Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

How to deal with FIL’s poor hygiene around baby?

4 replies

BetsyWombat · 28/12/2022 08:09

Hosted the in-laws and wider family on Christmas Day and at one point I was breastfeeding the baby in the bedroom and FIL nipped in to use the en suite loo.

I’m assuming he didn’t see me on the way in as he didn’t say anything and left the toilet door open (hard to explain room layout but i was discreetly positioned at dressing table on other side of main door).

After he finished he definitely did not wash his hands.

He saw me on the way out, simply said a breezy hello, but headed on downstairs.

When I came back downstairs a few minutes later he came over and took the baby from me for a cuddle.

I really didn’t know how to say anything so didn’t but every time he held DS’s hand and touched his face I felt so grossed out.

It’s not actually that surprising as I’ve previously noticed he wees on the loo seat without cleaning it up and has even previously admitted to only brushing his teeth ‘a couple of times a week’.

What would you do - ignore it and assume DS will touch loads of germy things anyway or is there a way of addressing it? Very awkward though!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Rakszasa · 28/12/2022 08:38

I'm always grossed out about people not washing their hands after toilet too, but I wouldn't think there's a point in addressing this with him at all. If he doesn't have a habit already, he won't get into it now.
On the bright side, apparently remote control holds more bacteria, yeast and mould than toilet:)

Merryclaire · 28/12/2022 10:20

It’s true that your baby will touch much worse than unwashed post toilet hands. However I think it’s pretty grim to not wash hands after the loo - and really low to then go and handle a baby.

The teeth thing is so disgusting!

AmandaHoldensLips · 28/12/2022 10:22

The percentage of men who don't wash their hands after using the loo is very high and utterly gross.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

BetsyWombat · 28/12/2022 15:20

I suppose a lot of men don’t wash their hands much - but I would have thought you’d at least make an exception after the loo when holding your grandchild?!

I think it’s pretty grim anyway - and thought he would have learned from Covid being as he caught it about 3 times!

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page