T o let my dc pick up food from the floor and eat it?

[mrsruffallo]

I just had a rather heated discussion with SIL who basically told me I was being irresponsible letting my dc eat food they have dropped on the floor.She thought it was disgusting, and didn't allow her dc to do it- even at home!!!Beacause she said, you never knew what people had on their shoes. I think she is wrong and my dc have certainly never been ill because of eating off the floor!!
Is this another example of people being paranoid about 'germs' or do any of you agree with her? I just wanted to know what the general attitude to this is, so , please fire away.....

well i am a bit paranoid about germs but my ds has other ideas and is very partial to eating food he has dropped on the floor. I kind of try to avoid it but sometimes let it go. Children have to build up their immune system after all.

ffs. I've always reckonend there's a 10 second rule
Kids need germs.

A few germs help build up the imune system IYSWIM...I assume your SIL does not own a dog then (like we do)?

yes quite i grew up with dogs and cats and washed my hands rarely. And I'm alright. [cue comedy twitch]

I let DS do it, in general -- although it does depend on the floor.

Oh, youve started a debate here! I wouldnt let my dc's eat off the floor, however, at home I would, but not off kitchen or bathroom floor. There was a thread on here a while ago about someone who saw a lady give her child a biscuit off the floor that she dropped in a supermarket, that had been chewed and been on the floor for a few minutes. I personally think thats awful, but most people thought it was ok. Home - ok
Anywhere else - nope!!

I thought it was a three second rule!

Needmore coffee you're disgusting!

dirty public building floors definitely not.

Maybe, just rinse it under the tap first if possible. That's what I do.

Hmmm, I have let them eat things they have dropped on the street or the school playground- as long as its not etrenched in mud or dog poo I usually say oh go on, then

funnily enough i don't mind so much outside - was thinking of hospitals and stations that kind of thing - probably not much logic in it tho..

Sorry about the typos. My ds was splashing in puddles in the playground today and getting all wet- I didn't mind, he can change when we get home- and there were lots of other parents saying ooh, he's all wet, why don't you stop him? Made me feel like we have become over cautiuos in general after above conversation on the same day

I go with the three second and blow it before you eat it rule

dd1 when she was 5 dropped a piece of chocolate and then when she picked it up looked all sad
I asked her what was wrong and she said' I think it may have been 4 seconds'
lol bless her

she blew it and ate it
I do think kids need to build up there immune system but I did fish the chip out of geckos mouth the other morning that I realised was from the day befores tea

public buildings are a dont drop it cause you aint eating it rule

My DS is a finger-sucker. Given that all sorts of dirt passes his lips it seems completely illogical and inconsistent to worry about a bit of dropped food. The battle is already lost. I just steer him well away for dog poo and toadstools.

Lol, agreeHHH

I have always allowed mine to go for it at home and also away (unless in a puddle or other fluid).

And do you know none of the four of them are at all prone to upset tummies...
...even when the whole class appears to be vomiting/coughing, ds3 (age 4) stays lurgy free.

Its true, mio, I think they need to be exposed to a lot of germs to have a healthy immune system. I remember watching this old comedian who was saying he and his friend used to swim in the Hudson river, surrounded by raw sewage and all kinds of crap. He said they are healthy and in their eighties now.
Mind you, he also said he never washed his hands after going to the toilet, not sure about that one

YABU

Picking up food from a non sterile surface will kill you all. That's why I only look after children in a totally sterile environment and the human race has died out. I am shocked at your slack parenting involving mud, water and fun.

Remember, carpet fluff can kill.

I am heavily drunk and making as much sense as your SIL.

Next time say to her, "This isn't just any old dirt. This is M&S dirt."

Whenever, wherever, however personally and neither of my dcs ever been ill and are now teenagers.

Am not saying I'm right particularly just that it didn't do me any harm and doesn't appear to have done them any either......

Thank you, Wisteria. I think you are right!

I do
I make sure I brush any fluff or dog hair off first

DD eats things off the floor, I dont encourage it, but she often gets it much before I have a chance to stop her! She splashes in puddles and the puts her hands round her face, picks up things and puts them down then rubs her face when outside or licks her fingers, thats just as likely to get germs in her than eating a bit of food from the floor.

Like others depends where it is, at home, mostly unless the floor is gross due to muddy feet/cats/no time to clean it! Bathroom is probably the cleanest floor in the house! Certainly cleaner than the carpets which get walked on loads and washed twice a year (although hoovered loads).

Outside, again depends where it is dropped, what it is (ie banana gets covered completely in shite, rice cake does not). In a public convenience, not a chance.

Germs are important. DD has not been ill as a direct consequence of eating from a floor.

LOL at this thread - esp Trinity's obedient DD!

Generally if I would eat it she can. I don't always get time to choose. HHH good point as she sucks her fingers too.