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!

I asked people to was hands and she is 2 now and has plenty of bugs from nursery so is developing her immune system fine thanks. Ignore the huffing and puffing. I'd do the same with any subsequent new borns and wash my hands before handling other babies. We should all wash our hands more generally anyway.

@skidley It makes no sense to be more worried about corona, which has only a few cases in the UK, but not about colds, flu, herpes, whooping cough etc which are far more prevalent and can kill a baby.

The only difference is media hype.

DB is in hospital and even now visitors don't use it . It is on the wall as you come in.

It's so interesting reading this thread. I'm in Korea and people wouldn't think twice about washing their hands before touching a baby here, it's just standard practice. I'm surprised it's not like that in the UK really. You really do not need to build a newborn's immune system, that comes later. Quite shocked by the ignorance to be honest.

For me, washing your hands as soon as you come into the house is just normal. I'm far from an obsessively clean person, but when you've been touching money, door handles, your face, other people's hands, stuff in the supermarket or whatever, it just makes sense to clean all that off you.

I read today that only 30% of people wash their hands after using the toilet. Those 70% of filthy bastards are touching the same stuff you are...no thanks. I'll take my chances on wasting 20 seconds of my time to be clean.

Come in to the ward, I meant to say.

I never asked people to do this with my baby and he's never had more than a snotty nose. I think it's totally fine to ask them but I do think you have to accept that they may not want to use the gel on their children. I wouldn't like that either.

To clarify I'd happily wash my children's hands but am not keen on the gels

DB is in hospital and even now visitors don't use it . It is on the wall as you come in.

I think a lot of people just assume these are empty. As they often are. I always use them if I'm visiting someone, or try to use them, but I think that human nature is such that if you try them a couple of times and find them to be empty, most people won't bother next time.

if I am holding someone’s newborn then out of respect I would wash my hands. Not even negotiable.

Loveislovely you enjoy your media hype over COVID19 in a few weeks time. Of course it’s just the Flu...... good luck with that one 👀😷

YANBU

Another intensive care baby here with CLD just to top it off.

No one touched him without washing there hands, I had a stand off on my doorstep with the HV over it lucky the community paediatric nurse turned up and basically told her to stop being a twit.

Even none prems or babies with no underlying conditions I still sanitise. I thought it was normal?

He's my 5th so certainly no PFB'ism.

@Wehttam I think you misread my message.

As I said, I'm in Korea. I'm perfectly aware of how serious coronavirus is - I know several people who have been infected and we haven't been outside unless necessary in weeks.

But it is pointless to worry about one specific illness when not worrying about all the others that can be spread to newborns.

I have a friend whose baby was premature and spent time in SCBU. When they were discharged they were told by the paediatrician they didn’t need to sterilise etc as being in a sterile environment constantly can be detrimental to a baby’s ability to develop a immunity.

In general it is those who live in the most sanitised environments who are the sickest, because they over-protect themselves and don’t develop any kind of resistance.

As for corrona, in time people will develop their own immunity to it as they come into contact with people who have it or have been close to it. Not deliberately obviously, but it stands to reason that if you come into contact with a small amount of the virus your body will develop immunity accordingly, hence why vaccinations are a thing.

Its such a little thing isn't it , hand washing, takes so little time and if it helps to protect your tiny infant, why on earth would anybody object ? Especially when all your visitors are aware that the tiny infant has been so poorly. Weird thing to get huffy about.

@AlternativePerspective Washing your hands is hardly living in a sterile environment...

Your baby, your rules.

Handwashing does not equal a sterile environment.

I very, very much doubt the paediatrician went on to advise against handwashing post-discharge.

If someone has a contagious illness or has been caring for someone who has then I think they should definitely delay their visit.
But generally I think it is OTT to ask everyone to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer before touching a baby.

I have 4 DCs and never asked anyone to wash their hands before holding or touching mine, they all survived even when my oldest 3 had impetigo when youngest was born so that was a juggling act but thankfully DC4 never caught it. I think you are being a bit precious but it's your child so ultimately you get to decide.

@iano I’m sorry if I gave the impression that I only want people using the gel, I genuinely am one hundred percent happy with hand washing, it’s just many people prefer the gel for convenience and so that’s why it’s offered but soap and water is fine too! Honestly with the current shortage on hand gel I would rather keep it for myself if I’m out and about with baby anyway because it is great if you are in the shops ect and have to handle a soother or the likes of it. Unfortunately I neglected to put in my original post we had a nicu baby and were told to ensure people washed hands, this is lost in translation as the thread has been so busy but I did try to add it in a few times in previous comments just I’m not able to edit my original post and because so many people took the time to comment I didn’t want to delete it either. I won’t be as concerned forever and won’t take issue to germs later on the way I am now, but it’s literally just the baby is so tiny and was so sick that with all the colds and flu going around it doesn’t seem too unreasonable to want hands washed or use gel whichever suits the particular person.

@frumpety I agree too, it’s a easy thing to do and can make such a difference!

@AlternativePerspective it’s mad how different doctors and hospitals give such different advice! I always thought sterilising bottles ect was pretty standard for even full term newborns that are healthy and strong in the UK(well as strong as a new baby could be). I actually thought hand washing was recommended universally before handling a newborn, but I do know there is no need to worry so much about an older child in the normal way as they will pick up bits and pieces it’s just life. Very interesting to hear the different experiences and views people have, thank you for sharing!

Older children who didn't appear unwell I wouldn't. A younger child maybe as more time spent with hands in dirty places. If someone appeared ill ie. coughing and sneezing I wouldn't expect them to hold a newborn so the hand washing wouldn't be necessary.

I really thought asking people to wash hands use gel was normal with newborns! We’ve had 6 babies in 5 years in our family (not all mine, cousins!) and for every one the extended family were careful. Everyone in the family also got the whooping cough vaccine before the eldest cousin was born, even as an Aunty I didn’t think twice about it.

I thought it was common sense to use hand gel or wash hands before touching a baby.

@LoveIsLovely it’s great to hear from someone in Korea about this, and I’m horrified at the idea so many people don’t wash their hands after using the toilet! Makes me feel a lot less unreasonable now to hear that! I genuinely thought it was standard practice in the UK myself and was also surprised that many people had not received the same advice even with a healthy full term baby, it’s funny how the nhs gives such different advice in different trusts, even if the situations are a bit different I would have thought Hand hygiene advice would carry over! Just a side note, I keep a clean home but I certainly wouldn’t consider it sterile by any stretch, nor would I be trying to make it as such.