Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 26/05/2011 12:13

It may come as a surprise but some children go to a very unsterile environment called S.C.H.O.O.L and they're still classed as parents Wink

Anyways, i'm yawning off this now, it's such a ridiculous thread it must be a wind up

valiumredhead · 26/05/2011 12:13

What do you think your child will catch from these dirty toys?

TheVisitor · 26/05/2011 12:14

If your child does not have good exposure to germs then they will not build up a good immunity to them and will be ill MORE often, not less. It's been medically proven that a sterile environment does a child no favours at all, and they are more likely to suffer from asthma, stomach bugs etc. Google it. My kids are pretty much proof of this too - we've only ever had a tummy bug in the house once in 12 years, and that was picked up in a hospital ward.

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 12:14

Well they could play with the toys but then at the end I would retrieve them and sterilise them. Alternatively I could only remove them from my bag one by one and only my child would play with them.

OP posts:
Hulababy · 26/05/2011 12:14

workinggally - how come you are suddenly deflected the thread' progress to how come some posters are online? Why is it relevant to your thread about toys?

QueenCee · 26/05/2011 12:14

Ummm... Why are you now worrying about peoples child care arrangements? Definately a wind up!

nepenthe3 · 26/05/2011 12:15

Oh dear. This seems very precious. There are germs everywhere. You would never leave the house if you dwelled on it too much. Some of the vile things that have ended up in my DC's mouths while my head has been turned for a moment would make you shudder if you're worried about a few toys at playgroup. Relax, enjoy your baby, and let them develop a healthy immune system with the help of a few grubby toys. Don't sweat the small stuff.

worraliberty · 26/05/2011 12:15

Poor kid how on earth will he learn to share if he has to have his own toys at playgroup..untouched by any other child? How mean is going to think you are for taking the other toys of him if he wants to play with them? Sad

You're going to raise him in a sanitised bubble..making him feel 'different' and a bit of an outcast when it comes to socialising.

I have a friend like you OP. Her son just stops dead in the middle of a game and holds his hands in the air if he gets a bit of dirt on them...waiting for Mummy to come along and wipe them. He actually gets distressed when he's eating and gets yoghurt on his hands.

Think long and hard about what you're likely to do to him socially and to his immune system which will never toughen up if you don't let him share germs.

valiumredhead · 26/05/2011 12:16

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, yes do it. and you will be forever known as "Little Johnny's mum, you know the nutter who takes her own toys to play group' Grin

GAG woman, seriously!

Hulababy · 26/05/2011 12:16

And yes, my child is currently at school and will be til nearly 4 o'clock. She will then no doubt be doing homework or playing, generally entertaining herself, or out playing with friends. I am currently at work, but have finished for the day and was just on phone checking emails and thought I;d give Mn a check before I leave properly, avoiding a suddenly downpour til I venture to my car. Is that fine?

Honeydragon · 26/05/2011 12:18

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.

Yes we are all gobshites who neglect their children and let them eat shit off the floor whilst we neglect them to go on Mumsnet.

Lucky you to have childcare to indulge in some light surfing.

You run into similar people at similar times, we all have different downtime - it's that simple. Smile

ForeverNamechanging · 26/05/2011 12:19

I to thought this was a swinger thread toy too.
In that case you would not be unreasonable to take your own toys and i would most definitely sterilise after play time

But as this threads is as real as Jordan's boobs i wont comment

worraliberty · 26/05/2011 12:19

My youngest two are at school and my elsest is at work - roofing.

It's ok, I've sanitised all the roof tiles incase the hod carrier forgot to wash his hands Grin

Original poster
workinggally · 26/05/2011 12:20

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?

No one likes my spoon question. And Hulababy I wasn't really thinking of you - it's just there's a few names on this thread who have appeared on pretty much every thread I've posted and I was just a bit surprised - that's all.

OP posts:
ForeverNamechanging · 26/05/2011 12:20

And my child is currently rolling on the floor with the cats tail in his mouth..Don't worry though i sterilise the cat twice weekly

noid · 26/05/2011 12:21

This thread has cheered me up. OP, do you want your child to have a healthy immune system. Why do you think that kids raised on farms are usually in robust health, whereas kids raised in a sterile bubble are the ones that go down with every bug going?

By the time a baby is old enough to reach for a toy and put it in his own mouth, they're old enough to give their immune systems a bit of a work-out.

My DC3 is just at the mouthing/dribbling stage. You'd faint if you came to our house, I think.

Witchofthenorth · 26/05/2011 12:22

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.

my DD is sitting on my knee while reading this thread and for what it's worth YABU, some germs from shared toys will do your child no harm, and I am always lurking on mumsnet.

Hulababy · 26/05/2011 12:23

workinggally - it doesn't really matter who you were thinking of though, We are all parents or parents to be here. Whilst most of us have children, not all have children with them 24 hours a day. I suepect that the parents who are on here all the time are not neglecting their children so that they can post. Your message did read like you were suggesting they might be!

Olivetti · 26/05/2011 12:23

This is definitely a wind up.

For some reason, I suddenly feel really sorry for your husband/partner. Are you this worried about germs in bed?! Grin

MrsSawyer · 26/05/2011 12:23

forevernamechanging, that, along with this insane thread, made me actually laugh out loud!

shortround · 26/05/2011 12:24

i think the other mothers would completely alianete you!

shortround · 26/05/2011 12:24

alienate!! (apologies)

Honeydragon · 26/05/2011 12:24

Forever how do you sterilise the cat? Dishwasher or Microwave? My Labrador needs doing you see, since dd attempted to eat baked beans off her.

SarahStratton · 26/05/2011 12:24

I think mine are too old for me to count as a SAHM. So I will just out myself as a lazy addict of Mumsnet. Who thinks exposure to everyday germs is necessary and usual.