is everyone getting a little too obssessed with cleaning everything?

[Sunshine78]

The toddler group I go to cleans the toys pn a regular basis but now mums want antibacterail wipes in the toy boxes so they can wipe toys before letting children play with them (wipes are as clean after this as they were befor!) Also I've seen mums using the gel you can get on their hands after using the play dough and before they are allowe to do anything else. Yesterday was out to lunch and a mum got a spray out her bad sprayed the whole highchair and table before child was allowed anywhere near it. All seems to be going a little to far or am I just really scummy

[FrockHorror]

If you're scummy Sunshine, then so am I...

[mamadiva]

I kind of agree with you on this one although I do carry the gel with me but just for if we are going to the park etc before we leave but mainly because DS doesn't like anything at the park just likes picking up the bark/dirt around the play things LOL.

[Sunshine78]

I am begining to wander if its one of those if their doing it I better but only more circles some people seem to get themselves into. I do carry a gel but only for when essential not for every 5mins.

[Troutpout]

yanbu

[BCNS]

I think these parents are setting their dc's up to catch every bug going tbh. IMO you can be too clean!

[Brangelina]

I'm even scummier then. I think this excessive cleaning is madness and have been known to screech at another mother who tried to hand my newborn DD a toy she'd wiped with one of her toxic, chemical-laden anti bac wipes. She was quite taken aback I think. She also used to spray park benches before sitting down herself. Mad....

[bloomingfedup]

A medic told me that using any sort of anti bac product is a bad idea as they kill all the good bugs too! I stopped using them and have had a lot less colds (was getting them all the time before) The mothers you know are neurotic - what will they do when their kids go to school.

[JammyQueenOfTheSewers]

Another scummy mummy here then

Actually I do carry a little bottle of gel, but only for when I have to change a pooey nappy in the park away from handwashing facilities, so I can clean my paws afterwards.

I saw a mother washing the toys her child had chewed/sucked on at a group a few weeks ago. i did feel a little bad that I wouldn't have thought to do that, but not for long I'm afraid. IMO a few germs and stuff is good fo them. Within reason, of course!

[hippipotami]

I think this is wayyyyyy over the top!! Those parents are not doing their dc any favours by not giving the immune system a chance to meet germs and develop antibodies!!
They are indeed setting their dc up to get every illness going once they start school.

And am I the only one who thinks it is to prefer toys laden with antibac chemicals to toys with other childrens (mostly harmless) germs???

So if you are deemed scummy Sunshine, then I am right there with you

[feeble]

nyanbu kids need to get some gerns to develop their immune systems. Just think how many days off sick those kids will have when they go to school! I do carry gel but only for using when no decent washing factilities in loos etc

[compo]

I just use a normal wipe on my hands in the event of a stinky nappy in the park
It's not very often the poo actually touches your hand anyway

[snowleopard]

What madness. So those mums never let their kids touch sand on the beach, or pick up a fallen leaf or an interesting stone, or roll down a grassy bank? If they don't, how tragic. If they do, how inconsistent.

I like those persil ads that show kids getting dirty. I do know it's an ad but they're so heartwarming.

And while disinfecting everything has a role in hospitals etc. or a flu pandemic, in the wider community it's just the best way to create resistant bacteria. Kids need dirt and disease to get stronger immune systems, and they don't need to inhale a load of unnecessary stuff. Over-use of cleaning products is linked to asthma, or so I've read somewhere.

[Cloudhopper]

My kids are always going down with stomach bugs these days, so I am watching this with interest.

I didn't even know such things existed. Wonder if this is why my kids seem to have more germs than a hospital isolation unit....

[Sunshine78]

Reading this they are contradicting themselves as the same group of people insisist on only fresh organic produce passing there dc lips lol And heaven forbid anything with chemicals passing theie lips - perhaps will have to point out the obvious next time they wipe the toys!!!

[Bucharest]

YANBU- although everyone here in Italy does it, in the park, play centres. And then wonder why their children are sick the minute they come into contact with germs. Our Napisan advert here has people touching (accidentally) other people on a crowded bus and the woman dashes home and chucks a box of napisan in the washer.
They also love this weird stuff that they wash fruit in. Don't know what it is.

[DeJaVous]

YANBU it's a recipe for a weak immune system IMO. Let them eat filth (within reason)

[Brangelina]

Lol, I hate that Napisan ad. The Amucchina one is just as bad. I mean, who sterilises fruit in bleach? WTF?


Bucharest - are you Romina Power?

[Sycamoretree]

Yanbu - this sort of behaviour just ends up fueling anxiety, so you end up with mothers who previously wouldn't have cared less wondering whether they are in the wrong. I haven't read the whole thread, but someone has surely already mentioned the link between allergies on the increase and our increasing obsessiveness with cleanliness?

I admit, I was probably more over protective with PFB DD, but even then, would not have dreamt of this sort of nonsense. DS crawls around the garden and the park in a way I wouldn't have imagined allowing DD to do - you watch other mums and I learned/was inspired by their more relaxed attitude.

My MIL keeps gifting us with antibac gel cos she gets it, erm, "free" because of her job. I have a stock pile - reminds me, I must Freecycle it to some of this mums!

[misdee]

waaaaaay ott. but when i am pregnant i get obsessed with cleaning. dunno why, i think i just like things to smell clean.

am not worried about toys etc though once little one arrives.

i do use alcohol gel but thats just carried on from when dh was in hospital. found a big bottle when emptying the bathroom the other day and thought 'oh if i decant that to a small bottle will be perfect for the nappy bag'

is that too obsessive?

[preggersplayspop]

YANBU nothing wrong with a bit of dirt.

[hippipotami]

I had a little bottle of gel in my nappy bag in case I had to change a poo-filled nappy without any hand wash facilities nearby. The same teeny tiny bottle lasted me two dc. It is still kicking around the bathroom somewhere (youngest is nearly 6)

[rebelmum1]

shame hospitals aren't so vigilant..

[noonki]

YANBU in the least....

touching ..toys (arggghhh) is worse than covering their children in chemicals,

jesus !

[misdee]

rebelmum, some are.

but its visitors that dont bother even onto a immune suppressed ward

[EffiePerine]

ah they'll all get some hideous disease from being TOO CLEAN