Washing Hands at 9 M?

Just a thought -- many essential oils are anti viral / anti bacterial. You could make a little spritzer bottle you carry with you of distilled water with essential oils like rosemary, oregano, tea tree, peppermint.........I made a spray like this when my son was sick on Christmas day with a fever and we were with the rest of my family -- Spritzed it around all day, and no one else got sick! I believe in these.........they always seem to work for me. You can get little bottles of essential oils at Whole Foods and make a mix that you like. You could also mix some in some almond oil (also at Whole Foods or any health food store) and just rub that on his hands......

Good luck!

I would suggest hand sanitizer. Its all the rage these days. It requires no water or towels or anything. It goes on like a lotion and sanitizes all germs in the process. It comes on all smells and cream like things, but just the good old regular stuff is very handy... no pun intended. Good luck.

Have you tried 'wet ones antibacterial wipes', I used them when the girls were little, I used them on other things though, unless they touched something really scary and there is no other way to sanitize.

I have a recommendation for a great product I recently found. It is similar to Purell, only all natural. I bought the spray and the wipes and they're both great. I think they might even sell it now at Whole Foods, but I bought it online at http://www.cleanwelltoday.com/ We love it!

I used to use wipes to wash my boy's hands (dye free, perfume free, alcohol free) when he was a babe and we were out and about. But we also did handwashing with mild soap and water.

When my twins were that age, I found the easiest way to wash hands was to carry two wash cloths with me. One for soap and water, and one for plain water (rinsing purposes). Then I would dry their hands with paper towels.

In a pinch I also used purell on their hands. My twins are very healthy because I simply avoid germy places, especially during the winter months.

Hi TB

I always kept things as natural as possible. Soap and water or kept a wash cloth at hand to wet and wipe the hand and face. Colds just happen if your going to be around alot of children.

I rarely used the wet wipes; even when she pooped up her diaper (yes I used those too). I would wash her off with soap and water in the basin. He never got diaper rash.

D.

I use Wet Ones antibacterial wipes. They come in a canister or travel pack. They do have alcohol in them, so make sure your baby's hands are dry before putting them in his mouth. This and plain old soap and water would be the only way to kill 99% bacteria. Diaper wipes might keep hands "clean" but won't kill bacteria.

You may want to keep him out of the activities while he is sick. That is the best way to help him recuperate and not to spread his germs. It should only take about a week to ten days to recover from a cold. You really can't do much about his having his hands in his mouth all the time. That's what they do at 9 months. Good luck!

I completely understand your desire to stop your son from getting sick so often. The problem with constant hand cleaning is that it will still never be enough for an infant this age because they are constantly handling things and then immediately into his mouth again. The key to helping your son stay healthy is to boost his immune system while also cleaning his hands when you can. And I absolutely agree to stay away from all the dyes, perfumes, etc. There are many natural things you can do to help increase his immunity. Nutrition & supplements are a good way to start. Though I do not recommend a multi-vitamin for infants. I'd be happy to talk more specifically about some things to help with immune building if you'd like to email me or call me (____@____.com or ###-###-####). Hope this helps.

J. Stevens, L.Ac.
www.yourwholefamilywellness.com

It sounds as if you want the best of both worlds. It is difficult to avoid cold germs when exposed to them at places where toddlers and preschoolers play. This is the time of year for colds. When February and March roll in you will find the colds get farther and fewer in between - it sounds like your baby is teething so you might want to make available a washcloth or some other teething toys for your baby to chew on instead of his fingers, although I found babies like to chew on there own fingers the best. I personally do not like using the disinfectant hand cleaners to much on my son. It cleans the 'good germs' along with the bad. I usually use them after we use a shopping cart, escalator, public play place. If the colds really bother you and your baby then I think the best way to keep them at bay is to avoid these types of play places until the cold season is over.

TB -
It looks like you've received some great advice already. Just a couple additional thoughts:
Look out for adults spreading germs. People are contagious for a day or so before they show symptoms of an illness. Our son was a preemie, so we had to be unusually careful, but we had every adult who entered the house scrub his/her hands such that he/she was ready to perform surgery. My husband and I also made sure it was the first thing we did upon returning home. Our doc made a big deal about the grocery store. Imagine someone sneezing in his hands, pulling something off the shield, deciding he doesn't want it, putting it back on the shelf, and then you, unknowingly, pick up the item. Blech! I agree that you need to let your kid get sick, but, for his first winter, I would personally keep him a bit more protected. You're smart to stay away from chemicals, but you might want to use a liner for where he sits in the grocery cart for this one year (could likely find a used one), and, better yet, if you have the ability to go grocery shopping without him, do so. Don't let adults touch his hands unless you know they've done a proper scrub (for two "happy birthday" songs). They can touch his leg or arm or back, but not his hands or near his mouth/nose. Again, we were under doc's orders on this, but I remember being shocked at how many adults reached right for our baby son's hands without even washing their own first. We explained we were under doc's orders to be quite vigilant his first winter, and if someone got bent out of shape, that was his/her problem. Most people were very cool about it, though. So, careful of all aspects of the grocery store, be sure that everyone entering your house (including you if you don't do this already) goes straight to the sink. No need to get germs on drawer pulls and door knobs. You can often use your forearm to turn the kitchen sink on before you scrub. Does this sound insane? Perhaps. But, given that your son is getting so many colds, you might be able to eliminate a few this way and still let him play with other kids (who, admittedly, are little petri dished) on occasion. You can also wipe down communal toys/equipment when he's around other kids. Given the difficulties inherent in washing a 9mo old's hands, it's easier to keep people and items touching him clean. Good luck!

