Washing hands a "Condition of Entry"

[Rowellen]

Seems a bit extreme IMO. We certainly don't do it at our kindy.

[Jaycee]

Definitely sounds extreme. Hand sanitizer I could understand but that just sounds too much to me!

[krysalyss]

This has recently been introduced at my kindy too. They have always had hand sanitiser. I do think it is a bit over the top. next they will be asking us to hold our breath while we are inside the centre in case we breath germs on someone!

[meow]

No way would I use the sanitiser gel- that stuff is bad for your health.

That sounds really, really overboard. Even if it was for germs- it's not like you're in the room spreading your germs around. You're just signing in. Can you jsut ignore it, or do people notice? I would tell them the sink is too low as you're carrying your baby so you're going to bring your own pen to avoid touching theirs.

[little_O]

No way would I use the sanitiser gel- that stuff is bad for your health.

That sounds really, really overboard. Even if it was for germs- it's not like you're in the room spreading your germs around. You're just signing in. Can you jsut ignore it, or do people notice? I would tell them the sink is too low as you're carrying your baby so you're going to bring your own pen to avoid touching theirs.

Sorry to hijack but what's wrong with sanitizer gel?

[Phteven]

Sanitiser gel doesn't distinguish between the good flora that we need for skin health and the bad flora that causes disease. it dries out the skin on your hands reducing the skin's effectiveness as a barrier. The non-alcoholic one may also promote anti-biotic resistant micro-organisms.
Since colds and flus are also generally airborne viruses they aren't all the effective at stopping the spread of common illnesses either.

[Novella]

Sanitizer gel has been shown to be more effective in a number of studies though, mainly to do with poor washing technique but its a bit OTT in a childcare centre/kindy for visitors to be using. I do think it has its place for health care workers and child carers but not in every day household use!

That sounds over the top OP. Seriously getting parents to wash their hands when its highly likely your child will pick there nose, put their hands in and out their mouths multiple times a day, and possibly touch their nether regions too all without washing their hands. Is it to do with germs or nuts? Do they have a child currently with that severe a reaction to nuts?

[wysiwyg]

Our childcare doesn't allow any foods in - but certainly there is no enforcing of washing hands - I think there might be hand sanitiser on the wall somewhere but I haven't seen anyone make sure they are using it. It does sound very extreme if you ask me - and when I was carrying DS in I would have found it impossible without putting him down - and once he has started walking he normally disappears off towards the toys while I am signing in - and I am sure siblings like him would be more of a germy / contamination risk than me.

Surely it doesn't do anyone any favors - outside children are in contact with what has been on others hands all over the place (the hand rail on the way into childcare for example) - touching the button to change lights at the traffic lights etc etc - IMO unless there is a specific medical condition then it is not helpful to be in a too sanitized environment.