Imagine being in hospital with your newborn baby. You're thrilled to bits with the new arrival and can't wait to show him or her off to all and sundry. But wait a minute; why are all your visitors studiously avoiding looking at or touching your beautiful child. Is something wrong?

Well, if you're the neo-natal manager at the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, West Yorks, then everything is as it should be. The maternity ward there has just issued instructions to patients not to coo over, touch, or talk to staff or other patients about babies. Management has spent time and, we imagine, a not-inconsiderable sum of money, coming up with 'Respect My Baby' cards to protect babies' personal space. The cards say; 'I am small and precious so treat me with privacy and respect. My parents ask you to treat my personal space with consideration. I deserve to be left undisturbed and protected against unwanted public view.'

Understandably the new diktat has met with resistance from proud parents with the misfortune to give birth at the Calderdale. Lynsey Pearson, a mother who gave birth to her first child, Hannah, a month ago, told The Telegraph; 'This ludicrous idea is taking confidentiality to the extreme. If people did not ask me about my baby I would be offended. I am so proud of Hannah and I want to show her off. I imagine all new mums feel that way.'

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