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

I hardly ever wash my hands and I'm yet to die and very rarely ill. Nor is anyone else in the house. I might beat your flaming @VitaminNinja lol.

Absolutely OP - but I've trained myself not to stress if out and about and can only use gel - I'd still eat my sarnie. I'm a nurse. I cringe at the thought that DS isn't given a chance to do either, in secondary school, before lunch.

This is why I always wash my hands when I've come in from being outside, especially when on public transport or touching trolleys or coins etc. Because you can't trust other people to wash their own.

I’m with you, Op. I have a compromised immune system and LOVE having antibac available, but still prefer to wash my hands when possible. Out and about though, antibac is great. I get an alcohol-free one from Boots. Originally got it it for DD’s hands when she was little, but use it myself still even though it’s more expensive, as it’s not drying like the alcohol-based ones are, and doesn’t leave a nasty taste if eating with one’s hands.

Hate to say it, @BlueBlubbaWhale, but I’m with Op on this, knowing people don’t always wash their hands when they should means I wash / antibac mine a lot more! I know you may not get sick, but I don’t have a fully functioning immune system, and probably WOULD get sick from your germs even though you don’t!

That’s absolutely correct. Antibacterial gel is basically alcohol (ethanol). This is a good surface disinfectant on a surface that’s already clean. It doesn’t work on dirty surfaces and it has no penetrating power. It also doesn’t work on C. difficile.
It’s quite worrying that people think it gets their hands clean. It doesn’t. It’s a stop gap if you can’t get to soap and water, but it’s nothing near as effective.

That's the thing. People might think 'I'm OK, or my family is ok and i rarely wash my hands' but they don't think about the next person coming along touching a door handle that they just touched and how that might affect them.

Someone going through chemo, someone recovering from an illness, a pregnant woman, the list goes on.

I carry antibac, and use it when I get off public transport. Then I wash my hands as soon as I get home.
Antibac is good to have but it can't replace soap and water.

You keep up the good work, OP 😊

I just find it hard to believe that someone doesn't understand the difference between adult and baby faeces, and thinks one carries bacteria but the other doesn't. Regardless as to whether anyone in your house got sick, it's still shocking surprising.

Yanbu. Not washing is grim.
Maybe I'm ultra anxious about stomach bugs though as I have bowel problems and can't risk anything.

It isn't going to damage you though, is it, it is going to harm the people who you spread it to, the people who touch a doorhandle after you, the people who touch a cup after you, the people who pick up a shopping basket after you, ring the bell on a bus after you, etc

I use antibacterial gel when I’m out and about but can’t wait to get home and wash my hands properly.

I was in your situation around 20 years ago op with a snobby friend who chose to use antibac rather than wash her hands in my bathroom. I was actually quite offended. I think she was trying to be trendy as it was a fairly new handbag product back then.

I’ve since reviewed my reaction having used peoples stinky towels and my hands smell of that horrible wet-disgusting-washing-left-to-dry smell. I think, like my snobby mate, I’ll take my chances with the antibac until I get home!

Wow those of you who don’t wash your hands have obviously never had noro rip round your house. My children wash their hands before they eat and when they come home from anywhere. You can’t trust dirty scruffs like some of the posters on this thread not to spread all kinds around and we’ve picked up one too many bugs that way

Yes! This thread is definitely making me see the antibac brigade in a new, more positive light! At least they acknowledge the need for some kind of sanitation after changing a nappy.

They’re the same people who send their kids into school less than 48 hours after they’ve had d&v, or take them out and about when they’re contagious. These people are the reason I never took mine to soft play when they were little; every trip resulted in a tropical disease of some sort!

Or send them to school with a fever

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2426370-Washing-hands-after-nappy-change-MIL-thread-sorry
I remembered this thread from years ago because I couldn't believe the amount of people who don't wash their hands after a nappy change. Plus ça change!

Absolutely agree with you OP.

I have a colleague who just uses antibacterial after using the loos in the office and it's really off-putting. Surprising how many people don't wash their hands after the loo and after nappies is as well is just very unhygienic and inconsiderate of those who may come into contact with their germs and be affected by them.

My MIL told me she uses antibac gel after using public toilets rather than wash her hands. Absolutely horrified me.

I couldn't read all of it as it was disgusting! I am so shocked that so many people don't wash their hands after changing a dirty nappy. Bacteria is practically invisible and its impossible to tell if any has transferred to your hand, especially through a thin wipe. I'm actually glad I know this now. I thought my antibac-ing friends were grim but have thought again. Come back, antibac-ers, all is forgiven!

Given what I've just read on the thread @Crumbcatcher posted above, that now seems positively hygienic in comparison to some of the grimness people have proudly admitted to on that post! 🤮

How the fuck do you get poo on your hands changing a baby?

The whole point of the wipe is youve got plenty of it between your skin & baby's arse.

This is one of the most disgusting things I've read on here. Shit is shit 🤢

I'm sure I once saw a sign in a hospital that said washing with soap is for soiled hands, antibac is for general sanitizing...