The Hand Washing Issue!

I always tell a litle white lie and say I think the baby is starting to get sick and that they should wash their hands before and after to be safe for both the baby and themselves and have never had a problem with anyone doing it. I hope this helps

I had the same problem when my son was a baby. My Mother in law would always want to hold him or touch him. I know she does not use good hygeine especially in the bathroom. They don't even keep soap at the sink for guests. Anyway, when she would visit and want to hold Tyler I would tell her right out that she had to wash her hands first. I don't know if she was offended or not but she did it. For kids I did the same thing. I know kids don't always wash the best after using the bathroom. Telling the kids to wash their hands didn't seem to bother them. I did not feel bad for telling anyone to wash their hands before touching my son. I just didn't want all those germs on my baby.

M.

Hi-
I remember being overly cautious about germs when my son was 7 months, but I got tired of being on constant germ patrol. I started thinking back to my own childhood, and realized how healthy I had been despite being a tomboy and outside into everything all the time. It isn't a bad thing to be exposed to germs--that is how our bodies develop protection against them. We need to be exposed to germs to develop antibodies to fight them. In the long run, your child will be healthier for it. Relax.

I am the same way about germs. I have a 4year old and a 1 year old. I always carry hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. I also required people to wash their hands before they touched my child especially their faces. You may feel uncomfortable asking them to wash there hands but it's you who will be stuck with a sick baby if you dont. You should not feel bad or crazy for wanting to protect your child in any way.

There is no reason that the "please wash your hands before touching the baby" request has to stop when you leave the hospital. I still have kids wash their hands before going to play with my now 9 year old. She doesn't touch door handles, toilet handles...basically anything in public and if there is an occasion she HAS to, we always have sanitizer with us, because I know that so many people do not wash their hands after using the restroom, or even blowing their nose...

Don't worry about asking people to wash their hands before touching baby. If you are somewhere you cannot wash your hands, have baby wipes or hand sanitizer handy so they can at least do that.

I have a friend who is overally concerned with germs. When other kids want to kiss her little guy, they tell them "How about you kiss his toes so he grows?" I thought that was pretty clever.

sorry, but you are too worried. i have children your age from 25 down to 4 years old. i kept them from the world and all the germs. as soon as they started being around kids and school they became sick and there is not a thing you can do about it. are you sure you are not a germ o phobe? i am to a degree like washing hands after leaving walmart (touching carts). after the bathroom and you know the rest. if your kids dont get exsposure to these little germs there immunity will not be as strong. be careful because your children can pickup later on this issue and i could be a BAD thing. my cousin washed hands so much the skin was missing and bleeding. we can create more problems by being excessive in our compultions. my advise is place a written sign on the mirror Laminated thats says somethng like this. make sure you wash your hands after using the bathroom. and tell them you are starting early with the kids learning.

I think that by the time your child reaches 7 months you don't need to worry about germs as much. To be honest, your child is going to get germs other ways that you aren't going to be able to prevent. He'll stick a toy in his mouth, being playing somewhere and then stick his hand in his mouth, or be like my son and sometimes when we go to various indoor play areas he licks the wall or floor. As much as I ran after him saying, "YUCK! NO NO! YUCKY!" I couldn't stop the exposure to germs and you eventually won't be able to either.

As for the person's whose child was missing a ton of school, it could be because she just doesn't have the immunity that other kids her age have because she hasn't been exposed to germs.

I would say if your child is over 3 months, you don't need to be as concerned. Teaching good hygiene is smart, but you can't make other people do the same thing.

You could look for a cute little saying to put in your bathroom to help remind others to wash their hands or make one up yourself.

Hi! I'm a mom of a 5 1/2 month old preemie, and the doctors told us that for her sake, everyone should be washing hands before handling her at least through cold, flu, and RSV season (November to end of April). They also said that hand sanitizer is fine, too. Anti-bacterial soap is NOT what you want to use, as it is really just like using antibiotics without an infection. It can contribute to the "super bacteria" as an earlier responder said. A nice benefit of all this handwashhing is that we have stayed healthier, too! I think if you are concerned, you should not feel bad about asking someone to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before holding your child. You're the only one that can protect your little one, and especially during the cold, flu, and RSV season, I don't think you should feel bad about asking anyone to do that.

