To be livid about hand hygiene offence?

[Yummymummy2020]

To cut it short but rant. Partners family taking offence at being asked to use hand sanitiser or wash hands before handling our new baby. Particular offence taken at asking the children to use it. I know I’m not unreasonable wanting hand hygiene to be followed before touching our new born, but I feel like really distancing myself from them over this. It’s not just about the corona virus I’m concerned about the baby picking up anything as they are so young. To add to this, certain members are living with a currently sick person which I feel makes it even more crucial to ensure their hands are clean. Would it be really unreasonable to just keep away until the baby has their vaccinations? I know this won’t solve colds/flu but at least the child can have calpol if they do get sick. I’m also annoyed for being called odd by them for wanting them to make sure to use the gel or wash their hands. I have the gel by the way I’m not demanding anyone track it down. I’m livid right now so don’t want to say/ act on anything in haste!

What on earth do you think people did before they were invented?

Died more often.

In any event, babies need contact with viruses etc to build resistance

When they're very young, the risk is higher than the reward.

Loving the appropriateness of your name on this, AmateurDad.

Babies aren’t given vaccines until 8 weeks for a reason. Newborn do not have the immune system to fight off viruses. Exposure to small amounts of bacteria is fine. Exposure to a virus that would barely register with you can hospitalise a newborn, or worse.

This has been explained many times in that thread, as has the fact that OP’s daughter is a preemie who spent time in nicu.

Given that this is what you believe, did you knowingly expose your newborn to illnesses?

What on earth do you think people did before they were invented?

Walk around a churchyard some time. You might find out something.

Actually, scratch that. Have a think about what happens today in places where they don't have our infrastrucure (domestic clean water supply).

academic.oup.com/jid/article/219/3/358/5085227

I feel the need to say it doesn't matter that the OP didn't mention NICU in the first post. My full term, 11lb at birth baby still caught a bronciolitis and nearly died at 4 weeks because a virus was brought into the house.

I was on a children's ward with my sick, two-week-old DD and the tiny ones with bronchiolitis and whooping cough were desperately sick and mostly too young for vaccinations.

I don't understand anyone who thinks we should be casual about exposing newborns, healthy or not, to random bacteria and viruses brought into the house on unwashed hands. I can't help thinking some people must be taking better care of their floorcoverings than their babies! I bet they'd have no hesitation in asking visitors to wipe their feet on the mat. What's more important?

Well all those who said YABU or asked if this was your 1st ext and you are being precious or the BS Line that "they need ti build immunity somehow" look like absolute idiots now don't they.

OP well done for standing your ground.

YABU.

I wonder if @knowmenclature has started washing her grubby paws finally.

Thanks everyone on this thread who pooh poohed hand washing. Look where we’re at because you grubby fuckers couldn’t keep your hands clean. Nice.

Thanks everyone on this thread who pooh poohed hand washing. Look where we’re at because you grubby fuckers couldn’t keep your hands clean. Nice.

Yup. Filthy buggers.

Gotta love how MNetters are trawling the site for old threads just so they can say 'told you so'