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Mom Sparks Discussion Online After Seeing Husband Wiping Baby’s Face With Dish Cloth
Father tenderly holding and kissing a sleeping infant close to his face, showing gentle infant care and bonding.

Mom Sparks Discussion Online After Seeing Husband Wiping Baby’s Face With Dish Cloth

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Babies are fragile beings; everyone knows that. And so, the parents‘ responsibility is to make sure nothing happens to them. This isn’t an easy task, as due to their fragility, a lot of things can hurt them.

Still, sometimes parents do some things that are pretty irresponsible and can put a kid in immense danger. For example, in this story, a dad thought it was a good idea to wipe his baby’s face with a dishcloth. Let’s just say that his wife wasn’t a fan of such an idea, which caused quite a lot of drama.

More info: Mumsnet

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    Parents have a responsibility to do everything they can to shield their babies from all possible dangers

    Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

    Even if something doesn’t seem like a big deal, it might hurt a kid big time, so parents should second-guess almost every action of theirs

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    Image credits: KamranAydinov (not the actual photo)

    Apparently, it’s a memo that didn’t reach the dad from today’s story

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    Image credits: syda_productions (not the actual photo)

    He wiped his baby’s face with a dishcloth that was usually used to clean dishes and floors

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    Image credits: namechangesafe

    This made his wife, who is the baby’s mom, freak out, as she thought it was beyond dangerous to do that for a 3-month-old baby

    Babies spitting up isn’t something uncommon. In fact, during the first three months of life, about half of all babies do it occasionally. It happens because the food backs up from their stomach through the same tube that carries food to the stomach, called the esophagus, and causes infant acid reflux, since the proper muscles haven’t matured yet. 

    As long as the baby doesn’t spit up too much or too often, it’s nothing to worry about – it won’t affect their growth. It’s just a way an immature body works and will be grown out of later on. 

    So, when the OP’s 3-month-old baby spit up, neither of the parents really batted an eye—it wasn’t something out of the ordinary. Yet, what took the original poster by surprise was that her husband grabbed a dishcloth from the kitchen sink to wipe the baby’s face. 

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    She called him out on it, but he was nonchalant about it. Then, she asked if he would wipe his own face with it and he answered that he would, implying that he does not see why she is freaking out here.

    So, why was she freaking out, you might wonder? Well, it turns out this exact dishcloth was typically used to wipe mess from the floor, the sides of cabinets, and stuff, as well as even the dishes. Quite versatile, isn’t it? Granted, the one used on the baby’s face was taken from the washing bowl and bleached the day before, so it wasn’t so dirty, but still, using it on a kid’s face felt weird for the OP. 

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    Image credits: freepik (not the actual photo)

    After all, it’s no secret that young babies are less immune to various bacteria and viruses than older kids. Their kid is 3 months old, so still an infant

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    Of course, a lot of various factors play a role in defining the strength of an infant’s immune system. From the way they were born, to whether they’re being breastfed or not, vaccination status, inheritance, and all things like that. Yet, being wary is always recommended – why put a baby in a possible danger, right? 

    When the OP wrote about this whole situation online, asking netizens if she was overreacting to her husband using the dishcloth on the baby’s face, they pointed out that her reaction wasn’t too out of line—his action was indeed pretty dangerous, along with other actions he does with the baby, like lifting it with both hands. 

    Yet, what the cybercitizens also paid a lot of attention to in this story was another weird fact about the infamous dishcloth. Why was it being used both on the floors and on the dishes? This fact alone seemed pretty gross for some folks, so naturally, they were also disgusted by it touching the baby’s face. 

    Either way, the general consensus was that the dad is definitely putting his kid in danger and that the mom reacting harshly to it wasn’t too much – it’s her task to make sure a baby is safe. 

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    Netizens agreed that the man’s action was unsafe, but they were also confused why the family used the same rag for both floors and dishes, saying it’s a whole separate problem here

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    Ugnė Bulotaitė

    Ugnė Bulotaitė

    Writer, Community member

    Read more »

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. I have loved creating and writing down stories about people and things since I was little and I think this passion led me to get degrees in sociology, communication, and journalism. These degrees opened various paths for me, and I got a chance to be a volunteer in the human rights field, and also try myself out in social research and journalism areas. Besides writing, my passions include pop culture: music, movies, TV shows; literature, and board games. In fact, I have been dubbed a board games devotee by some people in my life.

