Are You a Parental Germ Freak?

by Allison Janse

Take this quiz to see if you're a parental Germ Freak. The corresponding advice will show you if your habits are worth it, or just wacky.

1) You've been known to take temperatures before admitting a child to your playgroup. While whipping out the thermometer is definitely over the edge, you're right to ensure no child (or adult) comes to your house when sick. To avoid creating waves the day of, discuss the illness issue tactfully with the moms beforehand: "With flu season approaching, it's better to be safe than sorry. I'd feel more comfortable if we didn't meet until the symptoms cleared up..." Or, "We all know how hard it is nursing a child with an ear infection, so let's say we take a rain check on the playgroup until our kids are healthy." Be warned that children can be contagious for up to two weeks after they catch a cold.

2) You overheard your three-year-old daughter scold her doll for double-dipping at her tea party. Three years old (or sooner) is not too young to teach kids proper "respiratory etiquette." Without being neurotic--or expecting proper execution every time--teach your kids how and when to wash their hands, to cough or sneeze into their elbow, and that double-dipping is a no-no. At the very least, saying "No double-dipping" in a funny voice is a sure way to get a three-year-old to finish all her carrot sticks with one dip.

3) You dread hearing someone sneeze at the store, more than you dread the words "But, Mommy, please can I have..." While it's possible to catch a cold from a nearby sneeze, the sneezer would need to be so close that the secretions found their way into your child's nasal passages or mouth. Your child is more likely to catch something by touching the shopping cart handle or another surface like the conveyer belt and then putting his hands in his mouth or rubbing his eyes. Taking along a shopping cart cover is a good idea, as is cleaning your kids' hands with instant hand sanitizer when you leave the store.

4) You broke a world record sprinting to grab your child before he dove into the ball pit. Your efforts did more than burn calories: They possibly helped your child from getting sick. Dr. Charles Gerba, Ph.D., microbiologist at the University of Arizona, tells parents to avoid ball pits. "We almost always find these pits are laden with E. coli."

5) Your routine for getting your toddler in and out of a public bathroom rivals an NFL playbook. You're right to take care, but remember that the toilet isn't the germiest surface in the bathroom. While the likelihood of adults catching something off of the toilet seat is slim to none, the risk goes up when your child is touching every surface of the toilet with his bare hands, and then potentially putting those hands in his mouth or eyes. The Potty Topper and CleanSleeve are two great items to have in your bag. But remember: the bathroom hot water tap and the doorknob harbor more germs than the toilet seat.

6) Your child doesn't eat off the floor...that much. Don't encourage the "five-second" rule in your house because under the right conditions, food can become contaminated well within five seconds. You wouldn't eat your turkey wrap off of floor, so why let your child? Even if your floor is spotless, the next time it happens, your child could be at an airport or the mall.

7) You stockpile antibacterial soap more so than diapers. Unless someone in your house has a compromised immune system, you don't need antibacterial soap for everyday washing. A recent study showed that people living in homes with antibacterial soap had just as many colds, flu and, fevers as homes where it wasn't used (colds and flu are caused by viruses, not bacteria). Plus, if your child's hands get chaffed from the stronger soaps, it's easier for dangerous bacteria to invade the surface. Save your money.

8) You wipe your child's restaurant highchair with a disinfecting wipe. Good idea. Better, get the table top, too, since many waiters use a dirty rag to wipe the table instead of a germ-free paper towel.

9) You triple-wash lettuce and fruit even when the label says, "pre-washed." You're right. There have been several outbreaks of food poisoning in restaurants that didn't thoroughly wash "pre-washed" produce.