Tell Fairy Non Bio your experience of keeping clean with a baby - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

As part of our partnership with Fairy Non Bio, we’ve produced the Mumsnet Babies Podcast. There are ten episodes in the series, and so far we’ve released five. Episode five is about keeping clean, and you can listen to it here. Fairy Non Bio would like you to listen to the podcast whenever you can and then discuss your thoughts and experiences of keeping clean with a new baby.

Cleanliness is something that can be easy to worry about with a tiny new baby: from keeping them safe from external germs, to dealing with their own. Have you found that you’ve become too attached to antibacterial hand gel, or worried about all the things they could catch? And, with some dirt being important for developing an immune system, what did you decide was clean enough for your baby?

Of course, baby’s also produce a lot of germs - perhaps you have tips for dealing with baby poo where it shouldn’t be? Or any advice for a cleaner feeding time? And, in terms of your baby’s personal hygiene, do you find that they need to be bathed every evening? Or do you bathe them less often to ease skin conditions like eczema?

Perhaps things have changed as your LO has gotten older? Do you worry more about keeping your house clean once they’re crawling? What level of home cleanliness do you consider acceptable? Do you have advice on making your home look cleaner than it maybe is for visitors?

Whatever your experience with keeping clean and a new baby, share this below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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I fed mine in the garden on warm sunny days when they were little, that saved a lot of clearing up! Baths were for fun when they were tiny, and they were always happier coming in with me. It takes a little organisation, towel ready etc but they loved it.

I never did manage to get newborn poo stains out of their clothes (or mine!) despite plenty of trying.

No extreme change to our usual cleaning routine. We kept a clean house before having a baby & continued to do so

I did get more aware about keeping germs at bay once the kids came along - but not obsessed. I always sprayed the changing mat down after I'd changed them and the high chair table etc after feeding time at the zoo. We got a dog when our youngest was 2 so they were still spending a lot of time playing on the floor and for this reason I vacuum and mop the whole of downstairs every day. I do still carry a small pack of anti-bac wipes in my bag and hand gel - this is just because when I go in cafes etc very often the tables have not been cleaned to my standard and I like to know what I'm eating off - and hand gel is always good for a quick clean up before drinks & snacks.

We keep the floors cleaner than we did before our little one came along but generally just washing hands after changing was deemed to be enough for us

Baby wipes and a big supply of cheap flannels for clean ups. Ikea sell big packs for really cheap.

Always check your back! I've been fine from the front but oblivious to a dribble of milk down my left shoulder before. Muslin cloths help but are not infallible.

i loved having baths with my first child it was a great bonding experience

I never became a clean freak as I like to keep things clean/sanitised anyway.

I'd always like to have a cleaner house, but I suppose I am comfortable with a certain level of dirt... I haven't become any tidier since having kids, anyway.

gentle cleansing wipes are always at hand in our house, I'm clean and tidy but try not to get too stressed if things do get messy, that's life at the end of the day and I'd hate to think I missed out on things because I was too busy keeping everything pristine clean!

I have 3 children and my youngest has just started crawling. Since this has happened, i am noticing more how much the older ones drop food, raisins etc so i feel like i am hoovering a lot more often these days! Just so i know there is nothing he can pick up.

My house is tidy and clean enough. Surface cleaning is my famous phrase. As long as it doesn't pose a health risk it will suffice. Time is very limited so I do my best and try not to fret.

I'm not adverse to picking dropped food off the floor and letting the kids eat it as long as it's not obviously mucky - 5 second rule and all that!

The kids have a bath every night but usually in plain water as soaps and bubble baths are too drying.

Clothes get washed when they've been soiled, not after every wear.

We all seem to have pretty robust immune systems for it!

I had lots of baby wipes and clothes around but I took the view babies will make mess, when feeding and they put anything they can lay there hands on in their mouth so for the first 6 months I tried to keep everything clean, sterilising dummy etc, I agree with TellMeItsNotTrue with your first you fuss over everything and with the second you are a bit more relaxed.

Hoover once a day and use baby wipes for everything haha

I didn't make any great changes once I had children as I think that it does babies good to be in an environment that isn't too sterile. I did mop floors and hoover slightly when in the rolling/ crawling everywhere and eating floor crumbs stage.

I do bath them every night but less for hygiene and more for part of a routine and they both love the bath so is an easy way to pass half an hour as even when tired they're happy in the bath! Use sensitive products and neither have ever problem skin.

Kids get filthy, it's part of life and I think it should be. We use a lot of wipes - and have found wipeable wall paint invaluable!

I grew up on a farm and the only thing I really saw my family use was hot water and soap, with a slosh of Dettol for the occasional floor and of course lambing and calving - but only for washing arms before and after!
A bit basic but then I've survived particularly well. I wasn't quite as relaxed with my own kids but certainly on the "less is more" side of antibac - and they too have 100% attendance records from school.

My 1 year old is a little master of mess. I would tidy up and he would just make a new mess. Sometimes I wonder why i bother. Once the house is reasonable clean to keep my sanity, I really don't mind, after all, it's part of his development. I'm not overly worried if he's a bit messy, especially after eating. Nothing that a good old damp cloth can't sort out. He would normally have a shower or bath, (he loves both) at least once or twice a day. I think children should be allowed to explore. It also helps with their immunity. Being too clean makes them prone to developing allergies as we've become too obsessed with killing germs. not really that bothered about

Baby wipes are the best!! I'm not obsessive as a bit of dirt builds their immunity!

I've never been too phased by dirt - both kids have eaten bugs and dirt from the garden. My house is tidy but not chemically sterile .....and my kids have both been super healthy and had no time off school.

Saying that, they have been taught to diligently wash their hands after the bathroom, before meals etc. Hankies are a must and we don't spray sneezes. Basically - we are old school

TBH I worry more about the children creating dirt than being victims of it. I have a 4yo and 1yo, it's a constant battle against crumbs/toothpaste smears in the sink/ sand bloody everywhere / dried-on Weetabix / glitter / whatever. I try and keep the children and house looking respectably clean, and that's enough work in itself!

I had antibac gel but didn't use it much. I preferred hand washing. Didn't want to seem OCD either. I bathed both of my sons every night, although more routine than cleanliness. I loved disposable bids for when we were out to avoid carrying milk/food covered bibs around in my changing bag

Another less is more here! I grew up in a messy house that wasn't bleached constantly and think it's better for kids, although I hate mess I keep it clean and tidy but not obsessive about bleaching or scrubbing everything

I've never been obsessed with cleaning and my children weren't ill that much as babies. I have three boys who so most of my time is spent washing and ironing clothes. I haven't got time to clean the house as well