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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to take my own toys?

157 replies

workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:42

I take my dc to quite a lot of baby groups but the toys at some of them I think are quite unhygienic. Never washed and in all the babies mouths. One of the leaders at one said she washed them once a term as though this was really frequent, I'm sure some of the others might be even less frequent.

I was a bit shocked at the situation the first times I went but everyone else seemed to think things were ok so I just went along with it.

Anyway now my dc is unwell which could be due to unhygienic toys. (Although of course he could have caught it somewhere else).

Anyway to put my mind at rest in the future would it be ok to take my own toys for dc to play with? We don't want to stop going altogether as we enjoy the songs/ socialising.

Have other people ever taken their own toys? Tbh a lot of the stuff at these groups is older/ less nice than what he has at home, so it seems a shame to be exposed to infection unecessarily.

OP posts:
SmethwickBelle · 26/05/2011 12:02

I am going to come down in the middle here. Older children fair enough but I'd take extra care with small babies.

I don't let my kids (or rather my littlest) play with the toys at the doctors surgery because they are particularly minging and I was laid back about it with DS1 and he DID pick up some gastric nasties. We take a few cars with us and a comic.

I also make sure they wash their hands before we leave soft play or playgroups or whatever, normally as part of the "bum change/have a wee", and wipe supermarket trolley handles with a wipe before they get in. I'd consider that good personal hygiene not mad OCD.

In general with communal toys you can't worry too much not least as you would go nutty, one they're big enough for soft play they'll be rolling about where a hundred kids have been before.

So I'd say compromise, for your peace of mind take a pack of wipes and wipe the toys that bother you most, and wash her hands when you arrive and before you go home.

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 12:01

And I dont think you understand how unimportant a few germs are in everyday life..

BluddyMoFo · 26/05/2011 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:59

I just don't understand you'd be horrified at the hygiene if say at work someone suggested everyone drink from a communal cup but they you don't mind about the hygiene our precious babies are subjected to?

OP posts:
Katiepoes · 26/05/2011 11:58

If I saw a Mum wiping toys with Milton I'd probably laugh. Either suck up the fact that kids are gross and toys get germy or stop bringing your baby out.

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 11:58

I am now thinking you are on a wind up.. or perhaps you need to see your GP because you really are being paranoid and OTT. :(

Grabaspoon · 26/05/2011 11:58

"I don't sanitise the slide and swings because they don't do in the mouth"

My babies/toddlers enjoy chewing the swing bars - I do discourage but they do.

LoopyLoopsBettyBoops · 26/05/2011 11:57

Save this thread and read it again in a year. You'll understand why.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:57

Regarding the nursery I think it will be a rota of relatives to provide care of sufficient quality.

OP posts:
Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:56

I genuinely am shocked at this. I am even thinking of forming my own baby group in my house where toys could be sanitised often by mothers on a rota basis. Although you atll think IBU a lot of my friends have similar concerns.

OP posts:
MovingAndScared · 26/05/2011 11:56

is this the time to say I never clean my kids toys - unless of course sick on them
ohh and just realised you are changing nappies 10 times a day lady - never got back to us on that thread - what did you decide to do about nurseries?

DoMeDon · 26/05/2011 11:55

"I don't sanitise the slide and swings because they don't do in the mouth but also he is too young for them" - how old is your son? Dd's been going on swings, etc since 6mo and putting her hands in mouth - which is same thing surely!?

Are you anxious about lots of things?

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 11:54

Children "touch" and then the next place their hands go is into their mouth... you can not expect to keep your child away from germs, so you are being very silly I'm afraid, and a tad neurotic.

honeybee007 · 26/05/2011 11:54

*mums not muns

WipsGlitter · 26/05/2011 11:53

I think the other mums will think you are a bit weird. Germs are part if life. Why don't you donate some toys your child has grown out of so there are newer toys for the group. You could also volunteer to help out and wash the toys yourself.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:53

I'm shocked that no one else thinks these toys are unhygienic. Seriously so all this washing up of water glasses etc we do as adults why do we bother why not just shove things that aren't obviously dirty back in the cupboard?

OP posts:
honeybee007 · 26/05/2011 11:52

Is this for real???

Yabvu and precious and other muns at the groups will probably think you're a bit odd.

JackyJax · 26/05/2011 11:51

This is insane not just unreasonable (unless your baby has very specific needs and then I withdraw all of my comment!). When I had my first child 5 years ago a very wise GP said to me to make sure that they were exposed to a healthy amount of germs in order to build immunity.

mum765 · 26/05/2011 11:51

Unfortunately it's just the way it is, whether it be at a friend's house, or at a playgroup or at pre-school. I think you'd find it difficult to keep your own toys to yourselves and would come across as very odd if you took them off other dcs. It's far better to get a few bugs and build up immunity before starting nursery/pre-school.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:50

I don't sanitise the slide and swings because they don't do in the mouth but also he is too young for them.

OP posts:
BerylOfLaughs · 26/05/2011 11:50

YABU and PFB.

Fleurdebleurgh · 26/05/2011 11:49

YABU.

You have a lot to learn.

BluddyMoFo · 26/05/2011 11:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 11:49

ok maybe milton wiping the toys might be a less extreme compromise. I could do that quickly before he touches them. Thanks WowOoo - that's a good idea.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 11:48

Do you sanitise the slide and swings in the park because other childrens hands have been there before your child?

By all means make your own toys if you want to, but be prepared for your child to want to play with something else anyway... it will not stop your child from picking up some germs, and kids need to build an immune system anyway!

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