Do you wash off everything that hits the floor before you give it back to the baby?

Question

At home, I figure I know what germs are around, and unless a toy lands in obvious dirt, it is fair game for my baby. Out in public, I try to keep toys from hitting the ground, but if they do a give them a quick wipe before handing them back. Babies have immune systems for a reason.

Answer 1

Nope. Call me a bad mother but what can I do? That's my daughters game right now...she throws toys down and then wants them right back. I'm not pulling out a wipe every single time...or packing them in her diaper bag and soaking them in boiling water when I get home. I give them a wipe on my shirt. Sure if we were somewhere disgusting, I probably wouldn't give it back...or would take out an antibacterial wipe. But as said above...the more you keep germs away from your baby, the more likely they are to get sick. Kids need to be introduced to dirt (because no matter how much you try to hide them from it, it will get to them eventually) Build their immune system and watch them grow! As I said...I'm not a clean freak with my daughter, and she has only been "sick" once...a fever that lasted all of 5 hours or something like that.  

Answer 2

I was a bit manic about dirt until I saw a friend pick up her daughter's comforter from the ground (there was a fair bit of bird droppings about!), rinse it with water and put it back in the tot's mouth!  I eased up after that day.  Our kids are fine.  As you say, Babies have immune systems for a reason.

Answer 3

You know the old childhood "two second rule?" It's not true, but the best rule is "If it's wet, clean it. If it's dry, it's fine."

A study was done to see what bacteria gets on things that fall on the floor. IF it is wet or has some sort of liquid form on it (pacifiers, squishy banana, spaghetti, etc), bacteria gets on the item almost immediately. If it is a dry item (such as cheerios or a sippy cup (unless the child drools on their cups...), it takes a lot longer (think hours) to gather enough bacteria on it to harm anyone, even a toddler. So that cheerio your toddler dropped on the kitchen floor two minutes ago and picks up again? No problem.

Of course, if it lands in a substance that sticks to it (such as dirt, mud, sand, lint, etc), clean it off.

Answer 4

No matter how much you watch your baby they are going to eventually eat something gross. It is actually good for them to come across germs as it builds their immune system. If you keep a baby too sterile then they wont get much chance to build an immune system. Im the same. I wont let her have something that is obviously dirty but her toys fall on the floor all the time and she still sucks them. Im yet to hear about a baby getting sick because the mother didnt wash the toys everytime they touched the floor

Answer 5

Like you said, it depends on where we are. If we are out in public than depending on the object thats dropped, (if its wet its more likely to pick up bacteria) then I I might wash it first. At home I rarely do. Some mom's are WAY too obscessed with sterilizing everything that comes near their children these days. Those are the children that will end up with allergies or getting sick all the time. A little bit of dirt is good for their immune systems!

Answer 6

only if it's something that she likes to put in her mouth but if it's just a toy then i just give it back to her unless i am in public and not home and then i clean it first

Answer 7

Im not over the top when it comes to things been on the floor, if its her dummy then i might just wipe it or run it under water but I dont go through sterilizing, I just think if you make everything so sterile thats when they will become sick  

Answer 8

I think I definetely would if it was a public place or outside.  The rule of thumb I used was with the first baby wash everything.  When the second baby comes you give it the 5 second rule...pick it up within 5 seconds and it's good to go:)  With the third baby just pick up the item, blow on it and everything is A-OK.

You're right about the immune system.

Answer 9

If i'm home no. (I know who and whats been walking on my floor and i know how well i clean) In public yes. Even if its just with an antibacterial wipe i wipe them off.  

Answer 10

It depends on the situation for me. What the toy is and where it fell. If a sippy cup falls in the park, I usually wipe it off with a wipe and everything has been fine so far!