Need help from fellow Germ-o-phobes

[mickeyfan2]

Does anybody wonder why the Polio outbreaks in the 40s and 50s were so bad? It was because the infants were no longer exposed to the Polio germs and did not build up the resistance needed to make them immune in the future. In the 20s we got "clean" and Polio cases went down as did immunity. A couple generations of kids later there was no immunity. Then Polio hit and all those clean and non-immune kids got really sick. So yes exposure to germs does build an immunity and make your body better able to fight them off.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Does anybody wonder why the Polio outbreaks in the 40s and 50s were so bad? It was because the infants were no longer exposed to the Polio germs and did not build up the resistance needed to make them immune in the future. In the 20s we got "clean" and Polio cases went down as did immunity. A couple generations of kids later there was no immunity. Then Polio hit and all those clean and non-immune kids got really sick. So yes exposure to germs does build an immunity and make your body better able to fight them off.

Stop taking the babies to the outhouse, and there you go. My grandma says that babies would get a touch of a bug, and that was it.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Excellent post! Just because one may exercise their freedom of speech (one of the most over used phrases in society, IMHO), doesn't mean they are exercising their freedom of intelligence either.

Tiger

edited per Dis policy.

 

[Tiger926]

What is "too clean" to you may not be "too clean" to me. Disinfecting handlebars that 80,000+ (on July 4th of this year, there were close to 80,000 people at MK) people have potentially touched, is not "disinfecting everything." It is disinfecting one area that has been touched my thousands upon thousands of dirty hands. My docs have advised us to disinfect and be vigilant in public places, especially at Disney World due to thousands upon thousands of people (many from different countries) in attendance. We also wash hands all day long while there as well.

At home is a different story. We do not use harsh chemicals to clean our home (allergies), do not use antibacterial lotions or soaps either. This is the "too clean" that the scientists are talking about. You would be hard pressed to find any pediatrician who (we consulted with 3 while our baby was in hospital and they all said most people - like many of you on here who keep posting to tell us that we are wrong, are totally misunderstood about the whole immune building thing) thinks it's a good idea to let kids crawl around on the floor of WDW, or let them touch handles and railings all day long without washing their hands. All of the pediatricians that we consulted with while in hospital, said that while out in public (which for most people is a minimal amount of time), especially in large public areas like amusement parks and zoos, that using hand sanitizers is necessary if not able to wash hands with soap and water all day - this is especially important with little baby toddlers who put their hands in their mouths. It is the minimal time spent out in public in which you need to be extra vigilant - the amount of sick children who shared the hospital with us while on vacation at WDW showed us there is a big problem with germ spreading at WDW as the pediatricians attested to many times over. Now, if one insists on disinfecting everything at home and using hand sanitizers all day long, along with antibacterial soaps, harsh chemicals, etc. this is where the new research studies are showing that there may be problems with immunity - this is the "too clean" that scientists are talking about, not extra disinfecting once a week while at the grocery store, or once a year while on vacation at WDW.

Tiger

 

[Dead-metal]

It is the minimal time spent out in public in which you need to be extra vigilant - the amount of sick children who shared the hospital with us while on vacation at WDW showed us there is a big problem with germ spreading at WDW as the pediatricians attested to many times over.
Tiger

We spent 2 weeks at WDW and US and our children didn't become ill. Were we lucky or are the germs and bugs not as prevalent as your doctor suggests?

Excellent post! Just because one may exercise their freedom of speech (one of the most over used phrases in society, IMHO), doesn't mean they are exercising their freedom of intelligence either.

Tiger

I'm not claiming to be intelligent. However I'm using a forum

forum
noun
1 a situation or meeting in which people can talk about a problem or matter especially of public interest:
a forum for debate/discussion.

Source http://dictionary.cambridge.org/define.asp?key=30717&dict=CALD

 

[GoodFairies]

And I have a potty seat in the back of my car (SUV) with lysol wipes & spray. So my kids use that pretty much all the time now.

In fact tonight was a first. I was in Brooks looking at Imodium for dh & my 3yo who I just made pee before we left states "mommy I have to go poopie".

