To be or not to be germ-free lol

My dad always told me that you cant be too germ free with your children because they wont build up the immunitys to the germs and they will get sick easier. Im not talking about a newborn because I know thier immune systems are weak but like a 7 or 8 month old baby. I know some people are complete germaphobics. So I just wanted to see other mothers views on this.

My step mom used to let my little sister eat cherrios off of the floor.

I think your dad has a good point.

I think it's bad when people get too germ free.. All the antibacterial soap and stuff.. bah..
We use regular soap.. my daughter has eaten numerous things off the floor before I could grab it out of her hand lol.. I don't bother with the grocery cart covers.. etc..etc...
She was 11 weeks premature and has not been sick one day in her life.

My mom says the same thing , I use to be a germaphob with Zander but it seems like he will only eat his snacks after he tosses them on the floor so I give

I agree with your dad... they need to be exposed to stuff at some point (not too young) or else once they getinto school or going out they will be sick all the time!

When my daughter was younger I kept her away from a lot of stuff. Now I try and be more relaxed about her touching stuff when we are out because I want her body to be able and build up immunities to common germs. I will stop her if she goes to touch something really gross or something a visibly sick kid has just touched though.

There is a fine line I think. I routinely sanitize things that get filthy and am EXTREMELY picky about the kitchen and bathrooms, but from there on out, its clean enough to be heathy and dirty enough to be home as my mother always put it. LOL In public tho I am a little pickier, bc you never know who has used the bathroom before you or what disease could have been spread where. I am not an absolute germaphobe about it, but cautious. My kids routinely get sick once a year right between November and December and its always just a mild case of the flu.   LOL

I dont carry antibacterial gel in the diaper bag when I go out I just keep wipes and I think thats enough.

I agree with your dad. I'm not a germaphobe. Outside of common sense hygiene (wash hands after using bathroom and when handling food etc) I just don't worry that much. She's going to put stuff in her mouth and I simply cannot control everything she comes into contact with so I would much rather her build up her immunity now than go out and come into contact with something awful and her body won't be able to handle it. My daughter will be 6 months old next week and hasn't even had a runny nose despite being around my niece and nephew who ALWAYS seem to be sick with something (their mother IS a germaphobe)

I wash my hands so much that I have to carry lotion around with me. My hands and personal hygeine are something I'm a bit OCD about. I do not use public restrooms, unless it is an emergency and I'm about to urinate myself. I HATE taking my kids into a public restroom and cringe at the idea of when my daughter gets to that age.

Although I'm a bit whacked about my personal hygeine and bathrooms, I really strive to not push my crazy onto the kids.

Your dad is right.. just use caution when letting your child be 'dirty'.. Haha. Killing the bad germs means killing the good germs. Anti bacterial hand soap is bad!
I am a germaphobe and can't stay away from the crap.. and I carry a huge bottle of hand sanitizer around with me. I bleach everything.. It's terrible, I wish I could just relax about it.

I like the cart covers personally because I dont want my kid sitting on someone elses kids leaky diaper spot and I dont like them trying to put their mouth on it plus its more comfy then just a hard seat. I am careful about bathrooms and like I said diaper spots but other then that I dont worry about it. My kids crawl around on the ground at the park and play in the mud. I dont care. They are kids and I want them to be able to get dirty and not freak about it. I see some kids pick up being germaphobs from their parents and not want to play or do things because they "might get dirty". Kids shouldnt have to live like that. I think unless you are doing pictures or going to a special function kids should be allowed to be kids and have fun without worry about dirt and germs.

i've always heard that a little dirt won't hurt, and i'm not a germaphobe, but there are certain things that do bother me

Quoting Melinda.:“ Your dad is right.. just use caution when letting your child be 'dirty'.. Haha. Killing the bad germs ... [snip!] ... carry a huge bottle of hand sanitizer around with me. I bleach everything.. It's terrible, I wish I could just relax about it.”

i'm the same way. i bleach the bath tub after i give the dog a bath in it. i bleach the kitchen and bathroom floors. shoes HAVE to come off at the door. i wish i wasn't so bad, but certain things just gross me out.

Quoting Pr0nkBeth:“ I wash my hands so much that I have to carry lotion around with me. My hands and personal hygeine are ... [snip!] ... age. Although I'm a bit whacked about my personal hygeine and bathrooms, I really strive to not push my crazy onto the kids.”

i'm the same about public restrooms. i dont think i'll ever leave my house when it comes to that stage lol.