How anal are you with germs and your baby?

Question

I know quite a few of you already no I live in complete filth(kitchen has been demolished, by HAZMAT of course) and I was wondering how many of you happlily let your little ones enjoy themselves exploring(sticking anything and everything in their mouth, getting facial from the family dog) and how many of you have stock in Purell?

Answer 1

I don't have the cleanest house, but it's not filthy either. I have a dog and a cat, so there's plenty of animal hair on the ground. If my son finds something that's not poisonous or a choking hazard I'll let him chew it. When we're outside he eats the grass and tries to eat rocks, sticks, leaves and dirt but I let him taste. There's nothing wrong with a little dirt, helps build a nice healthy immune system. The world today is TOO clean and I think that's why there are so many serious allergies. The only time I sterilized anything was when I first bought it, after that hot soapy water is enough. Never used hand sanitizer either. If those things kill 99% of germs, that 1% that survives will eventually turn into a superbug, then where will we be?  

Answer 2

Considering my son was sick when he was born and spent 4 months in the ICU and another month in the hospital ward, totaling 5 months I am very anal when it comes to germs.  There is very dangerous bacteria that lives in dirt and other common areas.  I clean my floors with antibacterial cleaner about once a week.  Anyone that comes into contact with my son much either wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.  That does not mean that I don't let my son explore, I just ensure that I have done everything possible to prevent him from getting sick.  

Answer 3

I am too tired to get really worked up about germs. I would prefer that my kids don't consume handfuls of dirt, or eat goldfish off the doctor's office floor, or suck on the library's toys, etc...., but I honestly don't go crazy if they do.

My nine-month old handed another baby one of his toys at the children's museum the other day....his mom about had a stroke. She handed it back to me saying "We don't need to share the germs." I am sympathetic to her position, but again, too tired to get to worried about it.

Answer 4

her exploring have limits . i let her do some stuffs and some i dont . i dont have purrell for her use either except maybe in her diaper bag to go out . but at home no .

Answer 5

it's somewhere in between for us. our house is pretty tidy and i do have a few bottles of purell, but i also let my daughter to gum a chair at the doctor's office, which is pretty freaking gross. i wash my hands before I prepare her bottles, but have let her put toys in her mouth that just dropped on the floor (a restaurant floor, of all places!!).  so, i'm pretty inconsistent. she's healthy though!!  

Answer 6

I would let my baby crawl around and play with the dog, however, I wouldn't let them stick everything in their mouths, some things are really dirty and disgusting. I'm not one of those Purell loving, hand sanitizing, everything must be clean kind of a parent though, I think that leaves your child prone to more sicknesses because they don't build up any immunity to anything.

My cousin on the other hand, is germaphobic and he carries around wet cloths and purell and all sorts of disinfectants to put on his baby when they go for a walk.

P.S.

I didnt see anyone who insulted your kitchen?

Answer 7

Being anal sometimes causes more problems than it is solving.

Do you know what chemicals your are subjecting your babies to?

Common sense dictates what baby can and cannot do, Personally I have found that the dogs Mouths are cleaner than the other children who will transmit their staff infections to your child with a bite or a scratch.

I think you need to let your kids be kids, and eating dirt never killed any of my siblings, I personally would not go there if I remember right.

Baby can be confined by gates, playpen etc from the harzard area and a nice clean washcloth free of chemicals would benifit your children, We are becoming too dependent on chemicals in our every day life, and they are slowly killing us.

Answer 8

From the day my daughter started crawling, I pretty much gave up on trying to keep her completely germ free. I say that because I have a dog who sheds constantly, even though we brush him constantly. I even sweep constantly, but the hair is right back where it was as soon as you're done. It's just impossible to keep up with it. So, yeah when she started crawling, there would be dog hair on her face. Oh, and guess what? I even let her play in the dirt and get all muddy! (GASP!) And I don't change her clothes after every little spill she makes. (Oh, no!)

But, my mother-in-law, on the other hand... she's a different story. She changes her clothes at least once a day because Ooops... she spilled a little juice on her shirt. She absolutely hates when she gets all dirty playing outside. Actually, when my daughter was a baby, my MIL did ask me if I was planning on letting her play in dirt. I looked at her funny and said, "of course, why not?" She just kind of rolled her eyes.