Great. I was only hoping the way back to the car that I had plastic bags in there still & I did. He did his business & I tied up the bag & ditched it in the garbage (it's still chilly here so it won't get too stinky) & we went back to Brooks.

You let your kids go to the bathroom in your car rather than a public restroom? That is way over the top and very unsanitary. I'd rather use a public restroom with its availability of soap and water than ride around in the the Poopmobile.

Anyway back to the rest of the thread. Soap and water. It's your best friend. No one needs Purell or antibacterial products. How hard is it to keep a kid's hands away from their face while they do their business in the bathroom? So what if they touched the lock on the door...they are going to wash hands when done before leaving the restroom, and you can hold the door for them with a paper towel. One thing I've seen a lot that always grosses me out are the parents who change their kids without washing their own hands afterwards.

 

[va32h]

And I have a potty seat in the back of my car (SUV) with lysol wipes & spray. So my kids use that pretty much all the time now.

In fact tonight was a first. I was in Brooks looking at Imodium for dh & my 3yo who I just made pee before we left states "mommy I have to go poopie".

Great. I was only hoping the way back to the car that I had plastic bags in there still & I did. He did his business & I tied up the bag & ditched it in the garbage (it's still chilly here so it won't get too stinky) & we went back to Brooks.

That is absolutely disgusting. I can't imagine carrying around a sack of excrement.

 

[MELSMICE]

Originally Posted by monorailsilver
And I have a potty seat in the back of my car (SUV) with lysol wipes & spray. So my kids use that pretty much all the time now.

In fact tonight was a first. I was in Brooks looking at Imodium for dh & my 3yo who I just made pee before we left states "mommy I have to go poopie".

Great. I was only hoping the way back to the car that I had plastic bags in there still & I did. He did his business & I tied up the bag & ditched it in the garbage (it's still chilly here so it won't get too stinky) & we went back to Brooks.

Is this for real?

 

[CowboyCO]

I think the OP was right on target with the title line "Germ-a-phobe"

According to the medical dictionary a phobia is:

"An unreasonable sort of fear that can cause avoidance and panic."


We all have our phobias, whether well-adjusted ot not.

I avoid having to pick up the mail and usually have my wife do it because I have an irrational fear of getting a collection or late notice. (Even though I have excellent credit and high credit score.)

My wife has an irrational fear of calling and ordering pizza (talking to someone on the phone she doesn't know).

But do I pick up the mail. And my wife does order pizza. We both realize that we are being irrational and do it if the other doesn't want to or can't do it.

But I have to admit -- I haven't laughed harder reading a thread in a long time!

 

[Kimmie5870]

Now, no fair using common sense!

Ain't that the truth!

Some of these posts are completely ridiculous. Before anyone flames me about "health" issues..... I'm well aware of the issues .

Like I said in my first post ,I have an (almost) 15 year old DD with a weak immune system and several other health issues so I've had these germ discussions with DD's specialists since she was only 2 days old....not even at the worst of times did any of her specialists recommend going to some of the extremes I've seen on this thread. And if my DD were so bad that we needed to go to some of these extremes not only would I keep her home because that's what would be best for her health ,but her Doctors would insist that she not go to Disney either.

 

[jodifla]

What is "too clean" to you may not be "too clean" to me. Disinfecting handlebars that 80,000+ (on July 4th of this year, there were close to 80,000 people at MK) people have potentially touched, is not "disinfecting everything." It is disinfecting one area that has been touched my thousands upon thousands of dirty hands. My docs have advised us to disinfect and be vigilant in public places, especially at Disney World due to thousands upon thousands of people (many from different countries) in attendance. We also wash hands all day long while there as well.

At home is a different story. We do not use harsh chemicals to clean our home (allergies), do not use antibacterial lotions or soaps either. This is the "too clean" that the scientists are talking about. You would be hard pressed to find any pediatrician who (we consulted with 3 while our baby was in hospital and they all said most people - like many of you on here who keep posting to tell us that we are wrong, are totally misunderstood about the whole immune building thing) thinks it's a good idea to let kids crawl around on the floor of WDW, or let them touch handles and railings all day long without washing their hands. All of the pediatricians that we consulted with while in hospital, said that while out in public (which for most people is a minimal amount of time), especially in large public areas like amusement parks and zoos, that using hand sanitizers is necessary if not able to wash hands with soap and water all day - this is especially important with little baby toddlers who put their hands in their mouths. It is the minimal time spent out in public in which you need to be extra vigilant - the amount of sick children who shared the hospital with us while on vacation at WDW showed us there is a big problem with germ spreading at WDW as the pediatricians attested to many times over. Now, if one insists on disinfecting everything at home and using hand sanitizers all day long, along with antibacterial soaps, harsh chemicals, etc. this is where the new research studies are showing that there may be problems with immunity - this is the "too clean" that scientists are talking about, not extra disinfecting once a week while at the grocery store, or once a year while on vacation at WDW.

Tiger

Well, I'm guilty as charged....we don't take off the bedspreads at hotels. I let my son play on the floor of WDW hotel rooms....I never clean off the handlebars even though 80,00O people have touched them. We use the public restrooms....

And some years we go to WDW four times a year.

And DS is rarely sick, beyond a few colds and a flu bug once a year. And that just means his immune system is getting a workout, which it needs.

DH and I are almost never sick, either.

 

[U2_rocks!]

What is "too clean" to you may not be "too clean" to me. Disinfecting handlebars that 80,000+ (on July 4th of this year, there were close to 80,000 people at MK) people have potentially touched, is not "disinfecting everything." It is disinfecting one area that has been touched my thousands upon thousands of dirty hands. My docs have advised us to disinfect and be vigilant in public places, especially at Disney World due to thousands upon thousands of people (many from different countries) in attendance. We also wash hands all day long while there as well.

Tiger

I suppose if you have a toddler who is always putting hands in mouth, there may be some value in being vigilant about hygiene in a huge, foreign park - different germs than they are accustomed to etc. Mine are past toddlerhood now, so I'm not worried about it. However, I never worried in the grocery store either, even when they were babies and I'd catch them gumming the handle too late! They made it to the ages of 4 - 7 without having a serious illness of any kind, and diarrhea and ear infections are rare in our house. We are sooooo relaxed about germs - almost too relaxed I sometimes think! But we haven't suffered for it in any way.

So I don't know ....... yes, I can understand the concept that different places have different germs, so the chances are higher that you'll come across something that you don't know how to fight when you travel. But in a huge park like WDW, you are bound to miss lots of germs! I'm just not sure I am willing to get paranoid about it. Maybe I'll stock up on the vitamins, and make sure everyone gets enough sleep! Part of getting ill is the run down state our bodies are often in on busy vacations - not enough sleep, lots of running around, not enough water, more food or less healthy food than we are accustomed etc.

But you have to admit - there are people here who are paranoid about germs even at home! That's who I've been mostly responding to.

 

[U2_rocks!]

Well, I'm guilty as charged....we don't take off the bedspreads at hotels. I let my son play on the floor of WDW hotel rooms....I never clean off the handlebars even though 80,00O people have touched them. We use the public restrooms....

And some years we go to WDW four times a year.

And DS is rarely sick, beyond a few colds and a flu bug once a year. And that just means his immune system is getting a workout, which it needs.

DH and I are almost never sick, either.

I know, same here. We are soooo relaxed about germs - we just don't care. We always wash hands after the bathroom (at least, I think my kids do - most of the time. I'm not always there to see them), especially well after a public bathroom (I DO make sure of this). We touch everything in public bathrooms; we sit on toilet seats; we actually use our hands to flush! My kids have been known to pick food up off the floor and eat it (only at home though), and I've never carried a disinfectant wipe in my life! I do have a bottle of Purell in my handbag, but I think I've used it about 5 times in the 2 years I've been carrying it around! I've never given shopping carts a second thought. Or hotel rooms.

Somehow we have managed to be stinkingly healthy!

Still, we have never been anywhere as large or as full of people as WDW. I will consider doing one or two things suggested on this thread - maybe. But I'm not wiping any stinkin ride handlebars - couldn't handle the stares!

