To want DD to wash their hands

[LelloLorry]

Was waiting for the bathroom whilst DD2 was getting ready for bed in there, heard the toilet flush and went in - and she left without washing her hands!
Was a bit and asked why she didn't.
She just said 'I never do' was even more , and she blurted out 'Well, DD1 doesn't either!'

Oh dear god, I've raised animals.

After a cup of tea to soothe myself, had a conversation with both girls, apparently their friends don't like waiting for them to wash their hands, and DD2 feels a bit stupid when she's the only one to do so (at school).
DD1 added as an afterthought that there is never any soap at school, either, and all papertowels are thrown up on the ceiling .

Is this common? AIBU to be wanting a lengthy convo with the schools HT/Caretaker about these standards?
They've since agreed that they will, of course, wash their hands at home. Think I'm going to start packing some anti-bacterial gel in their bags and making them wash their hands before dinner...
I have no idea why I thought they were sensible enough to do it without promting!

...Do you have to prompt your kids to wash their hands? Think I'm going to do 6 rounds with Dettol spray in their bedrooms...

Have they not survived well enough unto now.

I can't help but think that we are making ourselves become too unfamiliar (in microscopic terms) with common bugs. If they only had a wee, in your own clean bathroom in the home, the chances that they give themselves something unpleasant is unlikely.

As for school, well again, if it was that much of a problem, absence rates would be much higher.

By all means, provide them each with a bottle of antibacterial gel, but what makes you think they'll use that any more than they wash their hands - unless you intend to sour your relationship with your kids by nagging them over something that isn't really that vital.

If they are normally healthy young people, then chill. Let them get a germ or two - it'll do them good. I know this will be a controversial view, but we are not talking about hygiene around new born babies, so why worry?

If you are that worried about what their friends' mums might think of your kids, just tell them that as long as they make sure they (appear to) wash their hands, then they can use their judgement with regards to average frequent washing. Oh, and agree on a quick wash before meals involving finger food.

I used to always wash my hands after the loo until I got together with dh. He never does after a wee, and his example has rubbed off on me: I never do anymore (I do after a no2 though!). A little while ago I was in a ladies with my aunt and she was shocked that I didn't wash my hands. I brushed it off and said, oops, i forgot and washed them. I could tell she thoug

I could tell she thought it was really weird.
Anyway, I've never been ill as a consequence. Please be assured though, that if ever you come around for a cuppa or a sarnie, I always wash my hands before preparing food, regardless of what i've been doing.

We fought this battle with DSs for a while. Keep at your DDs the message will get through....eventually. It is essential that schools encourage it among children. We used to all have to line up at Primary school after play time and wash our hands in 1971 admittedly.

Agree with everything it is the primary disease fighting acton we should all take more care over. I am convinced that the increase in NHS secondary infection rate is due to lower hand washing standards. People just dont do it enough and especially not after going to the loo.

Its horrendous to see men and women leaving public loos without washing their hands. I grew up on a farm so am a bit obsessive about it but even so.

I agree that in hospital it is necessary, where there are people with compromised immune systems, open wounds, etc. But logically otherwise it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me

If I was one of your daughters, I would only wash my hands when I otherwise thought I would get rumbled for not doing so.

There may well not be any soap available at the school. It was a very rare occasion there was actually soap in the bathrooms at my school, let alone paper towels/working hand dryers. This was only a couple of years ago and at an "outstanding" ofsted rated school. You do kind of get out of the habit a bit . Never seemed to do anyone any harm though.

Got into the habit of washing my hands after touching //anything// when DDs were babies, never got out of it, quite glad, too!

Thank you for the link, Everything - I read it all, was very interesting, have bookmarked it to show to the girls in the morning!

The number of children/teens that don't wash their hands after going to the toilet was shocking, but was quite about ALL of their friends not washing their hands, but can see now it might well be the case.

Meow, the idea of the hand sanitizer wasn't to nag but because they said they didn't want to be the only one washing their hands - clearly, they could have done it in a spare moment/before they left the cubicle (if they were so inclined) and it would be there for them if they wanted to.

Brockley - I'm reassured! Bit worrying to think that some people wouldn't be washing their hands before making a sarnie though, isn't it?

Always do it at home and in places I think are clean(ish). Have you never used lavatories where you could pick up more germs touching the taps and using the filthy pull towel (school was a good place when I went) than just adjusting your clothes and flushing with your elbow?

Just been counting. I think I washed my hands about 20 times today and would be more than that on some days.

Fair enough then, Lello. I misunderstood your intentions/thinking re: anti-back gel.

agree with those who say we overdo this kind of thing. I don't wash my hands after a wee and have never in my life been ill because of it.

Could you agree a compromise?

Quick rinse with water after a wee, soap after a poo?

Explain that, whatever their friends say, many people will think they are a bit grim if they don't wash their hands.

to all those saying "i never wash my hands after a wee and have never been ill because of it"

well, that's not the point, is it - it is unlikely to be yourself you make ill (you can safely drink your own wee should you wish), it will be someone else - elderly, a baby, someone undergoing cancer treatment, or with a weakened immune system - whoever is the next to touch that door handle or cash point or phone and THEY will be the poor things who get ill

it is proven beyond doubt that handwashing STOPS THE PASSING ON OF GERMS TO OTHERS

so in short, you non- washers are plain selfish

I never cease to be at the number of people coming out of the visitors loos in the hospital and not washing, despite all the warnings and publicity, its outrageous

Sit them down and tell them about threadworms, at length.
www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/pinworm.htm

Point out how incredibly embarrassing it is as a childless woman to have to go to the pharmacist and get medication. I found it pretty horrendous, and as I am a diligent handwasher, after working in labs, I would guess I got them from some foul person handling my food. [sick face]

again to non-washers - would you approve of the nurse looking after your prem baby in SCBU not washing hands after a wee?

or the care assistant feeding your elderly nan her dinner?

bleurgh!!

at people admitting you don't wash your hands after the toilet.

Perpetually, you make a very good point about living with consideration for others and not in an unthinking 'bubble'. no, i would not be happy for the care assistant to feed my nan dinner or the nurse in scbu to care for my prem baby having not washed their hands post wee. I try to live by the creed 'do unto others as you'd have them do to you' so thanks for the admonishment and i promise i'm going to amend my ways.