To expect guests to wash their hands on arrival?

[SillyFillyDress]

Am I being unreasonable in thinking people should wash their hands when coming from outside to your house?
Would you ask kids who come to yours for a playdate to wash their hands?
Would you ask adults?

The more dirt the better, the more exposure to germs the stronger the child, the less cleaning the healthier the outcome.

A baby is not meant to be brought up in a sterile environment.

I am quite a scrupulous handwasher myself but would never tell another adult to do it. I would only ask children to do so before eating or if they have been doing some very messy activity

So to summarise the results of this thread

Taking measures to ensure good hygiene in the home (which prevents the spread of illnesses that at best make people a bit miserable and mess with their plans and at worst leads to hospitalisation/death in the vulnerable =* *bat shit / mental/ controlling.

I wash my hands when I return to my own house unless I've just been for a local walk.

Going to someone else's home, I wouldn't wash my hands or sanitise if I'd driven there but I would if I'd travelled on the bus.

I wouldn't expect anyone else to wash their hands on coming into my house though.

In your case, yes I would expect a health professional to use sanitiser before handling a young baby. It wouldn't have occurred to me when I had my own baby as this was over 20 years ago and my personal norms around hygiene have changed considerably over the last 5 years.

Play dates were a long time ago and I don't remember!

It's cultural. It would be completely normal in loads of countries, but not seen as normal in the UK. If it's your house rules to do so, the you should feel free to ask.

I think you might probably be right to do this, and you are putting us to shame, but that none of us have died yet and the majority of the country probably don’t/won’t do it.

I don’t know how you ask guests to do so without looking weird, or rude in some people’s eyes.

Nanny: yes.. this is what we do, it's a habit that I wish to build in my children.

Health visitors / Midwives.. welcome,.thanks for coming, the bathroom is through there for you to wash your hands or I have left soap and a towel by the sink for you.. can I get you a cup of tea while you wash your hands..

Ps actually I do wash my hands when I arrive in the office after public transport. And often (not always) when I get to a restaurant before food comes. But never at private homes.

I'd welcome it as a general custom, to enter a home, pause, remove footwear, outer wrappings, wash hands, and face. I may have lived somewhere like this, as it seems normal and appealing to me.

I really don't like people removing their shoes in my house unless they are visibly muddy / dirty. Who wants people sitting there in their smelly socks?

Not norovirus and stuff no but when you’re getting off the tube it’s better than nothing!

I ask my own kids to wash their hands when they come in from school but I would never ask an adult to do that.

And this is why Norovirus is racing round the country!
I always wash my hands when I come in and so does DH
I wouldn't ask guests but I would be twitchy!😂

Washing hands does create a sterile environment.
Florence Nightingale did know what she was doing.

It actually prevents faecal/ oral contamination.
Sterile is heat treating instruments/ gloves/ gowns

Unless there is a very new baby involved, no.

I’m a community nurse I have hand sanitizer in my car that I use when I leave a patient and before I enter someone’s home. Many people don’t have soap readily available, a clean towel etc so this is the easiest way to do it.

Do not be afraid to ask guests to wash their hands before holding your newborn. Everyone will understand that surely.

We do on coming in, so it's natural for me to send the kids to do it and their friends with them.

Adults, no I don't ask them.

No, not unless they wanted to.

Gaaaa....I meant to say Washing hands does NOT create a sterile environment.

I would right now as my family member is going through very tough and very long 20 hour days of chemo….

i wouldn’t hesitate right now.

normally however no way would it even bother me

Yes if there is a newborn that they will be holding. This would be the only time I would automatically wash my hands before being asked at a friend or family member's home. Otherwise no.

pre kids I’d normally go loo first thing I got in and wash hands. Conversely since having kids I’ve often found my hands are full things are happening hygiene has definitely slipped (🤫no one has gotten ill…except my daughter did get ecoli from a petting farm, it’s virtually impossible to get a toddler to wash hands diligently and not put in their mouth). I think it’s a good idea. Don’t worry re guests, for a baby just make it part of the process you want followed. YANBU