If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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 |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Receiving blankets, onsies, towels, washclothes - how many does one really need? | cjra | Pregnancy | 23 | July 3rd 06 11:23 PM |
Hospital Bag List (and suggestions?) | Denise~* | Pregnancy | 41 | June 19th 06 05:29 PM |
Kinda OT... Cleaning/Decluttering? | xkatx | General | 130 | April 1st 06 05:37 PM |
laundry and house cleaning poll - for those with little ones! | dkhedmo | General | 141 | December 22nd 05 06:38 PM |
kids-puking-laundry-vent | [email protected] | General | 5 | June 28th 05 02:26 PM |