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AIBU?

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Original poster

Washing hands after nappy change - MIL thread, sorry

528 replies

StarlingMurmuration · 15/07/2015 17:58

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.

OP posts:
Lashalicious · 17/07/2015 21:20

That is disgusting. Always wash your hands after going to the bathroom, or changing a diaper, cleaning up after pets, taking out the trash, etc., and before meals.

I've taught my son to wash his hands when he comes home from school or when we've been out and about, especially in the winter when there are colds and flu going around.

It's disturbing to find that many don't do this! I think I'm disciplined about it because first of all, I get grossed out easily, and secondly, I loved those primary readers when I was little, those books of stories of day to day life that teach manners, hygiene, routines, and basic introductory information about the "world around us" is that sad?

Also, as I tell my son, there are many occasions to meet and greet people, and it is nice to shake hands with them with clean hands and fingernails. Just like brushing and flossing at night, in my opinion, it is not negotiable :-)

Primafacie · 17/07/2015 21:48

This thread is amusing - up to a point.

To all the non-washers who CBA, and seem to be unaware that germs can be harmful, and can kill you and others, you're a bunch of fucking morons.

I'm sorry if that's a bit direct, but one of my closest friends died six weeks ago from septic shock after catching a hospital infection. She was 45 and immunosuppressed (due to chemo). Maybe it was you, with your dirty hands, that killed her?

Original poster
StarlingMurmuration · 17/07/2015 21:56

Prima Flowers

OP posts:
Primafacie · 17/07/2015 22:00

Thank you Starling :(

shoppingbagsundereyes · 17/07/2015 22:06

When mine were in nappies I started off washing with soap after every nappy change. I ended up with red raw hands. I soon changed to washing with soap for pooey nappies and just with warm water for wet ones. Can't imagine not washing at all and then picking up the baby or eating!

Lashalicious · 17/07/2015 22:10

I'm sorry to hear that, Prima. Sad

TheRealAmyLee · 17/07/2015 22:15

So sad prima. Flowers

In our house we wash hands: after using the toilet, after nappy changes, after cleaning animals, after taking out bins and before touching food. Obviously also when they are dirty eg kids playing in mud etc.

I thought this was common sense in order to avoid infections? As a household we don't get as many stomach bugs as many others seem to so I'd say it works as an idea...

Corabell · 17/07/2015 22:49

This thread makes me despair for humanity. Hand washing is just a basic courtesy to others - I don't want to come into contact with your feces, you bunch of clarty mingers.

Sootgremlin · 17/07/2015 22:54

Yes, the reason cash has all sorts on it is because people don't wash their hands, it's not printed with urine on it!

HaveIGotViewsForYou · 17/07/2015 23:50

Why not the same disgust around pets?

Canyouforgiveher · 17/07/2015 23:58

Why not the same disgust around pets?

I grew up with dogs and was taught to wash my hands after touching them.

I really don't understand the constant stream of justification on this thread (coins/dogs/computer keyboards) So what if there are other areas that require handwashing. It still doesn't justify not washing your hands after touching shit. I thought that was fairly baseline hygiene. I was wrong.

Sootgremlin · 18/07/2015 08:03

Yes exactly, shit is the origin of most hygiene issues, I used to wash my hands after touching my dog or dealing with its poo too, what's the point?

It's not either or. People aren't going to suddenly say, "yes I suppose I shouldn't wash my hands after changing a nappy, because I do let my dog shit in my bed, might as well let it all go to hell"

Or "did that dog wash his paws before it made my sandwich?"

shoppingbagsundereyes · 18/07/2015 10:57

Re picking up packaged nappy and putting it in the bin, of course I would wash my hands afterwards because I wash my hands if I've touched a bin lid. Here we wash hands after playing in the garden, touching animals or bins and before preparing food. We don't often wash them before eating as on the whole we're pretty good with other hand washing. Don't think it's over the top to keep clean, none of us are obsessive or nervous about being dirty.

SolasEile · 18/07/2015 16:27

Ugh. Disgusting to think that there are people out there who don't wash their hands with soap and water after changing a dirty nappy or going to the toilet. Haven't you people ever heard of cholera or dysentery or even just plain old e.Coli poisoning?

Hearing about things like this makes me want to wash my hands every time I handle cash or touch a door handle in public. I would have that 'wash hands after handling shit' is basic hygiene for civilized people but clearly not. Envy (Sick face)

Hopezibah · 18/07/2015 17:41

What kind of example are we setting to our kids as they grow up if we don't wash hands. We always wash hands after nappy changes, using the loo, and before eating - ALWAYS. If there's any risk of the baby touching the nappy area then their hands should be cleaned after nappy changes too.

