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Germy towels



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 9th 06, 09:19 AM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Cheri Stryker
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Posts: 44
Default Germy towels

In the discussion about drying pump parts recently, mention was made
about hermetically sealed paper towels. While not criticizing any
attempt made to keep such an important item as clean and sterile as
possible, it got me to thinking about germs, and how people react to them.

How do folks around here feel about going to great lengths to avoid
germs? I know the common feeling about sterilizing bottles, etc., is
that dishwashers/thorough cleaning is sufficient. I'm thinking more
along the lines of: how do most of you feel about the theory that
excessively avoiding germs is a contributing factor in the growing
number of children with asthma? Or the preponderance of antibacterial
soap and everything leading to more resistant bugs?

I'm just curious what level of vigilance is common around here....

(I did my best with DS1, but when he started eating stuff he found under
bus benches, well, I kinda felt overwhelmed.)
--
Cheri Stryker

mom to DS1 - 7 yrs, and DS2 - 4.5 months

Check out my new breastfeeding T-shirts on CafePress!
http://www.cafepress.com/dancingbones
  #2  
Old July 9th 06, 09:57 AM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Irrational Number
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Posts: 306
Default Germy towels

Cheri Stryker wrote:

How do folks around here feel about going to great lengths to avoid
germs? I know the common feeling about sterilizing bottles, etc., is
that dishwashers/thorough cleaning is sufficient.


Just my personal opinion, I don't care. I've
never sterilized and I don't use dishwashers.

I'm thinking more
along the lines of: how do most of you feel about the theory that
excessively avoiding germs is a contributing factor in the growing
number of children with asthma? Or the preponderance of antibacterial
soap and everything leading to more resistant bugs?


I do somewhat agree with these theories, but...

(I did my best with DS1, but when he started eating stuff he found under
bus benches, well, I kinda felt overwhelmed.)


We made everyone use the hand antibacterial lotions
while the babies were under 4 months. But, after
that, I didn't care. I mean, I don't actively seek
out every cold and flu germ (!), but if baby is
going to touch the floor and then suck his fingers,
unless I can keep him in a bubble, I'm going to save
myself some work.

-- Anita --
  #3  
Old July 9th 06, 02:17 PM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Donna Metler
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Posts: 36
Default Germy towels

If you're pumping for a preemie, or even pumping to freeze, though, all
rules change. Preemies can be so fragile that anything can overwhelm them,
and if you're freezing, you don't want extra bacteria in the milk, because
then it will often sour by the time it thaws, since you've destroyed a lot
of the protections by freezing. Similarly, with a preemie, you don't really
want to pump with wet parts because that water, even if completely sterile,
will dilute the milk, and you might have a baby only taking an ounce or so
at a time, who needs every drop of that nutrition. Besides, damp pump parts
chafe and feel horrid on your breasts-at least on mine.

If you never fed a bottle or pumped until your healthy child was a month or
two old, that makes a big difference as far as your feelings on
sterilization, and I agree that once your child is crawling and eating
everything in sight, it really doesn't matter if you sterilize or
not-because the pump is probably the cleanest thing going.

I used the Medela quick steam bags when I started pumping, with two sets of
pump parts in rotation, then ran them through the dishwasher when I did the
night dishes. Since I now only pump AM and PM, I just rinse them off and
stick them in the dishwasher to start.

ON parts-if you've got a hospital which rents your pump nearby, you can
probably buy just the pieces you need. In addition, the Gerber baby bottles
fit perfectly on the medela parts, so when I got a bunch at a shower, I
started using them. They held more, and I could just put a solid lid on them
and freeze as is. Unfortunately, I was using Avent to feed, so I couldn't
pump and feed directly, but if you're using the official medela nipples,
they fit on the Gerber bottles too.
--
Donna DeVore Metler
Orff Music Specialist/Kindermusik
Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
And Allison Joy, 11/25/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)


  #4  
Old July 9th 06, 06:25 PM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
oregonchick
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Posts: 17
Default Germy towels


"Cheri Stryker" wrote in message
...
In the discussion about drying pump parts recently, mention was made about
hermetically sealed paper towels. While not criticizing any attempt made
to keep such an important item as clean and sterile as possible, it got me
to thinking about germs, and how people react to them.

How do folks around here feel about going to great lengths to avoid germs?
I know the common feeling about sterilizing bottles, etc., is that
dishwashers/thorough cleaning is sufficient. I'm thinking more along the
lines of: how do most of you feel about the theory that excessively
avoiding germs is a contributing factor in the growing number of children
with asthma? Or the preponderance of antibacterial soap and everything
leading to more resistant bugs?

I'm just curious what level of vigilance is common around here....

(I did my best with DS1, but when he started eating stuff he found under
bus benches, well, I kinda felt overwhelmed.)
--
Cheri Stryker

mom to DS1 - 7 yrs, and DS2 - 4.5 months

Check out my new breastfeeding T-shirts on CafePress!
http://www.cafepress.com/dancingbones


I don't sterilize, and I don't use hand sanitizer and Lysol all over the
house... I think germ-phobia is a great marketing tool. I don't believe
that we will get sick if we don't take drastic measures to kill every living
organism in our environment. I think it's pretty ridiculous what we've come
to...


