Do you make others wash their hands?

When people visit our house, I always have them wash their hands before holding our girls. We are making our first trip "back home" where our families live. (a 4-5 hour drive for us) We will be going to about 3 big family get-togethers for some of our extended family to meet the girls. Yes, I am already nervous about this and will not be comfortable with everyone passing the girls around. Anyway... my question... how do I ask everyone to wash their hands? Or should I not even try? What do you do?

 

I was kinda a witch. We have a large family and a lot of friends and mil knows everyone I think. I just told ppl that the twins were not going to be passed around and I needed to know were my babies were at all times. The select ppl I let hold them. Sat beside me and didn't go walking around. I just told them no touch unless you wash hands first. I know I am a big "B".

Good Luck and have fun with your family. Hope you don't have to be a big "B".

If we don't protect our lil ones no one else will, we just have to be mommas.

 

I would bring a few bottles of hand sanitizer and politely point them out when people arrive or you are talking to them. I was pretty firm about handwashing around my girls.

The other alternative is to leave them in their carriers/stroller right near you so people can only take them out with permission. Or...this is what I did for several family functions...bring a blanket for all of you to sit on. If someone wants to walk off with a baby, just inform them it's almost time to eat and you need to keep them close to you.

 

QUOTE(MichelleL @ Apr 28 2009, 06:45 AM) [snapback]1291241[/snapback]
I would bring a few bottles of hand sanitizer and politely point them out when people arrive or you are talking to them. I was pretty firm about handwashing around my girls.


Same here.

 

Since your girls are preemies, I would ask people to wash or sanitize their hands. Mine are preemies, also, and even now with them being almost 8 months old, I appreciate it when people wash their hands. Babies are just so much more susceptible to germs because their immune system is not as established as ours. I always used to explain to people that because they were born early, it's easier for them to get sick and more dangerous when they do get sick. If family members can't respect that, then they don't get to hold them. Have fun on your trip!

 

QUOTE(MichelleL @ Apr 28 2009, 06:45 AM) [snapback]1291241[/snapback]
I would bring a few bottles of hand sanitizer and politely point them out when people arrive or you are talking to them. I was pretty firm about handwashing around my girls.

The other alternative is to leave them in their carriers/stroller right near you so people can only take them out with permission. Or...this is what I did for several family functions...bring a blanket for all of you to sit on. If someone wants to walk off with a baby, just inform them it's almost time to eat and you need to keep them close to you.


Both great ideas. :good: Definately don't feel bad for protecting your babies. :hug: :hug:

 

I always had people use hand sanitizer and if they grabbed the babies hands w/out asking (like at the grocery store) I didn't hesitate to clean the babies hands with a little (rubbed it in my hands first). I don't think it's rude at all. I liked Michelle's idea of keeping them in the carriers.

 

I make everyone wash their hands with sanitizer before touching the babies. Like PP if we don't protect them, who will!?!

 

QUOTE(tcmom @ Apr 28 2009, 04:45 AM) [snapback]1291222[/snapback]
When people visit our house, I always have them wash their hands before holding our girls. We are making our first trip "back home" where our families live. (a 4-5 hour drive for us) We will be going to about 3 big family get-togethers for some of our extended family to meet the girls. Yes, I am already nervous about this and will not be comfortable with everyone passing the girls around. Anyway... my question... how do I ask everyone to wash their hands? Or should I not even try? What do you do?


Go to Bath & Body Works & stock up on the wonderful little smelling (Travel size) Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Sanitizer. I would then ask them which hand sanitizer they prefer to use & give no option to not using it before holding your precious little ones. Most people understand, or they should--if they don't...too bad! Good luck!

 

I agree - you absolutely have the right to make others wash/sanitize their hands before holding your babies.

I'd just either hand them the sanitizer before you hand over a baby or point them in the direction of a sink or sanitizer.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

After I took the twins home from the hospital, I was a hand sanitizer FREAK. I had numerous bottles of it laying all over the house & insisted on whomever wanted to handle the babies should use some. I totally believe in cleanliness and good health for newborns. Nowadays, I don't use it too much. GL!

 

Color me odd man out but I never worried about it, with any of my kids. My first ds and the twins were all born at 36 wks at respectable weights (ds was 5 lbs 13 oz, twins were 7.2 and 6.4 each). Maybe that's why it never bothered me.

