is everyone getting a little too obssessed with cleaning everything?

[Sunshine78]

The toddler group I go to cleans the toys pn a regular basis but now mums want antibacterail wipes in the toy boxes so they can wipe toys before letting children play with them (wipes are as clean after this as they were befor!) Also I've seen mums using the gel you can get on their hands after using the play dough and before they are allowe to do anything else. Yesterday was out to lunch and a mum got a spray out her bad sprayed the whole highchair and table before child was allowed anywhere near it. All seems to be going a little to far or am I just really scummy

Brangelina- are you implying I may have taken my pants off for AlBano?????

No, thinking about it, you don't sound the type. Everything else seems to fit though.

I'm about as old as Romina.
Blonde though.

They didn't clean the toys once in 2 weeks in the hospital i was in, nor did they clean much else.

tummy bugs abound

they should ban toddlers who cough too while there at it

and those with snot running down their faces!!!

yeah get em oot and at home with a hot lemon

get tough with the causes of grime..

Bucharest, you should some and join us on the little Italy thread sometime.

its ridiculous and dangerous, this obsession with clean. Whatever happened to common sense

the chemicals are probably the most dangerous, tell them to use distilled vinegar ..

and facemasks for the sickly..

It is a really worrying trend. First because it reduces the challenges to the immune system at the point when it should be learning how to recognise and fight bugs. Secondly because of the effects of overuse on bacteria, making them more and more resistant to control. Thirdly because it really is not good for the environment. Fourthly because it increases paranoia and therefore reduces the freedom that children have to explore their world.

Research suggests children who grow up on farms have robust immune systems and lower incidence of asthma and other allergies. One theory for this is that these kids meet far more bugs. This is certainly true in my experience - my children have a great time in the Spring when they stay with my parents and play with the local farm children, including helping with lambing. They get to touch sheep, new born lambs, dead lambs and all sorts, all with very little if any hand washing (let alone disinfectant) . All the children seem very healthy (and happy).

Oh and soap and hot water are totally adequate for washing at home unless you have a member of the family with reduced immunity.

The theory on the farms could be that they're not in a small confined space with lots of snotty toddlers. Besides farm houses I visit are actually very clean homes!

Omg I must change my name to
Slobbertyjibbet.

When ds1 was 5m old I remember watching him pick up a toy at a playgroup and ram it in his mouth. ANother mum had a wipe out for her childs toy. I worried about looking like a bad mum for NOT wiping his toy, so I asked the playgroup leader what was the norm. She said they put everything in their mouths, its where they get their immunity from, all those other people's germs - and that if I wanted him to have good immunity then I had to let him get on with it no matter how much the thought of all those other children's mouths on it turned my stomach!
Yesterday I was cleaning out a kitchen drawer and came across the still full bottle of anti bac hand stuff that I bought for my changing bag in Dec 04. I'm going to go and throw it out now!

Fresh air and exercise will help no end. I don't think it's the same as a toy that has been dribbled on and snotted on by kids with throat and chest infections.

I think that sounds fantastic - WISH they did this at my toddlers!
I do not agree with this getting ill/germs makes a healthier child at all tbh

Rebelmum1 - you should have complained to the Trust and demanded a cleaner if the ward wasn't clean. Not easy I know but many Trusts actively promote comments like that from their patients.

blimey I have never come across that! have to admit that I wouldn't want to put some of the things DD puts in her mouth in MY mouth, but hell she puts everything in her mouth and it WILL help her immune system

The theory about the farms also extends to a household with pets, so the not in a confined space doesn't apply here.

We have 2 cats, I'm a domestic slattern and DD has been going to nursery (ie confined space with lots of snotty toddlers) since she was 15mo. I never sterilised anything (mix fed for a while so there were bottles), do not posses anything anti bac (house is cleaned using vinegar and bicarb) and have never worried about her getting dirty. She has had a total of 2 colds, 1 24hr tummy bug and 1 bout of chickenpox in over 3 years.

I'm firmly in the camp of exposure breeds resistance, I don't understand the manic germ fearing at all I'm afraid.

I did stop my dd (aged about 2.5) from licking a metal bus stop once as I didn't think it would be very hygenic . In fact we walked home instead as it was the only way to keep her mouth off it. So that proved to be an even healthier option (for me). I don't recall any adverse reactions from it though.

Ewwww, don't like the idea of a bus stop. all those fuel particles and various yukky chemicals.

I am fussy about hand washing after touching railings for some reason.

simplysally I never stopped complaining they were glad to see the back of me...