I am one of those germaphobe people. I have hand sanitizer everywhere; car, purse, desk, kitchen, my kid's backpacks. My hands are dry as a bone because I overdose them with hand sanitizer. I never used to be like this and am not sure what started it. Maybe it was having kids and being obsessed about them getting some major virus. The media has a way of scaring people, especially me, about this stuff. Then you have the shows like Dr. Oz where they show you what the actual germs look like and how they are just about everywhere. The latest information is that you can be too germaphobic.
They say that with all of the use of anti-bacterial soaps and sanitizers can be doing more harm than good. Apparently the ingredient in these anti-bacterial products called Triclosan can make us less resistant to super bugs. This goes along with that whole thing about not treating with antibiotics unless absolutely neccesary. They are also saying that keeping your kids too clean and free of germs can cause an increase in allergies.
Are you a germaphobe or an expose them to it kind of mom?
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11 opinions:
Alcohol based sanitizers like Purell do not contribute to super bugs but simply kill the bugs on the skin. I use that when I cannot wash my hands but prefer regular soap.
We don't use antibacterial soap at all.
I am both! I do worry about antibacterial soaps and we don't use those at home. But, I carry hand sanitizer in my car.
Children need to be exposed to germs so that their immune systems develop properly. Hand sanitizing gels are great in a pinch by really not necessary most of the time.
I got a little crazy with the swine flu running around this fall (pre-vaccination, that is) and sanitized them half to death. Otherwise, though, I don't get upset about germs. I figure if they're going to get it, they just need to get and move on. I get grossed out in public restrooms though. Does anyone not?
Maybe I've purelled too much because I have been sick on literally seven different occasions so far this winter. My latest cold came after I'd recovered for just three days from the last one. I'm doing something wrong. Perhaps I am washing my hands too much although somehow I doubt that.
Um, er, I am the "expose them to germs" kind of mum. Much to my mother-in-law's horror BTW. But my kids hardly ever get sick. I've only just gotten some purell... which is handy when there's actual vomit around. In my case it meant that only ONE kid got the bug.
But generally I am not paranoid about bugs & germs.
I am not a germaophobe however I am aware of highly dirty areas. Like shopping carts, public bathrooms, door knobs, etc. So I do have my kids wash their hands regularly but I do not carry a hand sanitizer around with me. I do have wipes with me though.
I am in the middle girl. I think when we are out and don't have access to hand washing, the Purell is a beautiful thing. But I do think that it is like any good thing -- too much becomes a bad thing.
I noticed years ago when antibacterial cleaners first became popular that we seemed to get sick more often. I'm pretty much the expose them type too & they rarely get sick. I did send Purell to school with them this year because of the flu, but I doubt they're using it. And btw I think you have a great blog & I left you an award at my blog if you would like to have it!
I have eliminated anti-bacterial soaps from the house, but we still do Purrell when out b/c we have had one too many stomach bugs - NOT FUN. I'm a little bit of a germ-phobe admittedly.
I'm more of an expose 'em to it, but I've swung a little bit with the flu - in and around the kids pre-school we scrub a lot!
Peryl (from FFF)
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