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AIBU?

People sticking their fingers in my baby's mouth

37 replies

Claricestarling4 · 23/08/2013 22:32

I have a six week old baby and she's my first so I'm not sure if I'm being paranoid or if I'm right to be pissed off with DH about this.

When she was born the midwives showed us that putting a little finger in her mouth can calm her down. We both did this a bit to start with but I have now started using a dummy with her as even though I know we both wash our hands a lot, I still find it a bit icky. However my DH still does it and a week ago at a BBQ I came back from the kitchen to find our friends' teenage daughter with her little finger in my DD's mouth. I grabbed her back straightaway. It transpired my DH had suggested to her that she do it while she was holding her and he and I had a huge row about it when we got home.

Then today, we were at another friend's house and (despite me having put a dummy right in front of him) he put his finger in her mouth in front of their five-year-old daughter, who then did it herself which I didn't realise for a couple of minutes because of where I was sitting - she had obviously seen him doing it and thought it was okay. I was horrified later to see her (the 5 yo) picking at a verruca on her foot.

I'm now livid with my DH, and also completely stressed that my baby is going to have caught the virus from her (I believe it's a strain of HPV). Any opinions or reassurance would be much appreciated. Do I just need to calm down? Or am I right to think no one should ever stick their finger in my baby's mouth? (My DH seems to think it's no big deal).

OP posts:
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Turniptwirl · 23/08/2013 22:34

Ahem, pfb

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notanyanymore · 23/08/2013 22:36

TBH, I wouldn't like it and no amount of DP telling me to calm down would change my mind.

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notanyanymore · 23/08/2013 22:37

(I'm on my third DC, and I still wouldn't like people sticking their fingers in her mouth! especially at 6 weeks!)

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Funghoul · 23/08/2013 22:40

I don't like it but now dd is 14 weeks and she puts everything in her mouth, even my fingers if they are in reach and I'm not paying attention. I make sure I wash my hands regularly now, that's all I can do.

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nannynewo · 23/08/2013 22:40

This is a tough one. When I started reading the post I thought YABU and pfb. But having read the part about the 5 yo I guess YANBU. But I wouldn't worry about your husband doing it really or the teenager because they are old enough to know about germs etc...

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SeaSickSal · 23/08/2013 22:41

YABU not wanting your DH to do it, it's fine to do that, you know he washes his hand and he is her Dad.

YANBU to think other people shouldn't do it. I am incredibly relaxed about things like this but I wouldn't like that. You don't know if they've washed their hands or scratched their arse or what.

IMO It should be something only parents and grandparents and maybe aunt's or uncle's should do.

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Valdeeves · 24/08/2013 00:10

I hate it!!!!

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TigerSwallowTail · 24/08/2013 00:13

Yanbu, your dh shouldn't be encouraging other people to shove their fingers in your 6 week old baby's mouth.

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poppingin1 · 24/08/2013 00:31

immediate and trusted family members only IMO. I don't understand why your DH cannot do it though Confused babies need germs.

I think you are being a little PFB but I understand why you wouldn't want people other than you and your DH doing it.

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MrsTerryPratchett · 24/08/2013 03:03

I did this the other day. No relation. However, I pointedly washed my hands before in front of the Mum so she would know. It does make babies very happy.

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CheungFun · 24/08/2013 04:02

I don't like the thought of it personally and never did with DS, I'd be quite upset if someone else had put their fingers in his mouth especially at 6 weeks old, just seems unnecessary.

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FridaKarlov · 24/08/2013 08:25

PFB

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Ledkr · 24/08/2013 08:30

It's vile.
Why bother sterilising if people fingers are going in her mouth.
Fingers are really dirty you know.

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Ledkr · 24/08/2013 08:31

To those saying PFB would you eat food from a cafe that was dished up by unwashed hands or drink a drink which was stirred by someone's finger?

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Crowler · 24/08/2013 08:33

Presumably the health visitor's fingers are clean; don't they wash their hands just before they take the baby? I let my kids suck on my little finger quite frequently when they were tiny babies, it allows you a bit more time between feeds.

I would NOT BE HAPPY with a five year old's finger in my 6 week old baby's mouth. No way. Not PFB.

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FuzzyWuzzywasaWoman · 24/08/2013 08:35

Makes me heave and I am certainly not precious about my DC, I wouldn't let anyone put their fingers in my mouth (obv besides dentist etc) so I certainly let anyone do it to my 6 week old. YANBU.

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FuzzyWuzzywasaWoman · 24/08/2013 08:36

*wouldn't

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StealthToddler · 24/08/2013 08:37

I am on ds4 and no I don't like it either. Not pfb. My other children don't put their fingers in his mouth as they know not to. Totally gross.

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miffybun73 · 24/08/2013 08:41

YANBU, it's revolting.

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Themarriedwoman · 24/08/2013 08:48

I don't think i was ever as PFB as you seem. Now I am on number 3 and even let the dog do it! It's really not such a big deal..

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BooCanary · 24/08/2013 08:54

My BIL always used to stick his fingers in my DCs mouths, before I could stop him. I hated bit, but it never had any negative effect AFAIK.
YABU though OP, its gross.

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dopeysheep · 24/08/2013 10:02

It's a bit grim isn't it? I wouldn't want random people sticking their fingers in my mouth!
I would feel exactly the same as you OP. 6 weeks is stil v tiny.

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Thepowerof3 · 24/08/2013 11:51

Fingertips are gross ask them to offer a knuckle instead if the feel they must stick something in

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MonstersDontCry · 24/08/2013 12:01

People saying 'pfb' would you want a random persons finger in your mouth? I wouldn't want Anyones finger in my mouth tbh.

YANBU op.

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KurriKurri · 24/08/2013 14:27

If you would enjoy having a five year old who had been picking her verruca putting her fingers in your mouth, then you can call PFB, but if not then the Op has made a sensible choice on behalf of her baby who is too little to tell people not to do disgusting things to her, so relies on her mother to do it for her.

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