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?

I always wash my hands when coming from the outside. I also always take my shoes off inside people’s houses. I think it’s really grubby not to. I am not British though.
i don’t buy the argument that washing your hands and taking shoes off inside means you won’t build a strong immune system. I have an excellent immune system and I am never sick.

And yet, life goes on, humanity thrives.
Op, I wash my hands frequently, when I get in from the shops, public transport, busy places, before prepping food after the loo (I state this because you'd think it was a given but many don't). But not necessarily from the school run or from visiting my parents house in the car, going for a walk etc. I wouldn't necessarily wash my hands on arrival at anyone's house along those lines or expect anyone to do so at mine.

I get it, I do. But at some point during lockdown/covid with a 1 yr old I decided I would rather give myself permission to live life sensibly than notice and worry about every touch and interaction. x

Only if they expected to hold my newborn

I wash my hands whenever I come home. I don’t even think about it - it’s as automatic as taking my shoes off.

But I’ve realised that most people don’t do this, so I don’t ask visitors to do it.

You could say if a play date, shall we wash hands before food.

I think you should repost with the information in the OP that you have a new born baby the reaction you will get will be vastly different. At first my opinion when reading OP I thought you where severely OCD tbh, but knowing you have a newborn (same if you had a illness which effects you immune system) then I agree everyone coming in for the first 2 months should wash hands before handling the baby especially a midwife s/he should also wash hands before leaving your home every single time. I think a lot of people due to wording of OP just thought you were being either OCD or a germaphobe. After 2 months begin easing off on hand washing you want baby to get a little bacteria from that age, that’s around beginning of tummy time so they will basically lick the carpet or whatever is under them like baby gym mat. It’s ok you are a new mum and you going to be on edge with hygiene just now due to new baby that is normal. Hope you are enjoying the early stages with your bundle of joy, (when you are not over tired) congratulation’s. Remember it is ok to “request” the midwife wash hands first before handling baby, if they complain about this to you remind them of cross contamination and a newborn. You got this and I do hope you are getting some time to rest for you the early stages can be a bit stressful with lack of sleep. X

No. And, no

i don’t buy the argument that washing your hands and taking shoes off inside means you won’t build a strong immune system

@Obsessedwithlamps it’s a myth that arose from a theory thought up in the 1980s. It gets bandied about constantly on these threads.

The theory that being exposed to microbes will improve your immune system isn’t about viruses or harmful bacteria like E. coli, it’s about being exposed to a variety of commensal (harmless) bacteria as children, while the immune system is developing. The theory is that it can help train the immune system to distinguish between commensal microbes and harmful pathogens, reducing the risk of allergies. It’s also theorised that it can increase the diversity of the microbiome.

Getting ill doesn’t strengthen the immune system but it can contribute to further illness, like the development of IBD following a gut infection, the development of autoimmune diseases following viral infections, and post-viral syndromes such as long Covid, PANDAS, PANS etc.

Almost no virus is protective against allergic disease or other immune diseases. In fact, infections with viruses mostly either contribute to the development of those diseases or worsen them.

publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/is-the-hygiene-hypothesis-true

Would never ask an adult to wash hands! But would perhaps ask children to wash hands before food if I was feeding them

I've never ever even thought of this! Do you do it when going everywhere visiting people?

I only washed my hands on coming home during covid lockdowns.
I do wash my hands a lot though and definitely would before holding a baby and before eating or preparing a meal amongst other things.
When they were younger I’d always tell the kids to wash their hands before dinner which would include anyone who had come to eat. I wouldn’t tell/ask an adult ever if they wanted to wash their hands as I feel that’s patronising. If I was hiring a nanny then I would explain the routine I think (although I don’t know anyone with a nanny so I’m just guessing).

I’d love to ask everyone to wash their hands when they came to mine because I’m a germaphobe, but would never actually do it! Since Covid, it’s the first thing I do when I get home, I think it’s just a habit that’s stuck.

I usually do mine but I have ibs and the slightest tummy bug sends it crazy and I'm off work with no pay. I wouldn't demand it of others.

I have always washed my hands when I arrive home and so did my DDs when they were preteens but I don’t ask them to do it since they left home. However, when COVID was about everyone was offered the gel.

I’d ask kids if they were eating/after playing in the garden but not adults as I’d expect adults to know when to wash their hands

No why on earth for?

I wash my hands when i get home-so do my kids,
i work in early years and we encourage the children to wash their hands as they arrive in nursery.
not sure i would ask any guests at home , obviously if they were eating they would
Think if someone asked me to at their house, i would and i wouldn't be offended, understandable after covid.

I think it would be great if this was the norm, but no, at the moment it still seems a strange idea (even though it is very sensible)

If someone asked me to wash my hands on arrival, I'd be offended 😂 just sanitise services/handles after they've gone if that makes you feel better.
Kids if they have come in visibly muddy or before eating.

It’s a bit much

Not unreasonable I wash my hands when I get in from being outside

If you have a new born it is fine to expect people to wash their hands before touching or holding the baby. I would always wash my hands before holding or interacting with a baby. I’m shocked if other people don’t. Rather than ask them, I’d just expect it of them. “If you wash your hands I’ll pass the baby to you”. Or “The bathrooms on the left so you can wash your hands before touching the baby”. If you are employing a nanny, tell him or her what you want. “In this house we wash our hands when we come in from outdoors. Can you please ensure you follow this rule every time please?” If necessary pop a “Please wash your hands” notice near the door for a bit so they doesn’t forget. You can remove it when they are in a routine. Nannies are used to accommodating the foibles of individual families and it’s a pretty sensible way of minimising germs around the newborn.

I would, and have, if I had somebody vulnerable in the house e.g. on chemo.

I normally wash my hands after coming in from the outside. I didn’t use to, but having lived in London using a lot of public transport, post-Covid and lots of friends having babies, it’s now a habit. I also will always use hand sanitiser if I’m out and about to eat. If I forget, I feel a bit icky. I will say, I think I I’m ill less frequently now and I definitely do notice other people’s hygiene is a bit lacking. I was shocked for example to find that some people don’t wash their hands after going for a wee, even in public toilets where there could be anything on the handles!

I'm with you OP as most boys many kids don't wash their hands after the toilet. If nothing else, before eating. I made it into The White Towel Challenge for a particularly grubby child. It's entirely common sense. Why spread infection around intentionally? 🙄