These days people tend to get very sensitive about your shooting children, particularly when there is no real purpose to the image, new or a formal portrait. If your in a public building at a public event and you're shooting the flowers and someone is in frame it's not generally a big deal. If you're is a hotel and it's a private event where you're just another attendee it can be another story.
I was shooting in a local YMCA for their capital campaign today, showing people and facilities and we got permission from everyone we shot. While there I was shooting in the fitness center when a woman came up and said "I don't want you taking any picture of me", I hadn't done any of her and said so, she looked at me ands said, "Why not!", go figure. Every child I shot was only shot after written permission of a parent.

LOL...This it's another "UGH'ism"...I've never seen this level of timidity in the legalities of photography on any other photo forum.

What's happened to this forum is that a third of the people here don't know what they are talking about when it comes to laws, etc. Another third are scared to death of taking pictures because of what the first third has told them. The last third are true professionals and ignore the first third and simply feel sorry for the second third.

Now where's that print shop that makes up the model and property releases. I'm on my way to New York City, and I understand I need hundreds of releases. I hear tell that there one can be arrested for taking a photo of a dog peeing on a fire plug if they don't have a signed release from both the Fire Department and the dog's owner. Oh well,
have a nice day.

The basis in law that necessitates the need for these legal forms is an individual's right to privacy. It boils down to how photos will be used. If it is used publicly i.e. published in any way - whether for financial gain or not - you may need a signed model release form.

The photographer may not need a release for photo's that are viewed in private. You generally do not need a model release if the person is not identifiable, if it is for a news article, educational material or photo exhibition. If you are unsure, consult with an attorney or get a release anyway.

The moment the photographer uses the photo publicly, or sells or licenses it to a third party for public or commercial use, a model release becomes necessary. Examples of this use would be websites, brochures, advertisements, posters, calendars etc.

You will need a release whether the person being photographed is a professional model or not and even when they are unaware of being photographed. If they are identifiable in the photo, you need a release for public use. A written agreement offers the best defense in a lawsuit and unlike a verbal agreement, cannot be easily disputed.

http://www.free-legal-document.com/photography-contracts.html

and for every one of posts with this point of view I can find the opposite.

That's why this forum isn't a good place to suss out legal matters.