 

[jodifla]

I know, same here. We are soooo relaxed about germs - we just don't care. We always wash hands after the bathroom (at least, I think my kids do - most of the time. I'm not always there to see them), especially well after a public bathroom (I DO make sure of this). We touch everything in public bathrooms; we sit on toilet seats; we actually use our hands to flush! My kids have been known to pick food up off the floor and eat it (only at home though), and I've never carried a disinfectant wipe in my life! I do have a bottle of Purell in my handbag, but I think I've used it about 5 times in the 2 years I've been carrying it around! I've never given shopping carts a second thought. Or hotel rooms.

Somehow we have managed to be stinkingly healthy!

Still, we have never been anywhere as large or as full of people as WDW. I will consider doing one or two things suggested on this thread - maybe. But I'm not wiping any stinkin ride handlebars - couldn't handle the stares!

We are kindred pro germ spirits, I guess.....

 

[meandtheguys2]

The idea of a bag of diarhea in a trash can, rather than flushed into the sewage system where it belongss is nasty.

 

[cedmonds]

wow this is the thread that never ends! we took our kids to wdw when they were older so I never worried about diapers etc...
I thought I was a germ a phobe but man I am out of my league here. I think I will leave this one alone for now and I hope all can "play" nice and accept everyones thoughts, ideas and opinions as just that.

 

[hydster]

And I have a potty seat in the back of my car (SUV) with lysol wipes & spray. So my kids use that pretty much all the time now.

In fact tonight was a first. I was in Brooks looking at Imodium for dh & my 3yo who I just made pee before we left states "mommy I have to go poopie".

Great. I was only hoping the way back to the car that I had plastic bags in there still & I did. He did his business & I tied up the bag & ditched it in the garbage (it's still chilly here so it won't get too stinky) & we went back to Brooks.

Maybe it's because I'm just feeling better after a wicked bout of stomach flu but OMG that is seriously one of the grossest things I"ve ever read in my life! So the poor unsuspecting person who had to empty that garbage out *especially if it liquefied* were subjected to YOUR son's fecal germs but he couldn't be suspected possibly to someone elses?

I'm all for being leery of germs *and I hate public bathrooms* but stuff like above skeeves me out! Do some of you who are very paranoid about germs *and I'm not judging just asking* take a mattress plastic liner to put on your hotel room mattresses? There are so many sick and disgusting germs on those...even if you take the blanket and the bed spread off the bed. People *get busy* and it can soak into the mattress and that's even worse than urine!

I worked at a Best Western Hotel and was a maid when they needed an extra one during busy season and seriously some of those mattresses skeeved me out! Bloody, bodily fluid stained,pooh stains, drool.....honestly if you are so skeeved about a public bathroom you better get a plastic mattress cover to use while in your hotel room as well.

I do feel for those of you who suffer like this. It must be very difficult to deal with.

 

[tjlovespooh]

I marvel at the changing in the stroller idea....what happens when the fabric gets dirty? Hardly sanitary at all!

I just wanted to add that many people use the changing pad that comes with their diaper bags, right? (not me) Well, how is that more sanitary than changing the child on a removable/washable stroller seat?

 

[tjlovespooh]

About the shopping cart cover---is it the "floppy seat" cover? That's the one I have for my twins and we use it on high chairs all of the time (high chairs are truly disgusting).

I also use these - they are called "drink deputies". They let you attach your child's bottle or sippy cup to their car seat, stroller, high chair, etc so they don't throw it out or on the floor. You can adjust the length to whatever you're attaching them to, & they are easy to use. They're one of my favorite child products:
http://www.burdickbaby.com/drinkdeputy.html

Thanks for the drink deputy link, looks like a product worth purchasing. DS has been known to toss a cup while out and about.
As far as the floppy seat goes, I have a generic one. I made it myself(following a pattern of course) and it's made out of quilted fabric so it's pretty thick when folded. I really don't want to haul around a huge bag so I'm looking for a less bulky alternative. I was actually contemplating making a new one out of a material that I can wipe down in order to keep it clean while on vacation. My son's a pretty messy eater sometimes. I wouldn't let him use the same bib for a week straight so I don't really care for the idea of him using a soiled seat cover for a week straight either. However, I don't really know if my idea is even feasible I'm open to suggestions. Thanks

 

[Beth76]

Haven't read the thread, but if you don't want to use a public changing table, just change your son standing up.