John,
Yep (re: family reunion) ... But in my original response, the key word was
"complete strangers", not family members or friends.
Hand sanitizer was not really for its original purpose, but the way to
stop people and invite them to think about what they were doing, in a
somewhat more subtle way than stopping them verbally or deflecting
their hands forcefully. Sort of "Hey, have you thought about what you are
about to do?"
Regarding transfer of germs, - babies' immune system is under-developed,
especially in the first few months. Those germs that might not be a
problem for a healthy adult, could be a problem for the babies. They are
especially vulnerable during the period when they are switching from mom's
immune defense to their own.
Besides, in many cases, babies (at least until they go to a daycare or
school) are not exposed to as many sources of germs as working adults.
Think of the sweeping epidemics (smallpox, measles) among indigenous
people of this continent as a result of contact with the Europeans.
I agree that the exposure to germs (preferably gradual) is what helps
developing kids' immune system, so, I wouldn't look for a sterile
environment for kids (unless there are special medical reasons).
All those factors explain why most kids have a long streak of being ill
once they start a daycare or school and receive exposure to their peers'
germs, while their immune system learns to deal with those.
We've actually seen a peak of kids being more sick after the winter and
especially summer break, when some kids were coming back from their
oversees trips, bringing the new variety of germs from there (our
university-owned childcare had a very international community).
And finally, about "Little children are always dirty because they live
closer to the ground & their curiosity takes them everywhere."
That depends on the environment. For a little kid growing at home with a
nanny or even grandparents (we didn't have that luxury) in a reasonably
clean house or apartment, there aren't that many sources of germs compared
to what you are exposed outside, even if she/he is crawling on the floor.
That, of course, could be different in a family with 22 kids with the
youngest learning how to crawl in the dust on the street, well... because
there is no living room or kid's room for that.
But all those things being said, - our primary concern was much simpler:
people were doing things that if being done to unrelated adults would be
obviously inappropriate.
Try, e.g. patting on the head an adult at your supermarket, or a person
sitting at a restaurant table that you are passing by, and see the
reaction you'd get. Our blue-eyed, blond child got quite a few of those,
and many more were intercepted.
Today, with Ann's "elephant in the room", that type of behavior may
not seem to be as shocking.
Cheers,
Igor
John Fri, 10 Feb 2017 09:17:09 -0800 wrote:
Don't know about Latin America, but in the U.S. South you're inevitably
going to attend a family reunion type event at some point, and EVERYBODY
is going to get to hold the baby & admire it ... whether they want to or
not. I'm a clumsy old bachelor & I'm always afraid I'm getting it wrong.
Hand sanitizer is not always that effective, but that's not usually a
problem because any transfer of germs is more likely to to be in the
other direction. Little children are always dirty because they live
closer to the ground & their curiosity takes them everywhere.
OTOH, I think a certain amount of germs are probably good for you
because it helps keep your immune system on its toes.
I make it a general rule not to touch other people's children with two
exceptions -
1. professionally you can't photograph babies & small children without
at some point having to help pose them and
2. when mama says "Here, hold this." (see above "family reunion type
event")
On 2/10/2017 8:55 AM, Igor PDML-StR wrote:
Alan,
One current president was all over in the media after kissing 5-year-old
boy's belly.
And some other president ... Well, I digress.
Unfortunately, not all presidents can be examples of good manners.
Actually, when our daugher was in a baby carrier and we went to a
public event where several people were trying to stick their hands into
the baby carrier (and we knew some of those people), - my wife started
politely offering them a hand sanitizer. That made them pausing and
thinking about what they were doing.
I understand that there are cultural differences. There are some
cultures (I believe some latin american cultures are like that, and it
is the case in some part of the US South) where touching a baby is
common. But for some people it was obviously just a thoughtless motion,
and once they had to think about it, some of the realized that it might
not be appropriate.
Cheers,
Igor
Alan C Thu, 09 Feb 2017 20:07:39 -0800 wrote:
Even Presidents have been known to do that.
Alan C
On Thu, 9 Feb 2017, Igor PDML-StR wrote:
Well said, P.J.!
... including humans.
I was appalled how many complete strangers have been trying to touch
(I am ready to say "pet") our daughter's head, from just when she was
born and until 2-3 y.o.
We became "proficient" in catching and deflecting people's hands in
the air.
Igor
P. J. Alling Wed, 08 Feb 2017 12:37:07 -0800 wrote:
Touching the young of any species without permission is a bad idea,
especially if the mother is around.
Touching the young of any species without permission is a bad idea,
especially if the mother is around.
On 2/8/2017 2:51 AM, Daniel J. Matyola wrote:
Touching a whale calf, under any circumstances, is a very bad idea.
Dan Matyola
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/danieljmatyola
On Wed, Feb 8, 2017 at 2:36 AM, Alan C wrote:
Good morning, Dan
I thought you (and probably others) would appreciate this clip.
http://www.metaspoon.com/gray-whale-mom-calf-greeting?cat=an
imals&fb=8018M1mwr3565aH&utm_source=8018M1mwr3565aH
Alan C
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