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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:
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.

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. :(

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.

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:
BluddyMoFo · 26/05/2011 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 12:01

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

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.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 12:02

Imagine you were at someone's house and they used a spoon, licked it clean, then gave it to you to use. Would you mind, would you be happy?

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

I absolutely agree!

I solved this by taking a packet of antiseptic wipes and discreetly wiping the toys before my dc touched them. I'd also wipe their hands and mouths before and after too.

Dancergirl · 26/05/2011 12:04

OP - even if you do decide to take your own toys (mad):

a) you would be laughed at, and
b) all the other babies would play/bite/chew/slobber over them

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 12:05

I am not saying that by cleaning toys/ taking my own I can eliminate germs but surely eliminating some is better than eliminating none?

OP posts:
Hullygully · 26/05/2011 12:05

Another thing you could do is always offer to make the teas/coffees, then you can quickly pop the teddy toys in some boiling water while no one's looking.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 26/05/2011 12:06

Oh my dear lord, op kids need exposure to germs to build up their immune system, my niece and nephews mum has an attitude similar to yours and her kids are constantly ill. (they're 12 and 9 now and she's still constantly wiping things, it drives me potty)

OTOH, my two frequently had snails for breakfast and very rarely pick anything up

Laquitar · 26/05/2011 12:06

How are you going to do it? Will you tell him every 2 minutes 'NO, NO dont touch that one! Here, this is the one you are allowed to touch!'

SarahStratton · 26/05/2011 12:07

Please, could someone else confess they also opened this expecting it to be a swingers thread Confused

squeakytoy · 26/05/2011 12:08

Imagine you were at someone's house and they used a spoon, licked it clean, then gave it to you to use. Would you mind, would you be happy?

If it was a close friend, relative, then no it wouldnt actually bother me. I have never been precious about germs... and in 42 years have only had food poisoning twice, and never had flu.

Havent had a cold for about 3 years, and am rarely ill.

The only time I wash my hands is after going to the loo.

If someone has a compromise immune system which make them more susceptible to catching illnesses, then fair enough if they are more fastidious, but generally, if you are healthy then germs will not harm you.

We live in a society obsessed by everything being sterile, and companies exploiting this by flogging more and more products to the gullible.

QueenCee · 26/05/2011 12:08

Actually no... Germs are good! Improves their immune system.
I do think this is a wind up though. Forming your own sterile play group... That Is utterly bonkers!
My 7 month old DD is licking the carpet as I write this... A favorite past time of hers and she has never been ill... Weird yes, Ill no!!!

Laquitar · 26/05/2011 12:09

Grin Sarah

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 12:11

are some people always on mumsnet? just some people seem to always appear on my threads and I'm surprised. do they post constantly using iphones? what is happening to their children at these times? I have a relative to care for my child at the moment.

OP posts:
Grabaspoon · 26/05/2011 12:11

I understand the hygiene issue and am lucky enough that the groups I use do clean the toys regularly.

The issue with taking your own toys are

  • having to share with the other children
  • forgetting toys when you leave
  • being seen as neurotic
  • arguments as children think they can play etc
  • the start of everyone bringing only their toys and the children only being allowed to play with their own toys etc (I know this won't happen but where does it end?)

Could you try out a different toddler group, discuss with the group leader and maybe take on a part ie putting a box of baby toys through the dishwasher at home etc

Pandemoniaa · 26/05/2011 12:12

Please let this be a wind up.

If not, please don't leave the house until your pfb leaves for university. It's a dangerously germy world out there. I mean some of us share the same air, ffs!!!

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 12:12

Imagine you were at someone's house and they used a spoon, licked it clean, then gave it to you to use. Would you mind, would you be happy?

Everyone else happy as well?

OP posts:
Hulababy · 26/05/2011 12:12

How would you stop the other children wanting your DC's toys?

SuePurblybilt · 26/05/2011 12:13

Grin. Is it another hun invasion? Or does Matthew Wright want to be able to say that Mnetters want their babies to eat germs?

Longtalljosie · 26/05/2011 12:13

I remember my local children's centre telling me that they washed all the chewy toys after every playgroup. I don't know how it came up, I certainly didn't ask!

So I do think once a month is a bit minging. But in general, babies swapping toys is all good immune-system-boosting stuff...

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