To think antibacterial hand gel is to be used as an interim measure and not a replacement for washing your hands

[Barfvader]

My mum was a nurse, and growing up, we always washed our hands when we came inside from being out, before preparing food and after going to the toilet. I'm not a germ phobe or paranoid about sickness. I think a normal amount of exposure to germs is good for the immune system but that good sanitation is linked to optimum health. I think I have a balanced, hygienic but realistic approach. Kids lick slides and suck their shoes but I think following good hygiene standards is important too.

My aibu. My colleague and I had baby a few weeks apart around a year ago. She came over to my house for the first time with the baby recently and changed his (dirty) nappy. Just as she was finishing, I showed her where the bathroom was (a few metres away), assuming she would want to know where to wash her hands. She said, no it's OK, I've got antibac.

I use antibac if I'm stuck and then wash my hands as soon as I'm able to. I prefer to make sure they are psychically clean, especially as I've ended up with poo on my hand during a wriggly change. I don't think this is OTT, especially when changing nappies of babies who are older are eating solid food.

I realised that I've noticed a few parents antibac-ing or just using a baby wipe after a dirty nappy change, despite being inside a house with plumbing and running water. I can't imagine doing a poo and opting to use antibacterial hand gel rather than washing my hands and don't see how this is different.

Aibu in thinking that if you have access to water and soap, you should wash your hands and that antibac gel should be the second choice?

Looking forward to hearing what the diverse mumsnet collective will think!

Yabu: antibacterial gel is the same as washing your hands and no big deal

Yanbu: you should wash your hands after changing a dirty nappy if you're able to, and use antibac if you can't wash them there and then

They said somewhere that anti bac gel doesn’t help if your hands are visibly dirty and/or you’ve come into contact with norovirus. Only running water helps for that. It is a bit gross. If I’m in a public toilet though and the sinks look grim/the soap dispensers look visibly dirty I will just use hand sanitizer if I know I’ve used tissue/my foot or elbow to open and lock the door etc and not actually touched any surfaces and just had a wee. Prepared to be flamed for that though!

I'm the same. That's a situation where hand gel comes into play, until you have the opportunity to wash your hands. As far as I'm aware, running water and any kindnof foaming soapy type of product binds with whatever is on your hand and is washed away. I'd much rather the poo-ey germs go down the sink than stay on your hands but dead, along with whatever other grime you've got stuck there.

I'm with you op, needs to be a proper hand wash with soap and water.

I have antibac in my bag for emergencies - dc putting their hand on something icky in the park for instance. And I always anti bac my hands after picking dog poo up - even though my hands don't touch it I just feel eughhh otherwise. But then we'd wash hands at home in both instances too, when we get back.

Yeah all they are doing is sanitising the poo. It's still poo. I mean where do they think it's gone?

I hate antibac. It's absolutely no substitute for soap and water and a proper wash.

That's what I think. It's just until you can give your hands a proper wash. Damage limitation until you can properly lather up.

Even wet wiping hands surely would we better than just rubbing germs and gel around? At least you stand a chance of removing something until you're able to get to a sink.

We've just spent a week camping in a field with very basic composting toilets and no running water. The only way to clean our hands after using the toilet was to use wipes and anti bac gel. There was plenty of s**t and up to 2000 people. The only times our hands got washed with soap and water was when we went to the pub down the road. None of us got ill.

Fair enough. But you did wash your hands when you had access to running water. I'm assuming washing your hands would be your preferred option after using the toilet and the antibac would be your second choice.

It would but my point being that no harm came to any of us by not doing so.

It gets rid of bacteria but the dirt and grime will still be there! Grim doesn't even begin to describe.

anti bac gel is better than most shared soap, which actually spreads many pathogens. Some soap is better than the gel, but if you are not sure, then gel is better. Best thing is hot water and liquid soap, but not always available

I agree. Hand gel is for when you cannot access soap and water. I remember when I was in primary sch we used to.line up .before dinner aka lunch to wash our hands. I'm a teacher and have had to ask a lad to take his gloves off when eating pizza🙈

Would not be eating home made apple crumble from.any of those friends😫

I don't even think to wash my hands after changing nappies...

I obviously wash my hands if I've been to the toilet or ive come in from being outside. But for some reason once I've changed a nappy I just put it in a nappy sack, in the bin, and then carry on with whatever I was doing.

I'm sure that's true. I've been to festivals back when I was cool and remember that options were limited.

But it's not the optimum, healthy choice. Handwashing with soap is scientifically proven to help stop the spread of germs which can make people sick, especially those with compromised immune systems. In your situation, you didn't have any choice and everybody seemed OK.

However what if you have a choice, and aren't effectively removing germs from your hands because you just don't want to? Would you be happy if everyone on a population level decided to stop washing their hands with soap and water after handling faeces?

As I said, there's a time and a place for antibac, but i don't think that time or place is right after you've changed a dirty nappy and when you are 10 seconds away from a tap and soap.

You can't be serious

Oh I'm being serious.

I don't get anything on my hands and I don't class baby mess as adult mess. I wouldn't dream of wiping an adults bum (if I was a carer for example) without washing my hands, but I don't feel that way with babies.

Soap and water.
If not, either antibac or wipes, preferably as a stop gap until I can properly wash them, though in all honesty I probably then forget to a lot of the time.

For a wee nappy I'm less worried about it, but it usually stick to the routine 99% is the time - bag it up, throw in bin, wash hands. But at 3am is more likely to be a wet wipe.

I carry antibac wipes and antibac gel with me.

If i cant use soap and water (which is always best)

I use the antibacterial wipes first, then the antibacterial gel

This is wild, babies still have bacteria in their poo and you are much more likely to get it on your hands than when you go to the toilet yourself.

For a wee nappy I rarely would wash my hands.

For a poo nappy I would mostly wash. But if out and about it wouldn’t overly bother me if I didn’t. I’m not sure I ever got the babies poo on me. Maybe once or twice.

Generally I wash my hands pretty regularly though. Definitely after being out and about in town, cinema, play areas, supermarkets etc..

I can’t stand anti bac gel. It stinks and also o tend to put my hands near my mouth and nearly always would get a gross taste of it.

Tbh, I think you're being a bit dramatic, dramatic.

But poo is poo! This is mind boggling that anyone would think like this!

Both me and my children have survived in perfect health.

This is Mumsnet, believe the unbelievable