  #5  
Old July 9th 06, 06:44 PM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Anne Rogers
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Posts: 1,497
Default Germy towels

I am exceedingly relaxed, few things cause me to whip out antibacterial
stuff, but I think I am sensible with when I do, for example if I have raw
meat around, particularly chicken I will clean with antibacterial stuff, not
otherwise. I'm the kind of person that gets cross with adverts for
antibacterial stuff!

With pump parts, I've always been dealing with a healthy term baby, so I've
thoroughly cleaned and occasionally sterilised (it was me that suggested the
towels thing, but cjra does have a sick baby). With formula if you ever have
to use it you have to be much more vigilant, the lack of antibacterial
properties and a few other factors means the bugs multiply mighty fast.

Overall my general theory is clean but not sterile, my children are both
healthy and continue to be so, of course if there was a reason that one of
them had a compromised immune system I would have to reevaluate to see if I
needed to do more.

Anne


  #6  
Old July 9th 06, 06:49 PM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Anne Rogers
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,497
Default Germy towels

How do folks around here feel about going to great lengths to avoid germs?
I know the common feeling about sterilizing bottles, etc., is that
dishwashers/thorough cleaning is sufficient. I'm thinking more along the
lines of: how do most of you feel about the theory that excessively
avoiding germs is a contributing factor in the growing number of children
with asthma? Or the preponderance of antibacterial soap and everything
leading to more resistant bugs?


I didn't really answer this, in general I do agree, but of course it's
hospitals where these are a problem and in a hospital you should be
incredibly vigilant about washing your hands between patients etc. you don't
want to transfer anything unnecessarily. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries
doctors went from birth to birth without washing and there were places where
most of the babies died just because of a bug one of the mothers had, so in
any healthcare situation hand washing is vital, even if it is a partial
contributor to the problems, but I suspect it's part is small compared to
everywhere else also trying to be hospital clean.

Anne


  #7  
Old July 9th 06, 08:00 PM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Jess
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Posts: 117
Default Germy towels


"Cheri Stryker" wrote in message
...
I'm just curious what level of vigilance is common around here....


I didn't sterilize my pump or her bottles, and with two fuzzy four footed
owners, this house is anything but sterile.

I'm anal about where I'm cooking, I get picky about handwashing when we're
sick, and otherwise, I don't sweat the small ****.

Jess


  #8  
Old July 10th 06, 03:15 AM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Liz
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 55
Default Germy towels

"oregonchick" wrote in message
...


I don't sterilize, and I don't use hand sanitizer and Lysol all over the
house... I think germ-phobia is a great marketing tool. I don't believe
that we will get sick if we don't take drastic measures to kill every
living organism in our environment. I think it's pretty ridiculous what
we've come to...


Reminds me of an ad I saw on TV recently. A toddler was in the kitchen,
looking at a cockroach. Just about to reach out for it when the mother sees.
She grabs a spray can of poison, sprays the roach, scoops it up and puts it
in the kitchen bin. My immediate thought is "now the kid's going to touch
that poisoned patch of floor - yuck!"

Liz


  #9  
Old July 10th 06, 04:08 AM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Leslie
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 185
Default Germy towels

I'm raising five very healthy, mostly dirty kids. I don't use anything
antibacterial ever. I use mostly vinegar and baking soda to clean
things. I totally think that keeping things too clean has contributed
to the rise in some of these illnesses. Bring on the germs, I say!
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

When I had to pump for Lorelei, I rinsed the parts all day then boiled
them once a day.

I agree, if you have a sick baby the rules are different.

Leslie

  #10  
Old July 12th 06, 02:00 PM posted to misc.kids.breastfeeding
Notchalk
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Posts: 116
Default Germy towels

On 2006-07-09 16:19:23 +0800, Cheri Stryker said:

In the discussion about drying pump parts recently, mention was made
about hermetically sealed paper towels. While not criticizing any
attempt made to keep such an important item as clean and sterile as
possible, it got me to thinking about germs, and how people react to
them.

How do folks around here feel about going to great lengths to avoid
germs? I know the common feeling about sterilizing bottles, etc., is
that dishwashers/thorough cleaning is sufficient. I'm thinking more
along the lines of: how do most of you feel about the theory that
excessively avoiding germs is a contributing factor in the growing
number of children with asthma? Or the preponderance of antibacterial
soap and everything leading to more resistant bugs?

I'm just curious what level of vigilance is common around here....

(I did my best with DS1, but when he started eating stuff he found
under bus benches, well, I kinda felt overwhelmed.)


I am more scared of creating superbugs with overuse of anti-bacterial
stuff than from normal pathogens in moderation.

My sister came over yesterday to help watch my son while I did a HUGE
clean up around this bomb site, and she totally freaked when I put a
load of washing in the machine that contained: teatowels, floor mop
head, DHs handkerchiefs, and some face washers. "You put teatowels
with all that stuff??! YUCK!". I figure, you're washing them in the
washing machine, if you didn't think it was all getting clean in there,
why bother washing it at all?

With bottles, etc, I only would sterilise them if I was to use formula,
but on the rare occasion I gave Will EBM in the first week (to rest
nipples for 24 hours) just washed in hot soapy water, rinsed, and air
dried. Now though, I boil his dummies every few weeks, to stave off
the dreaded thrush. When I had thrush, they all got boiled for 20
minutes every day.

Jo

--
Woman, Wife, Mother, Midwife

 




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