Is this ok? - Page 2

[yitlan]

If you have your kids use it, their cousins will definitely be curious and will probably ask to use it, too. Definitely look at mom to see if it's OK. We do not use it, but if I were in that situation, I'd probably give the OK since saying NO will just make my dd more curious about it!

Then the novelty will wear off!

[girlndocs]

In this case, "sanitizer" is a word that's popularly appealing but doesn't really mean anything. The purpose of products like Purell is to kill germs, which is also the problem with it, as someone already mentioned.

[SugarAndSun]

There seem to be two discussions here in one...

-- I have used Purell at times. Before I had ds I was a teacher and would keep it on my desk. I didn't use it over and over like some people, just if a really sick kid came up to give me something or sneezed on a paper before handing it in. I have always thought that the reason I am usually healthy is because I have built up a good resistance from not being too crazy about germs.

-- Whether or not you ask your SIL kids to use it would depend. Do you want to get into a debate with her about it? Though you might have gathered some info here, do you really want to bombard her with it if she gets offended. She has not had the time to think about this. She will be caught completely off guard. It seems that even by asking the question you are somewhat aware that it may be an issue. You can see that most moms here would not want their kids to use it. Even if she did not teach her children to wash their hands (which she probably did) wouldn't it be better to risk a few germs than cause a family rift?

[captain optimism]

So I googled about this and I kept finding public health bodies advising that food handlers should use soap and water and NOT alcohol-based hand sanitizer. But I didn't know if that was an indication that public health bodies were worried that food handlers would be confused because they might not know the difference between alcohol based sanitizers and anti-bacterials of other kinds, or what. Also, is the same thing true in people's homes?

This study:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in646393.shtml

(which may be the basis of your decision to use Purel, Maya?)

addresses the question. Here is a relevant quote from this rather facile reporting!

Anti-bacterial soaps have not really been shown to work any better than ordinary soap. Hand washing with soap is also effective at killing germs, but you have to make sure you wash thoroughly for 10 to 15 seconds, or the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday."

they also said:

Senay notes, "There are times when using soap and water is definitely more appropriate. For example, if you can visibly see dirt on your hands, you need to use hot soap and water. Also, for people who work in the food handling business or the food industry, it's still more appropriate to use hot soap and water than these hand sanitizers."

It sounds like the main advantage to rubbing your hands with alcohol instead of washing them is that you don't need to do it "right" for it to work. Since I don't think handwashing is rocket science, I don't see the need for a product that will dry my hands even MORE!

I think it makes sense for the OP to tell her SIL's children that they have to wash their hands before they eat, and they can decide what to use. I disagree that it's better to risk a few germs, handwashing isn't like the overuse of antibiotics.

[soladeo]

To come at it from another perspective:

Would you like it if your SIL made you wash the way she wanted you to when you go to her house
Or maybe she does! In that case, how does it make you feel? You don't want your guests to feel uncomfortable.

My golden rule of guests: I try to make them feel as comfortable as they would in their own home- and hope they appreciate it by doing the same. But even if they don't- oh well

That doesn't mean I go out and buy a bunch of stuff- my in-laws drink TONS of pop, but we're water/milk/herbal tea drinkers. We do get a 2 liter, but that's it.

Also, my feeling when I go to other's houses- I live a bit differently than other people, and I have to accept that. I don't expect others to go out of their way to change their lifestyle when I'm there- I feel it's being a good guest.

However, I don't think it would hurt to grab a container of Ivory liquid soap, easy to get, more crunchy than other stuff. Purell can be drying- we used it when I was a teacher when colds/ flu ran rampant.