Baby Hygiene - Is it just me?

[bubbaloo]

Thanks for your responses ladies!

It's fascinating... seems I might perhaps be being a little too obsessive. Or maybe not! Some of you think cafe tables are fine, but fingers aren't; and others think fingers are fine but cafe tables aren't! So I guess it's one of those every mum for themselves types of things!

I do appreciate that bubs do need contact with germs to build up their immune systems, but I figured that if you are supposed to sterilise bottles, etc when they're very little, then it made sense to try and keep their environment pretty clean too.

Does anyone know what age you normally stop sterilising stuff (bottles, etc)??? I've never used bottles with bub so I'm not too familiar with the usual standards, but I figure that will give an indication of when babies systems are better able to cope with non-sterile stuff. IYKWIM

And just one other thing... what about other people letting your bub put their fingers (bub's fingers) in their (the other person's) mouths? Any thoughts on that one? A friend of my dad's let DS put DS's fingers in his mouth and I was a little horrified - but I don't mind if it is his own or DH's or my mouth he shoves them into.

Thanks again!

[Janie]

Some will say you can stop sterilising bottles after 6 months, some say 12 months, some say don't bother with it at all. Each to their own I say, you have to do what you're comfortable with.

However, the point of sterilising bottles is not that you need to sterilise everything that goes in their mouth. Formula will have all sorts bacteria in it if it's left out long enough. That's why it's suggested to sterilise bottles used for formula, but not for bottles used for EBM.

[bubbaloo]

Thanks Janie and MistyFying. (your responses seem to appear on the page before I asked the question which is a little strange!)

I had no idea that sterilising bottles wasn't essential, and that it is only really recommended when using formula. I had just assumed that little babies were really sensitive to germs or something. I guess I can chill out a little! DH will be pleased!

Thanks again!!