germs

[prettypenguin]

Since c was born I seem to have developed an 'unhealthy obsession with germs and dust. We have a dog who I used to treat as a baby but since c was born I feel pike I can't touch her or cuddle her cause ill pass germs on to c. I do feel bad for her cause she is so well behaved, knows the difference between her and chrlies toys, won't walk on his playmat and doesn't bark all day. In fact doesn't bark at all. But oh scared me as at the mo I won't put Charlie on the rug as the dog rolls all over it and oh sort of said what about when he's crawling and eating bits off the floor...now I'm panicking inside and even considering rehoming the dog x

 

[Hope81]

I can totally understand how you feel, I have a puppy an though bubs is far away from being here I am already thinking about that.
What we do already is to set bounties for the pup. She is not allowed upstairs, or in the bathroom or in the closet room. She also knows the go in your cage command and we will start working on the go on your mat command soon.
We also bought one of those robot hoovers that we set it to vacuum every night before we go to sleep and more during the day If needed. Regarding the baby playing on the floor I will buy a big plastic that I will put on the floor when the baby wants to play on the floor and a blanket over it and it's playmat. I also plan on buying a playpen for the same reason and ofc it has the whole second floor to crawl and play on the floor without any problems.
Don't rehome your dog, kids build stronger immune systems and have less allergies when growing up near animals.

 

[Sassysugar]

I know how you feel hun. I have 2 cats, and I don't let lo touch them. He's getting interested in them now though. He was sitting on my knee the other day and the cat was beside and I didn't realise he was touching her. I had to then clean his hands before he could get them in his mouth.

I only ever put him on the ground on his playmat which the cats aren't allowed on. I shut the bedroom doors as don't want them on the beds or in his cot either.

The thing is we can't protect them from everything and like Hope says, it will help them build up their immune system. We won't be able to stop them once they start crawling everywhere (which I'm slightly stressed about).

I was out the other day with oh, he was getting a drink from a vending machine so I was standing holding lo in my arms and a old man walked past cooing over Colby and he touched his hand. It bothered me so much as I don't know where his hands have been and Colby always puts his hands in his mouth. I had to wipe his hands for ages afterwards. I'm completely OCD about things like that! Why do random people think its ok to do that. They wouldn't grab an adults hand! Sorry off on a tangent there

I wouldn't get rid of your dog you may regret it when lo is older. I won't get rid of my cats, I will just teach Colby to wash his hands when he's older, but it will be nice for him to grow up with animals.

Sending you a hug

 

[Cazza]

Don't rehome your dog, kids build stronger immune systems and have less allergies when growing up near animals.

Absolutely agree with this!! Having 8 dogs and 3 cats my LO will be growing up amongst them!!

Your LO can pick up far worse germs from other sources than your pets!!

I have no issue with our LO touching the dogs/cats but I will not allow the dogs to lick her face/hands, that's just good manners IMO!!

My dogs do not have the run of the house either, they are in the kitchen and garden room if they are in (they have large runs outside too, but sleep indoors) as OH is very allergic to dogs and cats!!!

 

[LaurenMM]

I understand how you feel hun. I've always been obsessed with cleaning even before Angel was born but I gor even more obsessive after. We had 4 cats when she was born... now we have none and my hands are all cracked and bleeding and dry because of the amount of alcohol gel I use I agree with that Hope said, plus babies always put their hands in the mouths and will pick up germs and other nasties from other kids etc. xx.

 

[Sarah13]

My dog was my baby too so know how you feel. I'm just starting to get a bit more relaxed now as he will pick up germs whatever. He's getting really interested in the dog now and watches her all the time, hes even starting to reach out for her now! I also caught the dog lick his face while he was in the door bouncer the other day and he was just smiling, gross! Told her off for that one! I do hate the dog hair though, never bothered me much before.