The hand sanitizer is a great idea. But honestly, the more "germs" babies are exposed to the better their immune system is in the end. Within reason of course. I wouldn't roll my few week old newborn around on the floor or anything, or offer my babies to someone who was coughing their guts out, but by several months of age their bodies are building their immune system up. It won't hurt them to be held by someone who is healthy without washing their hands

Of course do what you feel comfy with tho!! Not trying to upset anyone at all!

 

we were very fussy when we first bought them home after 4 weeks in hospital. but within a few months we treated them the same as we did the other 4. I think bringing home babies just under 5 lbs is different to bringing home at 7 to 9 lbs like my other daughters.

 

Yes, Yes, Yes!! We had a Mego bottle of Sanitizer, too, sitting out that we made EVERYONE sanitize their hands before they touched the girls. If they wanted to hold them, we said, "Please go wash your hands, then sanitize" No one was offended and was more than happy, too...well, if they were offended we were never told. Our girls were born right in the middle of flu and RSV season and born a month early, so for us it was a matter of keeping them healthy, so we didn't budge for anyone. We went through an economy size bottle of sanizitizer in one month!!

 

QUOTE(Danibell @ Apr 28 2009, 11:00 PM) [snapback]1292808[/snapback]
Color me odd man out but I never worried about it, with any of my kids. My first ds and the twins were all born at 36 wks at respectable weights (ds was 5 lbs 13 oz, twins were 7.2 and 6.4 each). Maybe that's why it never bothered me.

The hand sanitizer is a great idea. But honestly, the more "germs" babies are exposed to the better their immune system is in the end. Within reason of course. I wouldn't roll my few week old newborn around on the floor or anything, or offer my babies to someone who was coughing their guts out, but by several months of age their bodies are building their immune system up. It won't hurt them to be held by someone who is healthy without washing their hands

Of course do what you feel comfy with tho!! Not trying to upset anyone at all!


this was our philosophy too & my girls were 6 weeks early & spent 13 days in the NICU. it seems to be working okay so far (knock on wood) as they haven't been sick.

but i also agree that if you prefer people to wash their hands before handling your LOs it is 100% your right to ask them to. depending on what your family is like though, just be prepared to get some stink eye & be prepared to stand up for yourself regardless. GL!

 

Yeah, germs challenge my babies' immune systems and makes them stronger. I hear it from friends and family who come over when sick.

I was a stickler about it until they were 3 months old. I still appreciate the washing. I really was relaxed about it the last couple of months and their first time out with other children who didn't wash hands they both got really sick and then so did I.

We're only just 1 week recovered after spending 2 weeks dealing with high fevers and emergency rooms, getting quite sick myself, I'd rather have my babies' immune systems challenged in smaller ways. How come one never says of someone who is sick a lot, "gee, I bet they have a super strong immune system by now! That's great!"

Now with swine flu in my county, I definitely don't want my boys immune systems challenged and "strengthened" in this manner.

So yes, you bet I will be asking people to wash their hands before handling my boys!

 

When we went home for a week for their baby shower and things like that, my mother in law was excited for everyone to be there so the babies could be passed around and everyone could see them. When everyone started arriving, my DH and I were holding the twins and fed them as people were getting there.. by the time they were finished, we came out and kind of made a general request.. we had placed Purell everywhere around the room and asked everyone to please sanitize their hands before they touched the babies in any manner, because we didn't want them to get sick. Everyone was MORE than willing and understanding and it was just fine.

 

QUOTE(Danibell @ Apr 29 2009, 07:00 AM) [snapback]1292808[/snapback]
Color me odd man out but I never worried about it, with any of my kids. My first ds and the twins were all born at 36 wks at respectable weights (ds was 5 lbs 13 oz, twins were 7.2 and 6.4 each). Maybe that's why it never bothered me.

The hand sanitizer is a great idea. But honestly, the more "germs" babies are exposed to the better their immune system is in the end. Within reason of course. I wouldn't roll my few week old newborn around on the floor or anything, or offer my babies to someone who was coughing their guts out, but by several months of age their bodies are building their immune system up. It won't hurt them to be held by someone who is healthy without washing their hands

Of course do what you feel comfy with tho!! Not trying to upset anyone at all!


I havent worried about it either. I was careful in the first few months but never asked people to wash their hands before touching the babies - it didnt cross my mind to :blush: