Need help from fellow Germ-o-phobes

[TENIA66]

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?

i use paper towels on my stroller before changing so we don't soil the cover but i do wash it in the washer, once a month or so. if it got dirty during the change, which in three kids has never once happened changing a diaper, i would strip it down and wash it........

now i've had to strip down the stroller a hundred times over spilt milk, puke, ice cream, etc.

leave the poor germ o phobe alone, we all want the best for our kids...........i hope......

 

[drgnfly30]

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.

Did you just hear that?!.... It was the sound of all the germophobes on this thread being thrown over the edge!

 

[tjlovespooh]

leave the poor germ o phobe alone, we all want the best for our kids...........i hope......

Oops, did I come across as an anti-germ-o-phobe? I was trying to make a point that changing a baby in the stroller isn't any worse than changing them on a cloth pad that comes in diaper bags (assuming that the stroller cover is removable and washable). There have been numerous posts here stating how unsanitary it is for parents to change their babes in the stroller because the stroller cover can't be washed immediately.

You're right though, everyone does what they feel is best for thier children. I truly don't understand why there are so many anti-germ-o-phobes posting on this thread I've read through some very rude comments and I think a lot of people see "germ freaks" as crazed, wide-eyed women wearing holsters with cans of lysol, purell, and wet wipes Honestly, we are normal. Hard to believe but, really we don't go to extremes all the time. Most of us just take a few extra precautions while out and about with our lil' ones. I personally have a dog and cat at home and I know for certain that DS has swapped many germs with them. He hugs and kisses them all the time. Do I freak out and scrub him down after he hugs the cat? No. I admit, I do freak when the dog tries to lick DS face, but if it happens I don't run over to him and grab a wet-one out of my holster and scrub him down! I just roll my eyes and grumble under my breath I guess I feel more comfortable with the germs we have at home. I still wash my hands a little excessively but, I certainly don't run around the house scrubbing everything down.

 

[udsweetpea]

Just curious.. those of you who say you change your children on benches or other surfaces, do you wipe the surface down when you're done as well?

 

[welovedisney7778]

I posted earlier in this thread, and I can't believe the turn it has taken. The OP specifically asked for some tips from "fellow germophobes" that means people who FEEL THE SAME WAY SHE DOES about germy restroom changing tables and how to reduce the risk of her baby getting sick. What is so wrong with that? She didn't ask for all this critisism of her choices. She's just trying to do what's best for her baby.

I for one am SO MUCH more careful at WDW, simply because I don't want my baby to get sick 1500 miles away from home, his doctor, etc. So many thousands of people cough, sneeze etc all over everything each and every day, it is a breeding ground for germs from all over the world, and until my toddler knows not to touch his face constantly, I am going to wipe down what I can to reduce his risk. My son plays outside, eats the Cheerios he drops on the floor, and plays with plenty of germy kids while at home-therefore exposing himself to plenty of "healthy" germs to boost his immune system, but in a place like WDW I'm not going to take any chances. Some dirt I can handle but thousands of strangers bodily fluids I can not.

A friend of mine just got back-didn't take my advice and spent the last 3 days in the hotel room with her sick 4 year old. She's typically not as "careful" as us germophobes about germs-so in theory her son would have a great immune system built up, but alas-his fever, cough, sore throat hit anyway. She said next time she'll give my advice a try.

My whole family LOVES WDW, my 21 month old has already been 3 times, and we're heading back in August. I have seen some DISGUSTING things at WDW, and while its not going to stop me from coming, there is no way that I'm not going to do everything I can to protect my child from HARMFUL germs.

Lastly, I'm one who has changed my baby in my stroller. It is very easy to do while he is standing up. If I can use a baby care center, I do, but if its not possible, I find an out of the way spot, and it takes about 8 seconds to change his WET diaper standing up. I dispose of it properly, and use Purell right after. In the rare event that I have changed a DIRTY diaper laying down in the stroller, I put a disposable changing pad underneath. No "germophobe" parent is pushing their child around in a poop covered stroller. I'm spreading far fewer germs than the numerous parents I've seen change their babies right on the restroom changing tables (no pad), who don't wipe it off after and don't wash their own hands when done.

We're just trying to do what's best for our kids. No one is asking you who think we are nuts to follow along with our suggestions. When grown adults stop using the restroom themselves, and then head over to the buffet without washing their hands, maybe I'll lighten up a little, but until then, no way!!!


BTW, another vote for Target's Eddie Bauer travel high chair cover. I use a Floppy at home, but this one on vacation. It folds up much smaller and is easy to pack!

 

[disneyjunkie]

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.

Wow, I feel sorry for the person who had to empty that bin. Why should someone else have to deal that.

Because most people don't become OCD from a one time occurrence and dwell on it forever. and because it is a PUBLIC playground and people are allowed to have differing opinions and express them.

 

[jodifla]

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?

My changing pad wasn't cloth. It was plastic....easy to wipe down. MUCH more sanitary than a fabric stroller seat.

Interesting to see that WDW doesn't allow you to change your kid out in public, and will ask you to take your child to the bathroom.

All of you are breaking the sanitary rules, and endangering the rest of us by your actions.

 

[karenTX]

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.

I am so very happy that you have very healthy children that you have no need to worry about germs and illness. BUT if you took the time to really read most of the threads on here, you would see that we Germ-o-phobes are parents of children whose bodies CANNOT handle a mass of germs. Does that mean we shouldn't leave the house??? I didn't for a year in order to protect my 3 lb baby. Apparently, I wasted a year doing so...according to you, I should have exposed her underdeveloped lungs, detached retina, digestive problems and many other issues due to being premature to ALL the germs, illnesses, including RSV in order for her to buck up and build some immunities.

We are doing what we think (and her MANY doctors) is best by using Purell, hand washing when possible, and covers for carts/highchairs. You parent your healthy kids your way...I'll parent my preemie my way.

Sorry but these last few posts got me fired up! You who think we are going overboard on protecting our children should not judge us until you have seen your child fighting for life in the hospital. I hope to God that none of you have too but maybe then you'll see our side of things regarding germs.

 

[Dead-metal]

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.

That is quite the most disgusting thing I have read. You protect your own children but other people are fair game?

 

[meandtheguys2]

I am so proud of my sister, the mother of my 24 week 1 lb. 2 oz. sweet baby niece. When she figured out that she was going to extraordinary measures and bordering on a phobia, she didn't gather sources to say how good and right she was, but gathered support to fight against irrational fears.

And when my niece, now 8, started showing some OC issues with handwashing, etc., she and her husband diligently taught her to take control of irrational concerns that were not healthy for her. And it has worked. Although, still a bit prissy about tidiness, she does not appear to still be carrying these mental health issues.

As parents we are called to step away from our fears, and not pass them on to our children. I don't like to fly...in fact I hate it...a lot. My kids have no clue of this, and we have flown the last 2 trips down. Same with thunderstorms, after being in a tornado. I don't want my boys to be fearful when storms hit. So I have the responsibility to control my behavior for their sake.

 

[MushyMushy]

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.

Now there's the voice of reason!

I guess we're just a family of dirtbags. All we do is make sure we wash our hands really well after coming in contact with germy surfaces.

 

[disneyjunkie]

Anyone watching Good Morning America right now?

 

[U2_rocks!]

I am so very happy that you have very healthy children that you have no need to worry about germs and illness. BUT if you took the time to really read most of the threads on here, you would see that we Germ-o-phobes are parents of children whose bodies CANNOT handle a mass of germs. Does that mean we shouldn't leave the house??? I didn't for a year in order to protect my 3 lb baby. Apparently, I wasted a year doing so...according to you, I should have exposed her underdeveloped lungs, detached retina, digestive problems and many other issues due to being premature to ALL the germs, illnesses, including RSV in order for her to buck up and build some immunities.

We are doing what we think (and her MANY doctors) is best by using Purell, hand washing when possible, and covers for carts/highchairs. You parent your healthy kids your way...I'll parent my preemie my way.

Sorry but these last few posts got me fired up! You who think we are going overboard on protecting our children should not judge us until you have seen your child fighting for life in the hospital. I hope to God that none of you have too but maybe then you'll see our side of things regarding germs.

n the post you quoted I was responding to Tiger926 and speaking generally from there. In an earlier post of mine I specifically excluded kids with immune issues from my general comments. I have no idea what I would do if I'd had a fragile preemie. I don't expect people who have had to deal with serious health issues with their kids to be as relaxed as I am. I didn't think I needed to qualify that in every subsequent post of mine, having done it once.

However, I have seen too many germophobes who have never had susceptible children (some have come right out and said so, I'm not just guessing). Not everyone who is excessive about cleanliness is that way because of a fragile (or once fragile) child. But you know, I can't tell you offhand who on this particular thread fits that category, because I haven't responded directly to anyone like that here. I was not even responding to the OP! I only joined this thread when it became more general in nature, where the different sides of germ theory were being presented. I really think many of us were just trying to clear up a few misconceptions, that's all. I know they don't apply to everyone, and that point WAS made. I certainly didn't mean to come across as condescending to anyone, and any laughing I did was along with my fellow non-germaphobes about how much we DON'T care about those things, not AT germaphobes! I admit to not really understanding why healthy people care so much about germs - it would drive ME wild to have to sanitize everything, even if I had a good reason for doing it! If my lack of understanding was offensive to anyone, I apologize.

I am happy to back out now if you all want to go back to discussing being germphobes.

 

[va32h]

The OP specifically asked for some tips from "fellow germophobes" that means people who FEEL THE SAME WAY SHE DOES about germy restroom changing tables and how to reduce the risk of her baby getting sick. What is so wrong with that? She didn't ask for all this critisism of her choices.

