Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
I don't think they're acting like their baby is the only one......they're looking out for their kid. It's a safety precaution.......it's not like displaying arrogance.
I remember once we were traveling (airplane) and this little boy was sitting in the seat behind my mom. He had a cold and was using several tissues to wipe his nose. He kept sliding those tissues ALL the way down the crevice between the seats to where my mom was sitting. Mind you......the kid was sitting with a parent who should have known better than to allow his kid to slide his tissues down to another passenger. My mom got sick on the flight. It was so inconvenient.
Perhaps the kid was acting like he was the ONLY one on the plane. Or perhaps he thought the plane belonged to him and he could behave as he wished with little regard to propriety. Or perhaps his parents thought he was the ONLY kid in the world and should be allowed to do whatever. BUT, I don't think either of the above is the issue. I don't think the kid or his parent were trying to be arrogant. They were simply being careless.
And I don't think my mom was being arrogant in asking him to dispose of his used tissues elsewhere. She was looking out for herself.
That's all it is, Masti. You think its arrogance. It's really just precaution. I have a really sweet friend, very religious, and obedient, and traditional. She had her first baby years ago........and one day her dad arrived home from outside......and went to go pick up the baby. She asked her own dad to wash his hands first.
Parents freak out when they see a baby get sick. And it's frustrating because at least older kids can use WORDS to explain if they're feeling sick..........whereas with babies.......they can't talk. And that's why parents go into panic mode when they see a baby suffering....babies can't express themselves. It's more nerve-racking to take care of them as they are so fragile.
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
^ thats very unfortunate and should be taken care of. It is like when a relative picks his nose and wipes it off your brand new couch. You feel your ears burning but not much you can do about it. People should be careful when it comes to such matters, its a shame that many are not.
What about when a relative's sick child coughs in your new born's face and noone says or does anything? What is the mother supposed to do then?
Exactly!
This happened to me where some Aunty brought her child with her who had the worst cold. My daughter was 2-3 weeks. I just took her upstairs as knew saying anything to such ppl' wasn't worth it as they wouldn't understand.
But what about those people who smoke around babies and children and don't give a care about things like that?
unless you know someone has some sort of contageous disease or infection its not required. medical research shows that the obsession with clenliness increases chances of asthma and allergies as the immune system isnt built up properly.
This thread is very interesting for me , because Al Hamdu Lallah , i have new born baby some days before.
He was earlier born so he is still in NICU , but whenever we will go their to give milk for him or see him the Doctors and Nurses ask us to wash your hands with Soap/shampo then go to your baby.
But as you have pointed out about the Medical research and some other members have pointed out ,that Much care may result in weeking the imunity system of the baby...... a confusion there definetly arises that why the Doctors insists for this.
Although I have seen my other Nephews and Neices..... our family members or others have not taken much care and have no such concepts.
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
My first son was born very small and spent his first day in NICU because he had some troubles. Was on IV anti-biotics and had NG tube to drain his lungs.
When he came home, we not only had people use hand sanitizer, we had them wear paper masks. No one complained, they were quite understanding. We have amazing friends and family I guess.
As stated above, germs do not discriminate. And they can be deadly to an infant, especially one whose immune system is weak.
NJMasti, perhaps you will one day have a baby of your own. Only then you will be able to understand and I would bet the farm that you will retract the harsh words that you've posted here!
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
^ MO3 : If the baby has been in unfortunate circumstance, and is in the ICU and brought home - THAT'S a totally different take than a normal baby coming home.
If the baby had been in the ICU - then I would TELL PEOPLE TO TAKE A BATH before even coming 10 feet closer to the baby. I would shield the baby in a VERY PROTECTIVE environment and I know everyone would understand and comply.
I can also understand the person in previous post - stating her brother has been through cancer treatments and needs sterile environment.
I am VERY reasonable when it comes to the health of a new born who is sick out of prematurity or simply other things.
I am not easy with the original poster if her baby is completely normal born and people are just coming to visit.
As someone right above the post said some kid was sneezing all over - I mean washing your hands to hold the new born is NOT GONNA SAVE it from the air borne sickness.
MO3: I have 2 kids already and I have treated them as normal HUMAN beings because I was fortunate enough to have healthy kids. HOWEVER, I DID NOT go out of my way telling people to freaking clean themselves up before they even come close to my baby.
I think THE MORE YOU PROTECT - the more difficult it will be for the baby to gel into a different environment.
So according to me - arrogance should not even be LEFT AT HOME. There is no place for it.
