Playdate Etiquette - York,PA

Just use common sense. Don't let them even get together if O. kid is sick. Clean toys as you would normally do. Don't stress over it too much. Kids have been doing this for a loooooong time!

Personally I would not let my child mouth anything that another child's mouth has been on whether it was santized or not. Therefore I would bring my own teethng toys to playdates.

Running all toys through the top-rack of dishwasher is an easy way to go.

However, generally speaking spreading the germs around is not a bad thing (unless they are actively sick -- then you just cancel the playdate). Getting germs from other kids is a good "workout" for a developing immune system -- lets it identify more germs asap. I have even read studies where kids who played in the dirt as kids had stronger immune systems vs. not.

In our purell-crazy world it seems counter-intuitive, but it is perfectly good and natural to let the kids get dirty and germy to a degree. Good luck!

I am a mother of three very healthy children, ages 9, 4 & 2. I have never, ever, worried about cleaning "germs" off of my kids toys. Nor, did I worry about whether or not other people did when I took my child to a "playdate". The only time I ever took any concern on this matter is if I knew that one of the other children was sick with something contagious, like a fever. And, even then, we just didn't have the "playdate" until after the sick child was better.

My viewpoint is this....Our bodies have immune systems. In order for these immune systems to work properly, we have to be exposed to "germs". If we are constantly afraid of "germs" and spend a great deal of time concealing ourselves from these "germs", then our bodies can never build up an immunity to them. And, as such, we will get sick more often and more severely. This is true for adults and children. The immunization shots we are given as children contain a small amount of the virus/disease in it. This is designed to introduce the virus/disease to our immune system. By introducing the virus/disease to our immune system, our immune system is given the chance to build up the immunity so that when/if we are exposed to it again, the immune system knows how to fight against it.

I would just have them play with the toys from that house or if you have something attached to the car seat/carrier.

I would give them whatever can be run through the dishwasher, it makes your life that much easier!

Chlorox Anywhere is also a good option for things that can't go in the dishwasher or can't be submerged in water.

When my kids were that age I usually brought a supply of my own toys wherever we went. Having said that, they always went for other kids' toys because they're "new". I only let them mouth other kids' toys if the mom said it was OK and the other kid was obviously not sick. If it's just the two of you I wouldn't worry about it - I'm sure you'll let each other know if someone's sick.

We never worry about germs. If someone was actively sick, we don't play, but other than that, we never messed with it. Hard toys can be run through the dishwasher, but the more plastics are heated the more chemicals they release... likewise, I'd rather risk germs than chemical exposure to the "sanitizing" things...

That having been said, my son is in daycare 2 days a week and is TOTALLY exposed to germs all the time. I And he's been sick. But as my pediatrician said, "they'll be sick now, or sick when they get to school, your choice. "

Kids need germs to keep their immune systems primed and going. And even if you can keep their toys separate now, in 2 months when they are on the move it's over. I'd just relax about it.

B., that's what we did - they mouthed EVERYTHING including each other's bottles, pacifiers, everything. We let them, then washed our own stuff (and if you were host, you had a big clean up to do in terms of sanitizing!). To reduce your cleanup when hosting, limit what you leave out to play with - they don't need 3 types of blocks/legos, for example.

However, it all has stages...at least you aren't doing a ton of snacks at this stage. Ours are 2-1/2 now (been meeting since they were 7 months) and now we make them help us find all the snack bowls, leftover Cheerios, etc. so the mom can wait on clean up until she's ready (after a nap! ha ha!)!

You are on the right track!;)

This makes total sense! Unless one of the kids has a fever or runny nose, etc, I think you're doing just the right thing. If one has a runny nose, you can try to keep the toys separated. You know when you're child is too sick to play with another so keep them apart when needed.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

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When our playgroup would meet at our home, etc., after the kids left, EVERYTHING would get washed. Certain things would go through the dishwasher. Other things would be thrown in the washing machine. Some things I would wipe down with bleach. Everything was very sanitary before it went back into our playroom.

If there were something I really did not want another child to play with, I would remove it from the room before the play date.

Have fun!