My MIL also tried to make my daughter afraid of bugs, to no avail. Now, she picks up caterpillars and frogs and catches butterflies. She totally freaks over this!

I POSTED THIS ON YOUR OTHER QUESTION.... I DIDN'T REALIZE IT POSTED TWICE.

Answer 9

Well i'm kinda funny about that... Cause i am an absolute freak when it comes to my house, my floors are mopped at least once a week, i vacuum daily, sanitize my counters daily, clean my bathrooms every couple of days, and run the kids toys through the dishwasher on a regular basis. I also change sheets once a week, or more if they smell 'funky', and put baking soda on my carpets to absorb odors every saturday... but my kids kinda do what they want.  

I have a two year old and a ten month old, and they share lots and lots of germs, sippy cups, boppies, suck on the same toys, etc. I guess i just figure that a clean house will protect them from most things. The way i see it, the grass in the front yard isn't gonna kill them, and neither are the neighbors dogs. I let people at walmart hold my kids if they want, and don't own a bottle of purell. I guess germs just don't bother me. We take baths every night, but that's the extent of babywashing i do.  

Answer 10

For the most part we've let our son explore whatever he wants.  Unless it's something that is obviously gross like decomposing food from the garbage he managed to sneak into or dog poo at the park, pretty much anything is fair game.  He's just now starting to *not* put everything in his mouth and he is 16 months old, so he's chewed on a lot of things, but that's okay.  I try to keep my home pretty clean, but I don't have any problem with him exploring, grabbing, touching, tasting, or chewing on about 90 percent of things that he can get.  

Answer 11

I try not to let my 9 month old eat sand/gravel at the park -because he sticks his face in and eats it as fast as he can.  If he wants to chew on a stick I don't care.  Eat grass -no problem.  My toddler mostly sticks to clover, I think it tastes better than grass (and yes I *know* what dogs do on the park grass -so do the birds, squirrels, cats and raccoons.)

My floor is really gross right now, if you walk accross it in damp feet the bottom of your feet turn black.  But mopping involves getting all the toys off the floor and keeping the kids off it -and I'd rather spend nap time here. =))

My son "shares" with the baby too.

Oh and there is no 5 second rule, more like 5 hours.  If I can at least identify what it is AND remember giving it to someone then they can eat it off the ground -no biggie.  (luckily the dog cleans up most of the lost food every night but I found a whole apple... from who knows when just yesterday)

Answer 12

I'd say I'm a mixture. In my own home I will pick up her pacifier and give it back without sterilizing (she is my 2nd) but I would wash it in other peoples houses. I like my house pretty clean (Hoover, polish and wipe down kitchen every day, mop kitchen twice a week) so I don't worry about them picking things up off floor at all. I'd have to draw the line at doggy licks though. Just a personal preference.  

Answer 13

I wouldn't call it anal..more cautious..especially under 3 months, and still under 6 months, but mine is 4 months and sort of letting the dogs l**k him, but of course I tend to wipe his hands afterwards only because he is putting them in his mouth and the dogs have been l*****g their ***! But I make sure my hands are clean before a diaper change and making his bottles...trying to get over being so "anal" as you like to call it..but again i call it cautious...but i always have hand sanitizer on standby.

Answer 14

How does that saying go?.... Something like....1st child, pick up dropped pacifier, sanitize it and give it back.  2nd child, pick up pacifier, wipe it off and give it back.  3rd child, pick up pacifier and give it back.  Okay, so that's not exactly it but you get my point.  I have found that to be sooo true!

With my 1st, I was a major germ freak but I'm on baby number 2...  who has time for that?!!  I won't let him put just anything in his mouth, I guess I stand somewhere in the middle.  Doggie kisses are okay with me but, then again, I'm an animal lover.

Answer 15

With my first I was fairly germaphobic. Now that I've been there, done that with my second I'm not so anal about it. He's 6 months old now and only had to deal with one cold (the whole family got it) and that's about it.  

Answer 16

My third son is 12 weeks old and he also get facials from the dog.  When the older boys are holding him, I'll notice him sucking on their grubby hands.  Gross!  

Answer 17

I'm not really anal - although I draw the line at anything the cat licks, etc.  Otherwise, I vacuum and all often enough where there shouldn't be any 'mystery' objects going into his mouth.

