Washing hands after nappy change - MIL thread, sorry

[StarlingMurmuration]

My PIL are staying with us at the moment to look after DS, after I have had an operation. I appreciate is is very generous and lovely of them, and I am grateful.

However, MIL isn't washing her hands after pooey nappy changes. AIBU to be bothered by this? How can I get her to do this without basically implying she's being disgusting? We do have hand sanitizer at the nappy change station, but I found she as using that BEFORE she changed his nappy instead of after! DS is 8 months old, just for info, and my operation means I can't lift or carry him, or bend over/ kneel down, so I can't do it myself at the moment.

Mewling I think you've killed the thread No one's going to admit to not hand washing after changing nappies after you've pointed out that there's gangrene causing bugs in a baby's poo!

I also let the cat sleep on the bed....!

I don't worry about washing my hands every time I stroke a family pet but I would wash them after changing it's nappy.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut there are family pets which wear nappies?

Success! The HV has been and gone, she told them there's been a few babies with d&v in her patch this week and that we should all be careful to wash hands after nappy changing - he did a poo just after she left and MIL washed her hands!

Hurrah starling! You can stop thinking about gangrene

I am horrified by the casual attitude of all those non hand washers. As long as they aren't getting ill it's ok to not wash.

I had chemotherapy some years ago and my immune system was zilch for many months. I was encouraged to go out as much as possible. All those who don't wash their hands would be spreading god knows what over door handles, PIN machines etc. lots of people have compromised immune systems for all sorts of reasons.

Other People may well have become ill because of germs you non hand washers pass around, but you would be clueless. Just because you are ok doesn't mean it is acceptable in any way.

YANBU. I find it tricky to use the faucet to properly scrub my hands, after finishing the change and picking up the squirmy baby. So I use a new wipe, scrub my hands with it, use said wipe to pick up nappy, and drop it in the bin. Much easier than fussing with the faucet.

Glad the HV sorted it out!

Oh. My. Goodness! are you guys actually serious?! Now it is clear why there are so many children needing to be taught how to wash their hands after toileting by their teachers! shame on you. Too gross .

'toileting'?! are we in a novel?

This is disgusting. And it does cause illnesses.

I went out with a bunch of mothers and babies once (and my own baby) and I watched one of them change her baby's dirty nappy in the middle of the picnic rug amongst the food. Then she didn't wash her hands. I didn't eat a thing all day and over the coming months I noticed that it was always her and her family who were coming down with D & V. people who are casual about hand washing where nappies are concerned are disgusting and selfish and they do get bugs and they will spread them. Get a grip FFS.

Omg!! I always new I am a bit OCD - Not only washed my hands but used sanitizer afterwards too just to b extra sure.

Genuinely shocked how many people don't wash their hands after.
And your openly admitting it too. ????
No play dates for my lg that's just erggghh.
Each to their own, I knew there was a reason I carry hand sanitiser; could explain the poop on shopping trolleys. ????

as if people don't wash their hands after a nappy change!
Wash your hands you dirty buggers!

Think you'd all be shocked if you met the nurse in charge of infection control at the NHS Trust I work at. His top tip for IC, if you're in a situation away from a sink/soap? Baby wipes. He says you only need to use hot water & soap if your hands are visibly soiled.

Just putting that out there...

''Cakes made by small kids as a fun activity should for eating by victims family members and themselves only.''

This post made me straight away think of cooking lessons at primary.

• Yes, we always made the children wash their hands before starting (but 'proper' hospital hand washing? .. hmm, i can't hand on heart say that it was)

• Yes we told the children - not to suck their or other children's spoons and equipment,

• not to re use anything which had fallen on the floor,

• not to cough/sneeze/dribble or drag their hair into the mixing bowls,

• not to pick noses or put hands in pants while the cooking lesson is going on ...

We did our best.

Surffice to say, i perfected the art of pretending to eat any little offerings from the class at the end of the day, not to hurt any young feelings

mummy are you seriously not letting your DD have playdates because some people don't wash their hands?!?! Did I read that right?

am sure thread has moved on, but whilst its not pleasant its not something i would stress about. and post on first page re polio vaccine was great idea.

didge I am a big hand washer and certainly around new borns, the elderly and people like you with compromised immune systems.

But I still think you can go too far with it all. Be too OTT about it and I find people stress maddly about one thing like this - the nappy change and then find out...they happily, use an old sponge, sat by the kitchen sink ( in a pool of water dirty and old) and wipe cups and plates with this harbinger of germs and think they are massivly clean.

I have seen this a few times and felt very vindicated on one of these cleaning programs when it said THE MOST potent thing in house is THAT SPONGE.

I just think an open and balanced approach to it all. And make sure your sponges are washed - boiled or replaced every week. Oh, and wash under running water.

I've never given hand washing a thought as it always comes as second nature. When I have to change DS somewhere without running water, I always use a baby wipe then sanitiser after. Glad your MIL washed after HV visit, hopefully she'll do it every time now. Hope you get better soon

"it's the soap that saves you and not some mythical resistance built up by embracing germs."

THIS THIS THIS

"felt very vindicated on one of these cleaning programs"

Those silly programmes have a completely different frame of reference from real day to day hygiene that guards against common bugs - basic common colds and tummy bugs that are 10 a penny. They're about the cosmetic effects of looking like you are a good housewife, not about simple things that everyone should do to keep germs away from their faces and mouths. And they're sensationalist and silly.

I bet the people on here who don't wash hands have air fresheners, spray polish a go go and have pointlessly chemical stinking houses, with clothes worn once thrown in the washing machine with fabric conditioner. People like that have demented priorities.

I am disgusted by this thread but I have to admit I already don't really like buying cakes at cake sales. I also don't like eating at MIL's house because she picks up her little dog and cuddles it with one hand under its bum and the other hand being licked, and never ever washes her hands

I don't normally post on MN - just lurk - but I wanted to share a 'nappy' story of my own from several years back. DD then aged about 8 was admitted to children's ward with dehydration following a d&v bug picked up at school. In the middle of the night, her drip became disconnected, and the alarm went off. The nurse finished changing the smelly nappy of a sick, fretful baby opposite, then walked straight over, reattached the drip and sailed away to the nurses' station. I was bleary-eyed at my daughter's bedside watching this - as if in slow motion. Behind her was a notice saying 'Wash your hands', over an unused sink.

Why didn't I say 'For God's sake, aren't you going to wash your nappy hands before touching my daughter's sterile drip?'. I didn't, and I sat there in agony for hours, feeling a total mouse-like failure. Fortunately luck was on our side, and no damage was done. I have looked at hospital infection rates with a jaundiced eye ever since.

Who washes their mattress here on a regular basis? I mean, proper steam clean/disinfect every week or so.

How many people wash their handbags every week?

I hope you wash your hands after tying up your shoe laces too.

Do you disinfect your TV remote often?

I hope you've been cleanign your mobile phones/tablets/laptops too!

Do you disinfect your toothbrush after every use?

I feel a bit queasy having read some of all this.
I'm not hugely hygiene conscious, but hand washing after changing a shitty nappy would be fairly basic IMO.

Glad you got it sorted in a tactful fashion op.
I once managed to offend my bil by being aghast at him changing a massive, stinking, messy poo of Dneice's, then immediately feeding her some purée without washing. He pretty much told me to fuck off, then washed his hands. I doubt he's changed his ways, just thinks I'm a big pita