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?

Your baby needs exposure to plenty of germs OP - it strengthens their immune system.
Newborns already have excellent immune systems and have lots of antibodies that have been passed through the placenta and breast milk.
If a baby isn’t exposed to germs they have an increased risk of allergies, eczema, asthma, hay fever etc.

I definitely do if I'm visiting a new born baby. Congratulations- I hope you're having a lovely time. 💐

No. But I really really want to ask them to.
We all wash our hands when we get home. It's tough not asking guests to.

Yes, YABU. The exception being when visiting a newborn.
Kids before eating is a good habit in any house

In a post pandemic world i can understand your germ concerns. Since covid there are some habit and thought handovers. When my son comes in from school I get him to get changed and wash hands. I dont want his back pack in my lounge or on sofa. If guests are coming over I would only suggest washing of hands before eating. These are things which did not even occur to me before the pandemic. So I get it. But those are my fears and hangups. i wouldnt inflict them on anyone other than my immediate family who understand me. You could always spray around the house and wipe surfaces afterwards to rid your home from surface germs and make yourself feel better. Or explain to guests that you have developed germ anxiety before inviting them over and explain what would make you feel better. Or just dont have guests over.

It's your home, and if makes you uncomfortable to have people coming in without washing their hands, you can say so. Some households insist on outdoor shoes being replaced with slippers and in the same way guests need to comply whether they agree with the logic of it or not.

Do you make them wash their feet too!

I'd probably suggest that younger kids wash their hands before eating, but beyond that, no. People come to visit, not to perform surgery.

😂

I'm surprised how many people say they don't wash their hands when coming home. It's always the second thing I do after taking off my shoes. It would feel really horrible and disgusting not to, especially if I've been on public transport, in shops, pressing the pedestrian crossing signs, touching door handles etc. I'd rather not bring covid/norovirus/flu or even colds into the house. It takes a few minutes and dramatically decreases your risk of getting ill. I don't understand why anyone wouldn't.

I don't ask adults to wash their hands when they come into my home (but would prefer it if they did!) but I do ask my DC's friends to wash their hands if they come over after school. Schools, even secondary schools, are cesspits of germs.

We get plenty of exposure to the types of bacteria that improve the immune system by doing things like getting out in the fresh air, gardening, dealing with horses and pets at home. Habing a bout of flu or norovirus going around the family has no health benefits and lots of health risks.

When I was at secondary school a boy in Y11 died of flu (with no underlying health conditions) and my aunt died of norovirus. Why wouldn't you just wash your hands to significantly reduce the risk of catching these harmful illnesses?

We all wash our hands when coming home. I also automatically would say I’ll just wash my hands if I went to visit a newborn. Definitely wouldn’t hold a baby without washing my hands. But then I am a big hand washer.
I don’t think it’s unreasonable as that’s how germs are transmitted. Washing hands cut down on d&v flu colds covid infections. It seems that many people skip a good long hand wash in favour of wetting the tips of their fingers!

Why wouldn't you just wash your hands to significantly reduce the risk of catching these harmful illnesses?

It’s an odd attitude. As if doing something that significantly reduces your chances of contracting and spreading disease and that takes all of 30 seconds makes you uptight and mentally unwell. Most people brush their teeth because they don’t want bacteria in their mouths that can lead to gum disease, yet teeth brushing takes four times as long handwashing.

Interestingly, many doctors in the 19th century were similarly offended and sceptical when it was discovered that washing hands between patients significantly reduced the rate of mortality and spread of disease.

Should have added only when it's a really case of foot and mouth. Otherwise just a cattle gid..

I'm with you, OP. I think if everyone got into the habit of doing this, fewer bugs would go around.

I wash my hands when I arrive home. I wouldn't ask visitors to my house to do so.

Exactly this. Multiple tests were carried out, which confirmed that seats on London Underground trains can carry more germs than a just-flushed toilet bowl. So, yeah, I definitely wash my hands after any commute.

I wash my hands when arriving home but would not ask my guests to, however, I do want them to remove shoes if they don’t mind doing so. In Turkey, it’s customary for guest’s hands to get a spray of lemon cologne, very refreshing and kills bacteria. But on the other hand too much of a sterile home can be detrimental to one’s immunity.

In general I wouldn't expect it. But if I went to a person's house who has a problem or had ocd and washing my hands put them at ease I would do it .

Well said. I could go about when I was a kid that you basically just played in dirt for want of a better disciption . But it gave you an immune system. I'm no parent I'm just saying

I would only expect them to wash their hands if they were going to eat in your home, especially if it's food you eat with your hands ✋🏻

excessive, yes, probably. but if someone asked me then I would. because it's not a big inconvenience

I don't think it is weird OP, I avoid having people over to my house for this reason. I couldn't ask people to wash their hands but if I have visitors and they eat or drink without doing so it pushes all my buttons. My partner thinks I have a real issue so I think, having read the comments on here, we are in the minority.
I know I am OCD, never been diagnosed but I just know from how I am about germs.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable, especially if you have a baby. When my baby was newborn I had hand sanitizers by the door and in the living room. People who visited me thankfully washed their hands upon entry without being asked. If they hadn’t I would have handed them the hand gel if they wanted to pick up my baby. Now my baby is older so I don’t think I would still do this but I’d still be happier if people washed their hands.

FYI hand sanitiser doesn't work on stomach bugs. You need soap and water for that.

I’d ask children to wash their hands before a snack / meal and after going to the loo or maybe if they’d been doing messy stuff in the garden 🪴
Or if we were maybe doing some food prep / baking I’d ask them to wash hands.
Adults / teens no I wouldn’t ask them .