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
NO ONE USEd A HAND SANITIZER WHEN I WAS A KID .IM FINE AND SO ARE MANNNYY MANYY OTHER KIDS THAT NEVER WERE HELD BY SANITIZED HAND.DONT SSAY IT THE AUNTIES AND THE UNCLES WONT LIKE IT. coz my baby couzin was born recently and the nurse asked my mom if her hands were washed and my mom goes she three days old and you havnt given her a damn bath and ur asking me to wash my hands like i had them in my pants or something. hahah. you baby will be fine . chill
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
I do understand what you're both saying about being overly cautious and heck, we were all fine as kids without all this fuss about it. But you have to remember...back then, antibiotics were prescribed abundantly - kid has a slight fever and runny nose, lets use some penicillin or vibramyacin just to be safe. This gave rise to "super bugs" - anitbiotic resistant infections that can be deadly, most especially to infants under age 1. Theres MRSA (which went around our area, very scary), there are super-resistant strains of TB, there is flu. And no matter what your socio-economic status, these bugs can get you - most common places to pick up the germs are doorknobs, grocery carts, telephones.
It is a different world today than it was 10 or 20 years ago. When you visit any grocery store these days in any western country, they have sanitizing wipes right at their door. Try not to forget that there is a reason for that - a reason that goes beyond just paranoia.
My take on it all? Yes, try not to be paranoid. But temper that with a bit of "better safe than sorry".
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
Just read a recent article about a newborn baby who died after her mom kissed her. Mom had a virus (herpes simplex), which causes cold sores around the mouth. Mom was not aware that she had the virus and the baby got it through either the mom kissing her or feeding her. It’s tragic. Even parents can unknowingly hurt their children.
And the spread of viruses such as cold and flu can be prevent a great deal by simply washing your hands. Our hands come into contact with so many surfaces during the day. We’re unaware of what our hands might be carrying. To me, it’s not a big deal at all to wash your hands before holding an infant and I wouldn’t take it personally if I was asked to clean my hands. While it’s important to have some exposure to disease to build up one’s immune system throughout the growing years…the immune system of a newborn is much more fragile than that of an adult. While a common cold sore causing virus such herpes simplex might not kill an adult…it can be fatal for a newborn.
I do agree that cleanliness can be absurdly overdone to the point that it becomes not only an obsessive compulsive disorder but also a turn off. There should be a healthy balance with all things even cleanliness. BUT…when it comes to babies especially…better safe than sorry.
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
hawwww red! Actually the mom should have been more careful where her mouth was BEFORE kissing the baby!
i might be a major ignorant - but i have a concept stuck to my head that herpes can only be caused by one thing - and no it's not cold virus =(
hawwww red! Actually the mom should have been more careful where her mouth was BEFORE kissing the baby!
i might be a major ignorant - but i have a concept stuck to my head that herpes can only be caused by one thing - and no it's not cold virus =(
Masti,
There are** two** types of herpes simplex virus. There is HSV 1 and HSV 2.
HSV 2 is known as genital herpes; that's the one you're thinking of.
The woman in the article has HSV 1, also known as oral herpes or cold sores..... which deals with infection of the mouth, lips, and face.
I think the article said that the doctor had not diagnosed her as having herpes simplex 1. Perhaps if she had been diagnosed, the doctor might have warned her to be careful around her newborn. She wasn't aware that she was carrying the virus as it's not easy to detect and she wasn't aware of the effect on her child.
Re: New baby: asking relatives to use hand sanitizer???
I think we DO need to expose children to contamination at times. This makes them resistant. I see too many cases of young adults falling sick from drinking slightly contaminated water or eating something unusual.
My mom's a doctor but she took us to eat 'gola ganda' or 'dehi bhallay' from the street hawkers. Her theory being the same. My stomach is resistant to anything now! She also did a survey and found that the people living besides the 'ganda nala' (drains) of Lahore had the best skin in terms of lack of bacterial or fungus infections!
There are** two** types of herpes simplex virus. There is HSV 1 and HSV 2.
HSV 2 is known as genital herpes; that's the one you're thinking of.
The woman in the article has HSV 1, also known as oral herpes or cold sores..... which deals with infection of the mouth, lips, and face.
I think the article said that the doctor had not diagnosed her as having herpes simplex 1. Perhaps if she had been diagnosed, the doctor might have warned her to be careful around her newborn. She wasn't aware that she was carrying the virus as it's not easy to detect and she wasn't aware of the effect on her child.
good info! I did not know about the cold virus / herpes.
I woke up a little smarter today!
