Dishcloth Dilemma: AIBU to ask my mum not to wipe baby's face with a dishcloth?

[WednesdayRebel]

AIBU to ask my mum not to wipe baby's face with a dishcloth?

Let me start by saying that my mum is NOT what you'd call a germphobe. She genuinely believes in the beneficial properties of exposure to healthy doses of all sorts of grime. Builds the immunity and all that.

Now let me say that I don't disagree with her - to an extent. I'm aware of theories that suggest rising allergies and so on are the fault of us living in overly sterile environments. And my house is hardly pristine.

But one thing Mum's been doing is beyond my capacity to cope with. She uses her dishcloth from the sink, the same one she uses for doing the dishes, to wipe up ANYTHING around the kitchen/dining/living areas of the house. Off floors, tables, surfaces, whatever. And she has a dog. And a cat.

It's not what I'd do, but it doesn't bother me.

Until she insists on using the same dishcloth to wipe my baby's hands and FACE every time she eats.

Did I mention that she uses this same cloth to clean up dog spillages from the floor?

I recently asked her not to, then pointed out that she was still doing it after I'd asked her not to, and that this was upsetting both me and my husband.

She got all shirty, defensive and aggressive, and told me that she does some things out of habit and can't be expected to change. I've spoken to her a couple of times since and both times she's been really off.

So AIBU in asking her not to use the dirty dishcloth to wipe my baby's mouth with? Or am I being pedantic?

Dish cloth for dishes, and counters. A rag for spot cleaning the floor. No way food surfaces and floors should ever share a cloth, unless a dish cloth used to wipe the floor goes right to the laundry, or it then becomes the floor wiping cloth of the day, and a new dish cloth appears. I find it hard to comprehend an adult who cannot see the sense in this these days. My father's family thought my mother was just a bit precious for this, in 1963.

I would be as worried that using the dish cloth on baby would transfer the baby's germs to dishes and surfaces as the other way around. But if the floor, and pets, weren't involved, i could manage not to be overstressed. Much.

yanbu that's disgusting
germs are good but that's just unhygienic.

I use dishcloths/j-cloths to wipe, but they are boil washed and use new ones a few times a day

By "dog spillages" I don't mean wee or poo (dear god, I hope not) but spillages from the water or food bowl and muddy paw prints.

(No idea why the dog's bowls are kept inside)

Dishcloths are revolting slimy germ factories, I always throw them away when I encounter them at my parents' house or when DH uses one. I use a dish brush for dishes and paper towel for all other kitchen cleaning. I would go ballistic if my mum cleaned my baby's face with a used dish cloth of any kind.

YANBU

Get down to poundland/primark and buy a load of facecloths. Leave in a pile next to baby seat. Or a pack of baby wipes.

Deflection

No idea why I'd be disgusted by this; we have four cats and an idiot dog so I'm sure the DC's get their share of revolting germs but boak at the dishcloth.

I was bought some re-usable baby wipes to match the re-usable nappies we bought when DS2 was born. He began teething and his volcanic-acid-craps stained them all yellow and I felt a bit shit getting them out and wiping his chubby chops with them.

If you want another reason think about wiping your baby's face with a cloth with bleach and cleaning agents on it??! Mmmm nice I don't think. If the germs don't convince her use the chemical argument

I'm a slattern of the highest order but I wouldn't even accept a cuppa if she uses said minging cloth to wash up aswell as everything else off the floor. Shouldn't be near anything that goes into the mouth (including your child's fingers)

That is so unnecessarily unhygenic. Could you give your mum a clean wet j-cloth for wiping your DC? And a casual reminder that smearing germs around isn't a good idea?

If she argues invite her to suck the dirty cloth. You know, for the health benefits/nutrients or whatever.

YANBU. My mil used a dish cloth on ds's face. She only uses hers for dishes and surfaces but still it took every ounce of strength not to rip it out of her hands and use it on her face! Ds is a messy and fussy eater and she was doing it after every mouthful so even more pointless. I always have wipes available at the table and make a real point of cleaning him up after his meal.

YADNBU! My house is by no means a very clean one by anybody's standards, kids or no kids - but I do at least follow basic rules of hygiene with regard to separate cleaning cloths for dishes/surfaces/floors. I'm and at the very idea of using the same cloth for all three, never mind using it to wipe a baby's face too! Totally, totally disgusting and inexcusable.

YANBU! I'm picturing a damp dirty cloth with crumbs and animal hair stuck to it boak

That's f*cking disgusting, YANBU

I don't wipe the floor with my dishcloth and neither is it some minging thing that has hung around since the Relief of Mafeking. Instead, it is a regularly replaced and very clean J-cloth. But for all that, I wouldn't be wiping a baby's face with it because I doubt that even small traces of anti-bacterial kitchen spray are good for sensitive baby skin!

At least she isn't giving your child a spit wash though. Something I still can't believe that my otherwise fastidiously clean mother did!!

YANBU! I'm of the 'kids need dirt' train of thought but that is fucking gross.

when you're old and need looking after, ill be sure to wipe your mouth with that dishcloth.

This is what I tell DH when he does the same thing.

We do have dedicated flannel wipes fir hands and faces but he just grabs the dishcloth anyway.

You will need to have face cloths at the table at mealtimes to break this habit.

YANBU. It's not usual to wash your face with the same cloth you use to wipe the kitchen worktops. So why should you wash a baby's face with that cloth.