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    Ugnė Bulotaitė

    Ugnė Bulotaitė

    Writer, Community member

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. I have loved creating and writing down stories about people and things since I was little and I think this passion led me to get degrees in sociology, communication, and journalism. These degrees opened various paths for me, and I got a chance to be a volunteer in the human rights field, and also try myself out in social research and journalism areas. Besides writing, my passions include pop culture: music, movies, TV shows; literature, and board games. In fact, I have been dubbed a board games devotee by some people in my life.

    What do you think ?
    TCW Sam Vimes
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The cloth is not the problem, a few germs never hurt anyone and I'm sure they're washed regularly. Lifting by the arms though, that's seriously dangerous in that age, even for a few meters.

    Marnie
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's not just germs, though, it's possible chemicals that may be on the cloth. I don't see it as a HUGE problem, though, but yeah, lifting by the arms is a big no-no. Why didn't OP just find a legitimate article that says this is a bad idea.

    Load More Replies...
    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If the dishcloth was clean, then it's not so bad. If the dishcloth is used, then I'd like to stress that the kitchensink, including sponges and cloths, is the dirtiest place in the house. Dirtier than the toilet. You do not whipe an infants face with a mixed microbial culture.

    Marnie
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not just germs, but chemicals. OP said the dishcloth had had bleach on it.

    Load More Replies...
    Marnie
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My sister (a sweet woman and good Mom) was in a McDonald's with her kids. This was maybe 25-30 years ago. She had just adopted a 3-yo and already had another 3 yo. Just after the adoption was approved, she found out she was pregnant, so she ended up with a newborn and two 3 year olds. And her husband was a Marine and had been sent to Iraq. She was pretty frazzled. She was in a McDonald's and one of the 3 yos had a fit. She didn't want to disturb the other people, so tried to hustle them out really quickly. She grabbed 3 yos arm and half lifted her up and walked her out. (3 yos feet were still touching the ground.) I've never seen her do this. It was not a habit of hers. She dislocated 3 yo's shoulder! She was SO ASHAMED and was telling my Mom that she shouldn't be allowed around children anymore. That was just one instance. DO NOT LIFT BABIES AND TODDLERS BY THEIR ARMS!

    Load More Comments
    TCW Sam Vimes
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The cloth is not the problem, a few germs never hurt anyone and I'm sure they're washed regularly. Lifting by the arms though, that's seriously dangerous in that age, even for a few meters.

    Marnie
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's not just germs, though, it's possible chemicals that may be on the cloth. I don't see it as a HUGE problem, though, but yeah, lifting by the arms is a big no-no. Why didn't OP just find a legitimate article that says this is a bad idea.

    Load More Replies...
    Susie Elle
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If the dishcloth was clean, then it's not so bad. If the dishcloth is used, then I'd like to stress that the kitchensink, including sponges and cloths, is the dirtiest place in the house. Dirtier than the toilet. You do not whipe an infants face with a mixed microbial culture.

    Marnie
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Not just germs, but chemicals. OP said the dishcloth had had bleach on it.

    Load More Replies...
    Marnie
    Community Member
    8 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My sister (a sweet woman and good Mom) was in a McDonald's with her kids. This was maybe 25-30 years ago. She had just adopted a 3-yo and already had another 3 yo. Just after the adoption was approved, she found out she was pregnant, so she ended up with a newborn and two 3 year olds. And her husband was a Marine and had been sent to Iraq. She was pretty frazzled. She was in a McDonald's and one of the 3 yos had a fit. She didn't want to disturb the other people, so tried to hustle them out really quickly. She grabbed 3 yos arm and half lifted her up and walked her out. (3 yos feet were still touching the ground.) I've never seen her do this. It was not a habit of hers. She dislocated 3 yo's shoulder! She was SO ASHAMED and was telling my Mom that she shouldn't be allowed around children anymore. That was just one instance. DO NOT LIFT BABIES AND TODDLERS BY THEIR ARMS!

    Load More Comments
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