How do I politely tell well meaning friends and family to "call" before dropping by unannounced?

Keep your doors locked, but don't answer it. If anyone complains, tell them "sorry, I didn't hear you, you should have called first."

Okay let me see if I've got this right. You're pregnant and with two little ones running around and you don't even want your family members to come by and maybe help you? Are you crazy? You should be sitting down with your feet up relaxing. For example,in the Mexican(American) culture,when a good friend or neighbor is sick or needs help,the neighbors WILL come by with food or help tidy up the house,or even run errands.We will even offer you a lift to the doctor and wait with you till you're finished. Honey,you're going to have to open up with a .50 caliber to get rid of us. By the way,it's the oldest member of the family who runs the show and decides what is needed to be done to help this person,especially if it's family.

I have been it your shoes before I had a Friend that just didn't get the point. So i started letting her know i was home like playing music when she ring the bell and still didn't answer the door. She would then call me from her phone and i would answer. She would state why don't you open the door I would tell her that you showed up without calling and now you are not coming in. She would be pissed but she stopped popping up.

You are letting them push over you, and it will continue until you stop it. The next time it happens, do not make excuses. Stand firm and say "I'm sorry, but this is not a good time to have visitors. Please call first next time, so I know you're coming and can make time for you." Then CLOSE THE DOOR. I know that's difficult, but it's the only way to be clear about it. You're worried that they'll think you're rude, but who really is the rude one here? They are. Do that once, and I guarantee they'll call first from then on.

I tell people that I will NOT answer the door if they dont call me. I dont care about my home's appearance, because it is normally well kept, minus my toddler's toys. However, sometimes I am reading, or laying around and like to take advantage of my down time by myself. So, if you tell your friends and family that you are too busy and have a schedule to maintain, let them know that you are adamant about not answering your door if they dont call first, as they will be interrupting your routine. Good luck with your third child! It takes a woman of patience to go past one child!!!!

Sounds like you have tried a lot of different ways to do this nicely. You may have to get super direct and just tell them you can't have company on the spur of the moment, and that you don't plan to answer the door when you aren't expecting guests. Then follow through. You don't have to hide or apologize for keeping your priorities straight. If you do answer the door, don't invite them in, just stand there in the door and hold a short conversation with them. After exchanging a couple pleasantries in the doorway, start to close it and say something like..."Well, it was great seeing you but I have to get back to stuff here." You can also try a more proactive approach, and make time to visit your friends, or meet at a cafe, or set up visits for them to come over, so they don't feel like they are being ignored, but it's more on your terms.

I don't like drop by company for many reasons, and have had similar issues with family and friends...I live in a somewhat remote location so they would all have to drive at least 1/2 hour to get here and would still 'drop by'. The thing is, you've been polite and they aren't getting it. I never worried much about being polite after the first drop by from a person. I just say "I don't like or appreciate drop by company, please call me before you come over and you have to leave now." Just plain don't let them in, tell them it's not a good time, whatever. I actually tell most people the first time they come to my home that now that they know where I live they need to also know that I don't like drop by company, that they should always call first and that I probably won't be very nice to them if they drop by. Surprisingly, I still get the occasionally drop by, and guess what, I'm not nice to them and they don't usually do it again. I actually use it as a boundary measure, if someone I have asked to not drop by does it anyway, I am much less interested in having any sort of relationship with them because they obviously can't respect a simple thing like a clearly stated boundary. My family have always been the worst offenders, and have made a really big deal about it over the last 30 years - I ALMOST have them trained now. It's my home and I don't like having to entertain unexpected guests no matter how close to me they are. Now they pretty much accept it - they make fun of me a bit, but I don't care - it is my right to have my privacy and I am very clear about my boudaries. And I make this go both ways - I NEVER drop by anyones house EVER. Even if they invite me "Oh, drop by anytime!". I always say, "No, I'll call first, I'm not a 'drop by' kind of person."

I hate that. Get one of those "Go Away" floor mats for your front door.

It's easy, since you are pregnant, just tell them that you haven't been feeling well, and you want them to call before they come over because you dont want them to come all that way for nothing if you are sick or sleeping.