AIBU about in laws, hygiene and baby?

[Losgann]

We are currently visiting my in laws with our 6 month old, we arrived yesterday. Since then I have noticed that they will prepare food, including raw meat, and not wash their hands. Obviously as his grandparents they want to hold him and touch my baby's face and hands. I am really worried they may make him ill but I have had a lot of issues with severe prenatal anxiety and OCD and so I'm not always sure if my fears are rational. My husband tends to see all my hygiene fears as irrational in light of the anxiety/OCD so I want to know if I'm unreasonable to worry or if I should be asking them to wash their hands??

Even if you didn't have a 6 month old I'd expect them to wash their hands after touching raw meat. You would not be unreasonable to politely ask them to wash their hands between preparing raw meat and touching your baby.

YANBU. Don't be afraid to tell them. Your job is to protect your child. Blame it on you being overly hygienic if you want but dont let them touch without washing their hands.

You are not being unreasonable! Food poisoning could easily kill a baby. Our in laws are actually really dirty in general like not washing hands after using the toilet, so I just asked them to wash their hands before touching him in general being as they couldn't be trusted (mil did the raw meat thing too and wiped her hands on a tea towel). They were a bit off about it but I didn't really care.

That’s gross before you even bring a six month old baby into the equation. Then it’s also potentially very dangerous.
So no YANBU.

Thank you! Glad I'm not being OTT...have said something now!

Raw meat, bleugh! I wash my hands going to and from raw meat, whenever I'm frequently interrupted!

What did you say op??

ohshitonit just reminded them to wash hands before touching the baby while they were cooking. They looked a bit baffled by me asking but have done it at least!

I was all ready to come on and say YABU as these threads can usually be a bit OTT

But YANBU! That’s gross. They should wash hands even if you didn’t have a baby there!

It this was a minor hygiene thing then yabu.

But

YANBU!!! Not washing hands after touching raw meat is a massive health concern!!

I contracted salmonella when I was six years and was in hospital for months and months.

It is a concern for anyone; especially a child so small!

I think you'll have to say something to them.

Oh sorry! Just seen that you have mentioned it to them!

Well done OP

I had this problem with my granny. First I tried asking nicely, then I bought a pump pack of germ-killing soap for next to the kitchen sink.

Nope, there was no reversing the habits of a lifetime. So every time I passed the kitchen I’d quickly & secretly spray aerosol hand sanitizer on the taps, cupboard handles, fridge, rubbish bin, everywhere. So everywhere her hands went, they hit a clean surface. Even though she was flinging raw chicken around like you would not believe.

That’ll make you feel a lot less fussy, right there!

It did work though, sanitising by stealth!

Haha skittles good work! They have been a lot better past couple of days thankfully, have been able to relax a bit now.