 

[Princess81]

We don't have any pets since my wee cat died in October however MIL has 2 dogs and I'm trying to take the relaxed approach about it. So long as they aren't mingingly dirty I don't mind him touching them but draw the line at licking his face etc

 

[prettypenguin]

Oh I'm not the only one then!! Phew!! Oh hates me stressing and tries to put Charlie on the floor or rug on his own but I get so anxious then angry at oh... Lucy is really good too she never goes near him, best behaved dog I've ever met, except for when other ppl look after them she gets too hyper and the other day when I was out she jumped over Charlie apparently in one of her mad hyper runs round the living room....she wouldn't dare do that with me in the house as I'm more strict with her... I'm stressing out so badly about when he crawls...Lucy doesn't malt but she leaves random tufts of hair around the house which Charlie could choke on if I don't see it. Thing is too she rolls around in the grass outside which isn't really grass its more dirt, and then comes in and rolls on the floor which oh expects me to put c on?! And we can't feed her treats like cherry tomatoes (she loves them) cause then she eats her own poo (sorry tmi) and then comes in breathing it in your face...argh I feel stressed like I.can't keep up with all the germs and dust and mess, feel like I'm making myself ill over it, and feel like if I don't get a grip soon ill end up resenting the dog which I don't want like I can't even stroke her and touch Charlie without washing my hands...which are.also cracked and bleeding from too much cleaning stuff x

 

[Sassysugar]

Oh hun It's exhausting isn't it!!! Nivea is my best friend, found it the best cream for cracked hands. I have to wash my hands too if I touch the cats before I touch Colby. When oh comes in from work, I get him to wash his hands before he holds him. Rationally I know it wont do him any harm but then the other side of my brain says 'what if'. Worst 2 words in my vocabulary!

 

[Hope81]

Can you have a room where the dog is not alloweded? You could then let LO crawl in there. Remember crawling will not last forever either, soon after that will be walking. About th grass dirt and mess I have a damp towel at the entrance of th house, every time we come in from the yard if she is dirty, dirty paws etc I just rub her with the towel for a min. About the hair I think hovering once per day is more than enough for dogs like yours (mine is the same) also ofc brushing the puppy.
Do you have a cage or a place that you sent your dog to sleep, relax etc? Of not you should start training that command, that will give you place to clen a little nd play with LO while the puppy is relaxing near you without feeling excluded from the family.

 

[prettypenguin]

She sleeps in the cupboard under the stairs, and we all hang out in the living room so can't really ban her from there, sometimes I send her out to the kitchen when.she's annoying me...I just feel like the rug and the carpets getting ruined and I want to feel ok with Charlie messing on the floor. She sits picking herself and her paws and then licks the rug and it really bugs me, disgusts me in fact. Bloody germs x

 

[Cazza]

Just a quick point - tomatoes are very acidic and can cause urine problems with dogs!!! Give her carrot instead!!

As for poo eating grated courgette or a couple of chunks of pineapple in her food may help but easier to break the habit by clearing up quickly!!


Also you could have a spray bottle of diluted Hibiscrub (frm the vet/chemist or Hyperdrug) available so when she comes in you can spritz her with it and wipe over with kitchen roll. I do this when we have puppies and the bitch has mixed with the rest of our dogs. Won't harm the dog, can help lessen germs and smells good too!!

 

[Xcitedmum]

PP my friends wife has become obsessed with same thing since having their son. She has been diagnosed as having postnatal depression but I should add that her husband says she has become a bit OCD since the birth. All he said was that she has to have everything organised and freaks out if this is not the case.

I am by no means suggesting you have postnatal depression! I genuinely think we all become more conscious of germs etc after having a baby. I must admit that my dog def doesnt get anywhere near the same attention from me as before

 

[prettypenguin]

Ooh ill give her carrot instead then, she.likes carrot sticks...I've wondered if I have pnd myself, just never feel settled and find it hard to balance time between Charlie and cleaning, and loving Charlie, oh and Lucy... Lucy doesn't get much of a look in nowadays and I don't have as much patience for her and sometimes I think she does things for attention...like this.week Charlie's barely been napping in the day I don't know why, but I've.not been able to get my jobs.done and I feel on edge and really stressed as I've got so much to do and don't like doing it when c is up. I think OHs getting fed up of me, well in fact he just said it to me 10 mins ago when I sent the dog out of the room cause she wouldn't go to her cushion(see, no patience) and I feel tense anyway, not really spoken much to oh as he's been.busy on his laptop with work stuff when he gets in at 7 and I just sit on my phone or clean or sort c out. Just feel so disorganized and out of control, I went to Tesco before on the self serve and when I got home I realised I'd left my flipping shopping there!!!! Duh lol. X