to not want my 3yo to go to a petting farm without me

[pianointhedark]

DD is 3.2. Her preschool are doing a trip to a petting farm, which I feel reluctant to let her go on.

My main concern is hygiene. With the best will in the world the staff cannot be watching all the children all the time, and obviously it would only take a moment for her hand to go into her mouth before it had been washed. Obviously I could impress upon her not to do that, but she's only 3 and I can't expect her to understand why or remember.

I did ask whether they needed any parent helpers, but the answer was no. I then told a little white lie - that DD can be wary of animals and for that reason I would prefer to be with her, but again the answer was no - apparently they can't allow one parent to go because then all will want to go and they're sure DD will be fine.

AIBU to not want her to go? Sometimes I worry that I am being overly PFB and would appreciate some MN perspective.

Very PFB.

The ratio doesn't need to be 1:1 to ensure they don't put their hands in their mouths before washing them, even if it does happen its not the end of the world.

I've taken my 4 DCs to places like that by myself ad managed to get their hands washed before they put them in their mouths.

Let her go she'll have a great time.

If you're really bothered then buy her some hand sanitiser gel to take and how her how to use it.

Backs away from the thread into the real world.

Lots of you have asked what I'm worried about - E coli. As Greenandcabbagelooking has said, people can die from it.

Those suggesting I volunteer to go, as I said in my OP, I did. Lynniep I find it baffling too, surely they would welcome more help?!

Don't be a meanie!! Let her go and have fun!!

I don't even know why a 3 year old would want to put her hand in her mouth after stroking/feeding animals??

And even if she did, I'm sure she'd only do it once

Why don't you ask the nursery what the ratios will be? They will have done a detailed risk assessment and probably have done this kind of trip before so will have planned in hand washing etc.

In the nicest possible way, I do think you are being rather PFB about it. We would never have been able to take our 3 dcs to places like farms if we had adhered to your ratios you know I used to take all 3 with just me and somehow they have all survived the experience.

Honestly, what's the worst that will happen if she pets a lamb and then sticks her hand in her mouth? Her hair will curl, she'll start baaaing?

Greenandcabbge - is posting scare stories really helpful? Your more likely to be in a crash on the way there or run over coming off the coach etc. then the situations you post. The risk is minuscule. Children get dirty, they lick dogs (or cows lol) and eat worms. It's disgusting and unhygienic but completely normal and in the VAST majority of cases does them no harm whatsoever! In fact I remember reading how a too clean environment is actually worse for health in the long run (at least it's what I tell myself when I don't want to clean).

'Those suggesting I volunteer to go, as I said in my OP, I did. Lynniep I find it baffling too, surely they would welcome more help?!'

Maybe they suspect that you might, ummm, subdue the goodtimes.

Think your being overprotective sorry. My DS went through a stage of licking shoes. No matter how much we tried to stop him as soon as your back was turned he had a shoe in his mouth. He's still alive and it did him no harm.

The nursery will be considering hygiene and they will be getting the little ones to wash their hands, yes it's easy for a little one to put their hand in their mouth and like you said it only takes a second but it's very very very unlikely to cause her any problem even if she does. Humans have a pretty amazing immune system.

@ squoosh

It would be like a real life 'TeenWolf' scenario

experts have actually suggested that children under the age of 5 shouldn't visit petting farms due to the risks

Maybe I am being PFB, but I don't think I want to risk her health.

Not sure why my phone is repeating posts, sorry!

There are lots of things people can die from, unless you live in a sterile bubble then you can't avoid everything and will make yourself ill worrying.

Ask the pre school to see their risk assessment.

experts have actually suggested that children under the age of 5 shouldn't visit petting farms due to the risks

Which 'experts' would these be?

Flipping heck, how many millions of under 5's visit petting farms each year, and now many of them come to harm.

Very pfb, and really quite sad.

I really think you should talk to the nursery properly.

Maybe show them these recommendations for keeping safe during a farm visit and ask them how they are going to ensure that they follow the guidelines.

Bah, I have to go on my DS's preschool trip to the petting farm. I won't be spending much time leaping on him to make sure his hands don't go in his mouth, I'll count myself lucky if he doesn't lick the llamas.

If it is really worrying you, don't send her on the trip.

Sorry I also think YABU.

If there were issues with these farms don't you think people would here about it?

A bit pfb I think. Would you come up with a reson for your DC to not go on the next trip?

That 'expert' is one microbiologist who clearly has no understanding of the real world. Should children under 5 not eat red meat or have pets in the home either?

His expert opinion has been disputed many times. Andrew Wakefield is proof that experts blow things out of proportion.

I'm baffled by this btw - my nursery are having a day out at a local farm this month and they are desperate for parent helpers -surely its to their benefit?

Well, to be honest, yes and no. I expect every parent who volunteers would want to be in their own child's group. That's when the problems start. It's often easier just to take enough staff to produce the right ratios. shoewhore is right - they will have done a risk assessment. You can ask to see it if you're really concerned.

And don't listen to whoever said just turn up. Really, don't!

What experts have said undet 5s shouldn't go to petting farms yes there is a tiny risk of e coli but she is more likely to get it fro mince than a lamb, op let her go get her w little packet of handwipes for het pocket and tell her to wipe her hands after stroking the lamb

Your dd is v v unlikely to die from e-coli from visiting a petting farm on a group trip. Most nurseries run such trips and everyone enjoys them and is fine. My boys occasionally did suck thumbs etc pre hand-washing on such outings and I'm not saying it's ideal but they never had any ill effects.

I think you just need to try and think what are the big risks and what are the tiny risks otherwise you will find it really hard to let your child be independent. Just let her go and enjoy some adult time yourself.

That would be highly regarded microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/6208921/E.coli-expert-says-young-children-must-avoid-farm-animals.html

Which 'experts' would these be?

Professor Hugh Pennington, the professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen and the UK's leading E. Coli expert

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6210888/Petting-farm-rules-reconsidered-after-E.Coli-cases.html

A few years out of date maybe and I don't know what the outcome was, but was considered a concern then for children under 5