I've found that one way to get your point across is to make it through your kids. If I see that their friend isn't washing hands I will tell my child "make sure you wash your hands and use soap because Mommy HATES germs and you don't want to get sick". Say it so that everyone can hear it. Usually when people realize that it's important to you they will do it.
I don't like hand sanitizer so I have some on those disinfecting hand wipes. That way you don't have all that sticky stuff on your hands.
Happy hand cleaning,
J.

You can flat out say something but you may come off rude.

You could put out hand sanitizer all over your house.

Say something like would you mind washing your hands or using sanitizer my little guy catche's everything so easily but you might get some crazy looks or offend people.

From now on out your son will be meeting people everywhere he goes.Local Park, Daycare,Preschool, Library time, Cousins, School, Junior High etc.. and I'm gonna bet most people don't take handwashing as seriously as you do.

My daughter is in kindergarten and we are very good at hand washing etc. She has missed so much school this year due to illness I am now being "watched" by the school and need a doctor's note everytime she misses. Totally sucks and makes me mad. I NEVER send my child to school sick but obviously alot of other inconsiderate people do.

And really what can one do about it. Not much we can only control what we do and what our kids do.

Hey there, Elizabeth. Try not to stress too much about germs... they are everywhere! The big thing to remember is that he is building up his immune system. I can understand your feelings though about not wanting people to touch him who use the restroom and don't wash afterward. With that in mind, I would get some germ-X hand sanitizer and just ask them to put a dab on their hands and "rub it in" before touching/holding the baby. If they care about you, they shouldn't be offended.

DON'T use antibacterial items that use Triclosan as their active ingredient. It actually makes "super-bacteria" from those who survive and become resistant (biggest mistake a LOT of people are making as evidenced by the sheer number of antibacterial items on the shelves today). Use a product that has alcohol as it's active ingredient (I use germ-X) and you're fine.

Something that might be kind of scary to know is that there are only about 7 - 12 different bacteria in the bathroom that people will "transport" out... while there are hundreds in the kitchen (and more around if you have pets). I should add that the ones in the bathroom aren't as bad as those in the kitchen (freaked me out to learn that things like salmonella and other nasties are all over the place in the kitchen... naturally).

I agree with Anne. I know you want to protect your child and there is nothing wrong with that. But these germs have been with us since human kind has been around and even before. We are meant to be exposed to them so yeah we can build up a tolerance for them. Children raised in a sterile environment will not be able to fight off germs when they get older cause they have never been introduced to them. We in the western civilization are pretty clean even if we dont constantly wash our hand our hygien is quite good. Children that are born in a sterile enviornment where the mother is washed with alcohol and given a enema have a higher chance of allergies studies have shown. Your child will get outside and play in the yard and undoubtly come in contact with germs all sorts of germs it's better that they are introduced in smaller amounts from other people at a younger age than wait for later. Through my nursing education i have done a bit of research on the subject and studies have shown that it's important to be introduced to them. We are becoming cleaner and more sanitary and the occurance of childrens allergies and asthma is becoming more common. It is believed there is a link. Like i said i understand you want to proctect your child but in the long run you are.

My suggestion is to get some of that hand sanitizer. And just say could you please use this before you touch the baby, im trying to keep him healthy,with all the viruses going around. I have kids and know the feeling. Most people dont necessarily get offended. And its not rude or stuck up to suggest either. If he does get sick you are the one that has to take care of him.i think that sometimes they dont realize that they have not washed their hands.they probaably did the same thing.hope it helps.

When My girls were little I had sanitizer in the bathroom and I carried it with me(still do) and I simply asked people to use the sanitizer before they held the baby. It is akward at first, but your mind will be at ease after. I would make sure that you ask this of everyone so no one feels you are calling them out. MY peditrician actually recommended it. Good luck.-H.

When people come to your home, you can make it known that you have a "house rule" that everyone wash their hands before handling the baby. That way it applies to all who enter or live at your home - no questions asked if it's a "rule." Try getting a fun anti-bacterial soap for your bathroom/kitchen sinks (ie: Bath & Body has great scents at a reasonable price) - that might encourage people to try soap, even if they aren't a normal hand washer.

I am the same way! Carry around a little bottle of hand sanitizer and just tell people "I am worried about colds and flu since there have been children dying from it around here." People CAN'T be offended by that, because you are just looking out for your child. The hand sanitizer is a little easier than demanding people wash their hands, since it's just quick and over with.