence and the ladies in your town are not worried about the baby but just acting out on their local neuroprogramming. Because the issue is so trivial, they shouldn’t even bring it up.

@Kraigmo
“local neuroprogramming.”

So true.

@squidcake @Kraigmo I definitely am dealing with a “local neuroprogramming” issue here (when a baby is born here in South Korea traditionally mum and baby stay at home for a month; “little bubbles” as you say) and it obviously is an extreme example. But I wonder at what point parenting becomes of public concern in other parts of the world.

I don’t think in this cae it was necessary for them to intervene, but I do not think you need to feel humiliated either. They mean well, and show concern for you and your child. Thank them for the advice and explain that you will use the cover if it rains, then do it your way. :)

I have intervened when I saw someone frighten their child with loud yelling and cursing, when a child was left in an open car crying, when someone was about to hit their child, when a parent smoked right into their infant’s face.

I don’t think I’ve ever actually interfered myself, but reading these posts has reminded me that I was out and about one day with my sister, when I saw a mum with a tiny tot who was greedily sucking away at a bottle filled with luminous fizzy soft drink. My sister nudged me and hissed, ‘You’re giving that lady an evil look!’ I didn’t even really know I was doing it. Does junk food count as abuse?

@jeanmay , junk food a couple times a week isn’t abuse.

But if a kid is fed a diet of :

Trix and Pepsi for breakfast
Pizza and Chips and Pepsi for Lunch
and McDonald’s hamburgers, fries, and a Coke for dinner….

and if that is an average day for the kid… then that is definitely child abuse. talking about children who are fed, not teens and preteens who feed themselves

That doesn’t mean I want the law involved. It means I want the neighbors and friends and family of such parents to step into the lives of those parents and put the pressure on, and never let up.

@Kraigmo But as a member of the public, don’t we also have a responsibility to step in in such cases? Or is that just as bad as the old ladies in my example? Where’s the line?