Answer 18

we have sanitizer in baby's room, the car, baby's bag, you get the point. but i do try not to be so anal. doggy has cleaned his face and he has sucked a fallen binky. i am cautious, but not over the top. i worry more about someone who is sweaty or has dirty hands touching him.

Answer 19

Not very anal at all.  I let my son put things in his mouth - that's how babies learn.  He's two now and if he drops food on the floor and picks it up and eats it, I don't freak out.  (I wouldn't let him eat off the floor at anyone elses' house.)  I just make sure the house is reasonably clean and hands are always washed - but nothing fanatical.  He's been so healthy - antibiotics only once in two years for an ear infection.

Answer 20

I don't throw my kids in a pit of mud and germs... but I don't freak out if they pick up a random piece of discarded food off the floor and shovel it on in their mouths!  They've munched on the dog food at grandma's house before. Played in the dog water bowl.  The favorte thing for my 12 month old to suck on is the handle bar on shopping carts.  

We're sanitary... I clean/sweep/vacuum/scrub on a regular basis...I make sure to wash my hands after I've handled raw meats... I don't let the boys drink milk that has been sitting in a sippy cup under the couch overnight.  But when it comes to every day germs and exposure-  I don't really care... I hope that buy helping them build their immune systems now that we won't constantly be sick when my first goes off to school.

Answer 21

I don't let my son put everything he sees in his mouth, but he explores his share.

I don't see the point in being anal and trying to sanitize any and every little thing...I mean, kids don't love in bubbles.

Answer 22

I try to keep the house pretty clean, but I have 4 indoor animals. SO I am sure there are tons of germs everywhere! I am really not that anal when it comes to germs around Cade. He has never had a cold, so maybe I am just building up his immune system. But if he swipes his and in his dirty diaper, I will wash it! LOL

Answer 23

we have stock in purell and THOUGHT we were super careful about germs...until my daughter was diagnosed with having SALMONELLA today...we can't be sure where she caught as her father is ocd and a germophobe and I am really anal about washing my hands constantly before handling her.  Of course from now on we will be eveen MORE ANAL, if that's possible!!

Answer 24

When my son gets out of his highchair he will go back and eat what he dropped off the floor. I also don't wash his pacifier unless he drops it outside. I do try to keep the house clean so there's not too much he can get into, but other than that, I don't keep him in a plastic bubble. I don't really even think about the everyday germs.

Answer 25

Honestly, I am not an overly germaphobic person. I do use my common sense, but I am no where near the neat freak that many mothers may be with their babies. Brody gets to explore, and he has never been sick, so I think Im doing pretty good ;)

Answer 26

Umm. I guess I would be the crazy mom that has stock in Purell, lol,

I can't help it, I am just anal and a germaphob

Answer 27

I'm really anal about germs but I have gotten much much better in the last 10 1/2 months. Before I got pregnant everything in my house was scrubbed with bleach once a week door handles and light switches at least once every 2 days......now......I try (TRY) to wash my floor every day cause my son crawls all over the place.  I have a dog that gets smooches in when ever he can (blah) I don't want to pass on my phobias to my son so I have cooled it down a lot, and I also don't have the time to keep up with my old standards anymore. I'd rather spend my time being a mama then a cleaner so I do what I can when I have time. But I do clean his toys often and don't let him crawl around most peoples houses, and I HATE it when people kiss him on the mouth and I FLIP when people put their hands in his mouth!

When he was first born if his suckey fell I'd wash it and pop it into a pot and boil it but by 5 maybe 6 months I was the mom that stuck it in my mouth to clean it off.

If someone has a baby then I'm usually fine with him 'exploring' in their house but if we go to say my brothers, not a chance that i'm letting my son crawl around!

Answer 28

LOL...the woman who insulted your kitchen is an absolute schmuk.

I let my daughter explore whatever she wants, within reason of course. She lays on a blanket on the floor and occassionally comes up with fistfulls of cat or dog hair...what can I do about it other than take it out when I see it? The dog gives her kisses and she loves it. Sometimes she lays in the grass and digs her fingernails into the dirt..makes a mess but she loves it! So many people have come over and offered to wash up and use hand sanitizer, but to be honest with you, I'd prefer that she get the germs and be done with it. She goes to public daycare for crying out loud...there's no avoiding the germs there!