Germs spread so rapidly and easily that we should do everything we can to minimise them spreading (lots of funny you tube videos showing cartoons of germ division - got my kids washing their hands every time). Even if person not washing their hands doesn't get ill often, think about all the door handles, light switches etc they will be touching that others can then touch and when out and about it's important to remember that they may be coming into contact with others who have suppressed immune systems eg children undergoing chemo etc and elderly.

Hand gel used only when out and about and can't get to soap and water.

I'm really not paranoid about hygiene (my house is a tip) but when it comes to handwashing - it's really non-negotiable and the kids have learnt to be very happy to wash hands always too.

TowerRavenSeven · 18/07/2015 18:06

Diaper on doorstep? If it doesn't come from my own kid I'm not touching it! I'd get a shovel and pick it up and throw it in outside bin Then wash hands, of course.

I was at work once, I'm a merchandiser, and once ran across a dirty diaper left on a drinking fountain! I got someone that was employed there, they put on gloves then threw away diaper but now that I think about it they didn't clean water fountain!

To all you that work as nurses and don't wash, honestly shame on you. Your laziness is only surpassed by your indifference.

SophiePendragon · 18/07/2015 20:49

The nappy on the doorstep thing...

I think this may be at the heart of it.

People are comfortable only with their own germs.

So handling their own child's nappy - no problem - it's only poo, it's from my child, I'm probably immune to anything he/she is carrying already (not necessarily)

Some stranger's nappy - ahemm. Not so much? You don't know where it's been, who has touched it, what germs it might carry, how long it has been left for. It's foreign waste.

I guess in a way that is natural.

But the problem is, when you don't exercise hygiene in your own home, you're then handling things other people will touch/eat - like money, or door handles, food, or kitchen implements etc and they may not be so fortunate especially if they are visitors and not part of your family, or if you are going outside your own home and into a public space and touching things there.

That is the main issue. No one cares if you want to infect yourself or risk being immune to your family's germs. It's when you enforce that risk on everyone else that it becomes a social issue. And I think you'll find, those of you who are happy non hand washers yet baulk at the thought of handling a stranger's nappy - that it's because it's not your germs you're touching.

And that is how the rest of us feel about yours.

HaveIGotViewsForYou · 19/07/2015 18:33

Doorstep nappies, yes - I have only ever changed my own babies' nappies - I can not bring myself to offer to change another child's nappy. The thought makes me nauseous.

Back to the pets issue - sure, I wasn't saying pets are filthy we may as well not bother with hygiene after toileting ourselves/changing nappies. I was wondering why, on the countless threads about dogs and cats, people aren't raising the point about how unhygienic pet ownership is. Cats and dogs lick their genitals/bums, eat their own shit/the shit of other animals - puke too, then lick their fur. Then they roam all over your house - touching your walls, your bed, your sofa. Sometimes they lick humans. Ewww. All your house is covered in poo. Why is there not the same disgust? It's worse than people not washing their hands after dealing with a nappy.

BringMeTea · 19/07/2015 19:20

Wowsers! This thread is a eyeopener and no mistake! So so shocked at people's lack of hygiene. And then teachers are being criticized on another thread for not wanting to eat homemade gifts... Yuck.

SophiePendragon · 19/07/2015 19:41

Well you could argue that factory produced food is potentially the same. So much depends on peoples willingness to abide by the rules.

Original poster
StarlingMurmuration · 19/07/2015 20:02

Sophie, when I was at university, several of my (male, as it happens) friend worked in a sandwich factory over the summer, making butties for supermarkets etc. They said that everyone, themselves included, regularly put bogeys in the sandwiches. So that's deliberate disgustingness, quite aside from failing to wash hands! I stopped eating ready made sandwiches after that!

OP posts:
SophiePendragon · 19/07/2015 20:25

I wish I did not know that. oh dear.

GoodbyeToAllOfThat · 20/07/2015 10:45

I was wondering why, on the countless threads about dogs and cats, people aren't raising the point about how unhygienic pet ownership is.

I don't have a dog but I "borrow" a dog several times a week (from a dog borrowing website).

For the sake of sanity, I have to relax my hygiene standards when I have a dog in the house. I love dogs, but they are disgusting. It's a compromise that you make for the love of a dog.

The aim is to sensibly eliminate harmful germs where you can. Not eliminate.

gamerchick · 20/07/2015 11:27

Ah man I wish I didn't know that. Never buying a sarnie again. I won't buy pizzas made on site at asda after working there for a couple of years.

Ignorance is bliss man Grin

VixxFace · 20/07/2015 11:32

Was at my friends yesterday she changed her new born wet nappy, then changed his pooey nappy ten mins later. Her 1 year old then woke up and she changed his pooey nappy. She didn't wash her hands. I know she's busy but I will never accept food from her now.