Do You Wash Your Hands After Every Diaper Change?

March 26, 2010

Most moms would say that they wash their hands after they use the restroom or assist their children in doing so, but what about when they change baby? A diaper can be swapped out almost anywhere from a parent's lap to a blanket on a grassy field, and not all locations have access to soap and water. Do you rinse your hands with bottled water, use hand sanitizer, or make use of a baby wipe? Maybe it never even crosses your mind? Does it make a difference if the nappy is soiled compared with one that is just wet? Fill us in on your diapering hygiene!

Source: Getty

11 Comments

2 years 45 weeks

I ALWAYS wash my hands after changing diapers. Regardless of whether I think I touched any pee or poop. Regardless of whether the diaper actually is wet or dirty. And regardless of where I am. I just won't visit places I know don't provide a sink and soap, or I take soap with me if I know they never have soap there. And I usually take a handtowel too. I don't like drying my hands on my clothes or on those towels they sometimes have on large rolls that you pull on. I mean you don't know how well everyone else washes their hands before they dry them on the towel. Or if for some reason I have to visit a place that doesn't have a sink and soap I either just don't change baby until I get back home, or I will wipe my hands with the baby wipes (if I don't have soap and towel on me) and then not eat or drink anything or give my kids anything to eat or drink either. I don't know how anyone can change a nappy and then not wash their hands and then touch food. It's so unhygienic and disgusting. Ewwwwwww. Honestly, I wouldn't even want to be friends with someone that never washes their hands after changing nappies. Regardless of where they are.

mstrauss 3 years 9 weeks

I only wash my hands if they smell after a very dirty diaper change. No one wants hands that smell like poop. Yuck. I use hand sanitizer once in a while, but when I do, my son wants some also!

POPSUGAR Moms 3 years 9 weeks

I'm a freak about washing my hands (with soap and water) after changing diapers. But, I just use a wipe to or bottled water to do it if we are somewhere like a park without a restroom.

Zivanod 3 years 9 weeks

If I am unable to wash my hands, I at least use a diaper wipe.

babysugar 3 years 10 weeks

I stick with hand sanitizer - its right on the changing table, next to the diaper cream.

aembry396 3 years 10 weeks

For pee, not all the time, especially in the early morning when I'm just trying to get her in and out and back to sleep. For poop, I would think everytime and I always use an extra wipe right after till I make it to the bathroom.

3 years 10 weeks

i use hand sanitizer - especially if its poop. otherwise, i might not. pee isnt so bad.

3 years 10 weeks

Honestly, a lot of the time I do not wash my hands but I also do not feel like I'm touching the contents of the diaper.

3 years 10 weeks

I have horrible eczema on my hands and have been advised to keep them out of water/had sanitizers as much as possible, so I tend to make use of the baby wipes for my hands because they are easier on my hands and was recommended by my dermatoligist.

3 years 10 weeks

and I have the dry, cracked, chapped hands to prove it.