This is a public message board. Anyone who is registered on the DIS can post to any thread they wish to, whether they agree with the OP or not. If you want to close out all dissent, go start a private board for germophobes that is invitiation only.

If you throw your opinion out for public consumption, you will get all manner of responses.

 

[welovedisney7778]

This is a public message board. Anyone who is registered on the DIS can post to any thread they wish to, whether they agree with the OP or not. If you want to close out all dissent, go start a private board for germophobes that is invitiation only.

If you throw your opinion out for public consumption, you will get all manner of responses.

Give me a break, I know how message boards work. I'm not telling people not to post.

However, I think some people just like to stir up trouble, and some of the responses have been down right rude. We are not asking you to change anything you do. I agree that some things are completely inappropriate, (like changing the baby on a restaurant table or a bench as were mentioned earlier) But why does anyone care if I wipe down the table before I sit my child down at it? My simple point is this:

We spend a lot of money to go enjoy a family trip to WDW. I don't want to watch my son miserable in the hotel room for days, because he picked up some bug that a little Purell might have prevented. What's the big deal?

 

[MushyMushy]

Give me a break, I know how message boards work. I'm not telling people not to post.

However, I think some people just like to stir up trouble, and some of the responses have been down right rude. We are not asking you to change anything you do. I agree that some things are completely inappropriate, (like changing the baby on a restaurant table or a bench as were mentioned earlier) But why does anyone care if I wipe down the table before I sit my child down at it? My simple point is this:

We spend a lot of money to go enjoy a family trip to WDW. I don't want to watch my son miserable in the hotel room for days, because he picked up some bug that a little Purell might have prevented. What's the big deal?

Some people are going beyond "a little Purell," though. (not referring to those who have kids with compromised immunities)

At what point does this obsession with cleanliness become a mental health issue? I think some of these ideas are way out there, and some of the earlier posts were downright insulting to parents who don't take all these extraordinary precautions, like we're all some germ-infested dirtballs, walking around smearing our germs everywhere.

 

[Christine]

I think, in reading this thread, that many of us *thought* we were a bit on the "germ-o-phobe" spectrum so we thought it was okay to open this thread. But some of this stuff is actually quite shocking. Apparently, a little Purell isn't really what's going on here.

 

[phillybeth]

I think, in reading this thread, that many of us *thought* we were a bit on the "germ-o-phobe" spectrum so we thought it was okay to open this thread. But some of this stuff is actually quite shocking. Apparently, a little Purell isn't really what's going on here.

Seriously! I don't think it is appropriate for a baby to be changed in a stroller, on a bench or on a table any more than I think it is appropriate for a 4 YO to pee in the bushes. Or a 3 YO to crap in the back of a van. That is just over the top IMO.

Not all the germophobes on this thread have preemies or kids with low immune systems- in fact if you do, you're NOT a germaphobe. A phobia is an irrational fear; keeping a medically fragile child healthy is not irrational.

I've been to Disney 15 times, and never been sick once. I sit on toilet seats I sleep under the bedspread, heck I will sit on it naked. I walk on hotel room carpets barefooted I hold handrails, I drink from water fountains. I don't use Purell. I go in the hottubs

Disney in no more or less 'germy' than any other public place. Malls, movie theaters, daycare centers, doctor's offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants, airports, public transportation. You run the same risk at Target as you do at Disney.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Seriously! I don't think it is appropriate for a baby to be changed in a stroller, on a bench or on a table any more than I think it is appropriate for a 4 YO to pee in the bushes. Or a 3 YO to crap in the back of a van. That is just over the top IMO.

Not all the germophobes on this thread have preemies or kids with low immune systems- in fact if you do, you're NOT a germaphobe. A phobia is an irrational fear; keeping a medically fragile child healthy is not irrational.

I've been to Disney 15 times, and never been sick once. I sit on toilet seats I sleep under the bedspread, heck I will sit on it naked. I walk on hotel room carpets barefooted I hold handrails, I drink from water fountains. I don't use Purell. I go in the hottubs

Disney in no more or less 'germy' than any other public place. Malls, movie theaters, daycare centers, doctor's offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants, airports, public transportation. You run the same risk at Target as you do at Disney.

TMI!!!!!!!

Doctor's offices are the worst. My kids have to be at death's door for me to take them!

A phobia is an irrational fear; keeping a medically fragile child healthy is not irrational.

Well said.

 

[CowboyCO]

Seriously! I don't think it is appropriate for a baby to be changed in a stroller, on a bench or on a table any more than I think it is appropriate for a 4 YO to pee in the bushes. Or a 3 YO to crap in the back of a van. That is just over the top IMO.



I've been to Disney 15 times, and never been sick once. I sit on toilet seats I sleep under the bedspread, heck I will sit on it naked. I walk on hotel room carpets barefooted I hold handrails, I drink from water fountains. I don't use Purell. I go in the hottubs

EEEW! -- You GO in the hottubs? So this germ thing is all YOUR fault!