When my dtr was 9m I just used her wipes. I figured if they were strong enough to handle her rear they were strong enough to handle her hands. The flip side, though, is that this is flu/cold season, as you are well aware and, short of keeping him away from potential offenders, there really is no easy way to keep him from getting sick. Just stock up on infant flu/cold meds (after talking to your Pedi of course) and wait for spring.

This is cold and flu season and they say that over half of the colds babies and kids catch per year are between the months of October and January. That means an average of two colds per month. Exposure is going to happen naturally and often enough without over doing your activities. Nine months is young to have many colds and actually NOT good for them in the long-run.

Personally I limit our activities in the winter and choose to do more activities at home. Places like the church daycare and the gym daycare generally do not cleaned toys often or thoroughly. I would check with them both on their sick policy and how often they clean their toys. I also do use a hand sanitizer made for babies/kids in the car for when I know they have touched the shopping cart (I usually use a floppy/cart cover) or after we have been to the gym daycare.

It won’t matter how often you “wipe” their hands, if they have been exposed to germs and you do not clean them with soap and water then they are at risk. All the natural oil cleaning things mentioned are great for general cleaning after eating or for diaper changes, but for germs, they won’t do a thing.

Hello I am V.

is he mobile or does still crall around. Kids are kids they will into everything they can when your not looking.
Use a whips sencitive.

You you can never get kids kleen specialy at this age. Do what you feel is nessasery.Chilren need to have a curtien about of dirt.It help kides stay more helthy.

So once he stars moveing around and walking Look out they get into every little. You have to do whats in your heart. Its there just got to find your center.

I hope i have helped you. Please let me know how thing worked out Please. Here is my email address You can contace me if you new just to talk.

____@____.com

Secerly yours V.

I think you've gotten a lot of good advice, I would just add that I recently read (in Good Housekeeping) that antibacerial soaps/hand cleaners are no more effective than plain ol' soap. And if antibacterial soaps are used too frequently you run the risk of certain bacterias becoming immune to the cleaner.

Also, I don't think I'd go out of my way to expose such a little one to germs with the purpose of building immunity. They get plenty of exposure as long as they're not living in a bubble. :)

Hi,

I have had the same exact concern for my daughter who turns 9 months today. I wonder, as I too, every night 'wash her up' before going to bed -- wipe her face and hands w/ wet wipes. I had even started washing her hands w/ soap and warm water, just as toddler because I've been so concerned w/ germs, esp. during cold season. Incidentally, she's just getting over her first cold, so I'm not really sure. Nonetheless, I still wipe her hands, and sometimes even wash them in the sink. I'm sure every little bit of effort you put towards cleaning his hands would help. Good luck!

Hi there,
as a baby nurse and mom I can assure you that handwashing is the single best method for keeping those nasty bugs from giving your son bad colds. While I do appreciate the desire to expose your son to germs to improve his immune system I think there are better ways to do it. Right now he is being exposed to PLENTY even with clean hands. THere are a few bugs out there right that are very, very bad for a nine month old! They won't improve his immune system, they will make him very sick. Like -in the hospital sick. The good news is, washing hands can be fun and easier as your son gets used to it. Make it silly with lots of singing or make him "fly" to the bathroom. My son who is now almost three was a very strong (willed) nine month old and I dredded washing his hands sometimes, and then he just got used to it. Its a habit he will have to develop at some point either at home or at preschool and it really isn't too early. It's sooooo worth it! Good luck!
-S. B.

Try the alcohol free hand sanitizer that you can find at Babies R Us.

My now 3.5yr old had asthma from 3mos so the risk of catching a cold had more serious consequences for him. Even with that in mind I only used the unscented baby wipes from Costco. Trying to wash a 9mo old's hands in the sink is frustrating and messy for everyone involved. We participated in GymKids (like Gymboree), a gymnastics class, attended pardates and playdates at people's homes and even used Public Shopping Carts w/o the bulky protective cover! Every time we were about to get back into the car I made sure to baby wipe his hands and then mine before belting in and we've had fewer colds than I can count on one hand.

Cold are common at this age. By the time he gets to kindergarten, he probably won't get too many colds. My 10 year old hasn't missed any school in 2 years. He had colds constantly as an infant and toddler. Same with my 8 year old daughter. My sister's boys, on the other hand(LOL), had their hands washed,cleaned,wiped constantly and are always getting sick--even at ages 10 & 12. I know colds are no fun at such a young age, but in the long run, less colds later is better, I think.

