Asked to wash hands before handling newborn baby?

[AliciaJohns]

I am genuinely asking here. I went to see a friend the other day who has a week old baby. Her dh said (very politely) "would you mind washing your hands before you pick him up?"

I wasn't offended, just confused as I have never been asked to do this before nor would it have crossed my mind to ask people to wash their hands before handling my son!

My hands were clean by the way, in case you think they were caked in mud or something!!

Is this a bit weird? Or am I??!

Get some of that hand gel and spray it at anyone who comes near! That's what my mum did when my ds was new.

Neglected Subsequent Offspring

pmsl Sorry I meant Neglected Subsequent Other

Aw Twig, tisn't the same, mine both got passed around and jiggle and hugged etc but people washed their hands because of viral stuff. Only on first meeting though! while they were itty bitty teeny tiny and only just into the world. Obviously didn't keep at it after a week.

Its because these aren't local folk with local germs. Our toddler didn't have to wash her grubby mitts before having a cuddle with brother.

other offspring . brain flip.

my hands are dry as the fecking sahara from handwashing as I have to wash mine when the girls do (no idea why but it saves on strops) so everytime they go to the toilet I go through the rigmarole of washing

and before I eat
and when I home/to work after getting off the bus (ewwwwww, all those handrails and mingers in my personal space)

My HV told me to make smokers wash their hands and IIRC not have smoked for 1/2 hour befor handling DS(!). Think that was a bit finicky. I would only ask people to wash hands if they had any sort of cough/cold or had very recently had a fag.

I never get the dicotomy between being exposed to germs in order to build up a good immunity and avoiding germs to stop getting poorly.

I think with ours we have gone down the former route, in general. And it is working fairly well - ages since either have been off sick. And although DD has a heavy cold atm it is literally years since either had any sort of tummy bug. Although when DS was 6 weeks old and had had a cold for 3 weeks I remember thinking "he has had a cold for half his life".

It's one of those some do/some don't issues where people seem to fall strongly on one side. Like shoes on/shoes off houses (but let's not go there again).

However, "I wouldn't let the hands of smokers touch my newborn unwashed...probably irrational..." is not irrational actually.

Little Wonder I didn't hear that programme but I work in operating theatres and alas that doctor fact is most likely true!

My mw told me smokers had a bubble of leftover smoky toxins around them. Even when they weren't smoking

oh, and they stink

Aren't lots of the really nasty germs air born anyway? So washing your hands = waste of time.

what like indigo children? smokers are kaky yellow children.

not a fecking waste of time jez

olive do you really? I am only ever involved in toileting with my two if DD needs her bottom wiping and then I obviously need to wash my hands anyway.

Lots of Doctors don't wash their hands??? They don't even do it when they know a camera is there?

I repeat local germs for local people.

You need a bit of health of the herd stuff, mine were hbs and while my house is not that clean it was less of a issue than a hospital because the germs there were our friends and close enemies

my sister in law and a close friend did this with their first born and most people found it quiet annoying as they were pestered each and every time, especially when someone like a close relative or friend is so desperate to hold the baby and they were held back from doing so unless they washed their hands!this was frowned upon even further as the consecutive babies came along and no words were uttered by both of them about washing hands!
if its something that you hlod dear to your heart then you do so by stealth and example, by washing your own hands each and every time you handle the baby and you discuss washing hands with your partner infront of your guests so they are made aware indirectly rather than being rude!and if you make a point of this then set the standards on all levels, with all your children and other peoples babies, my SIL and friend both came to see my first born (and i had no hand washing issues!)and never even considered washing their hands to handle my ds....so why the hypocrisy?i just put it down to being first time parents insecurities.

yes

they find it thrilling

I find it easier to do it then spend 30 mins saying why I am not doing it

but, I refer to my earlier point, if you are holding CLOTHING, why would you need to wash your hands?

local germs for local people

Slur's standing for council

noone holds a baby's clothing. they stroke their cheeks, hold their wee hands. my aunt had a revolting habit of blowing on dd.

I did this with my DD because she had been in SCBU for a week and the doctors advised it, but it never occured to me to do it with my first child. Sounds a bit precious to me TBH.

Saying that, I did as a result discover the most fab alcohol cleaning gel from the chemists which I still use myself to this day (much nicer than the hospital stuff)

the solution here (not that one has been requested) is to wash your hands as requested, agree how sensible it is and then come on MN to puzzle it over

i thought it took something like an hour for the smoking vibes to leave you even if you go outisde to smoke