I know that you want to keep ur baby from getting sick but remember the more he is sick now the stronger his immune system is so when he reaches school he will miss less school because he has built a strong immune system. Sanitation is good don't get me wrong, baby wipes is always good that is what I used for my two boys. My oldest is in1st grade and never missed a day because he was sick.

It sounds like you are doing what you can. How about approaching it from another angle? Make sure his immune system is strong through good nutrition, PLENTY of water, some vitamins, Danactive drinks, etc. You also might check out the homeopathic website and treat his cold symtoms when they appear. It's website is www.abchomeopathy.com. You can get most of the remedies at Whole Foods.

Light and love, Grandma N.

keeping hands clean can be a challenge for any of us. wash when you can. try cleaning his toys more often especially his chewing toys. that will cut back on germys. :) i didn't like putting that lotion stuff on until they were out of hand chewing stage.. just wash as often as you can.. baby wipes or hand sanitizing wipes i prefer over the lotion too. your doing good. some kids just get colds more than others. don't worry. :)

Purel is used in hospitals, nursing homes, and child care centers. It works, and has been researched thoroughly. Why on earth wouldn't you want to use it?

To avoid colds, increase his antioxidants -- any dark red fruit, mangosteen juice, cherry juice, grapes, etc.

My son is 18 months and LOVES to wipe his hands with the wipes - I just give him one and he does it himself - I think using the wipes is a great idea - especially when you need a quick fix, or don't feel up to the challenge of hanging baby over the sink to get his hands wet, or a bath.

All infant cold medicines were taken off the shelves last year! They don't really tell us the reasons for it, but I figured it's to protect our babies from ineffective and potentially dangerous medicines. From what I've read so far, this is not just for 2 and under. They are unsure about medicines for up to 6 as well. So all you really have is a humidifier and a wedge for sick babies/kids. With a 9 month old, it's not easy to keep his hands clean when he's teething. I think it's best to keep him warm and healthy before exposing him. He should recover fully before being in contact again with more germs. His body won't be able to fight it off if he is still battling the last one with a low immune system and ultimately will get sick again or have a relapse. And I don't believe he won't get sick in grade school after all the colds he's been through. There are 100's of cold germs, so most likely, he'll still get sick. Maybe not as frequently, but it happens. Even as adults, we get sick. Rest, water and taking immune boosters during the winter time helps to keep well. Also, fruit juices and anything with sugar lowers the immune system, so check his diet. I heard sweet potatoes are good for the immune system and would be good to feed him if he's not able to fight these germs. It could help. Take care and I hope your little one stays well!

You are wise to stay away from Purel and those types of disinfectants because they actually kill off the beneficial bacteria we need to keep our immune system clean. Colds are the body's way of eliminating toxins and other impurities from the system. What is helpful is to do things to strengthen the body's immune system. Although my daughter is 11 now, I used certified, pure medicinal essential oils with her growing up and she was rarely sick at all. If you don't know much about pure, medicinal essential oils I'd be happy to provide you with information. All oils are not created equally and some that are marketed as pure are really not so when it comes to applying them topically you have to be careful because the skin is our largest organ and many things penetrate it right into the body. Lemon essential oil is a natural disinfectant and you can use it slightly diluted on infants. If you are not using chemical free things like body wash and shampoo stuff I can provde you with info about these as well. Please let me know if you'd like more info and I can email it to you about the oils. I hope this is helpful information. You must be enjoying motherhood. I miss those earlier days. Sincerely, K.

You should check to see if the wipes you are using are antibacterial or not. Plain diaper wipes aren't going to kill viruses and bacteria. Also remember to spray or wipe down everything he touches after an outting if you don't get to the hands first. I have also heard that freezing blankets and toys in a plastic bag overnight will kill bugs too.

Many alcohol based sanitizers (Purell is 62% ethyl alcohol) can cause alcohol poisoning if ingested by small children. Here is the link for Snopes on this subject: http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp.

I would also check the "ingredients" on baby wipes before I use them. You can also buy hand wipes or make your own using paper towels, baby oil, and baby bath gel. There are many recipes on the web.

Unfortunately you can't expose him to as many germs necessary AND prevent the number of colds he is getting. However, considering he's so little, I'd opt for keeping him healthy. There will be plenty of opportunity in preschool to be exposed to lots of germs. You could try using a warm washcloth with soap & water on one side & just water on the other half. As far as baby wipes, I'd carefully read the ingredients, and make sure that they're all things you wouldn't mind feeding to your baby. If you're concerned, you could try organic baby wipes, or try making your own at home, using paper towels, with natural ingredients.

Another thing I did when my son was a baby is that I'd always carry anti-bacterial wipes with me and use them on surfaces I knew he was going to touch (swings at the park, grocery carts, restaurant tables, etc) Best of luck to you!