Monday, January 28, 2008

pulling a kramer

I just received a note from someone telling me that letting kids play in a kitchen sink - where I cook food - is gross. I might be in the minority, but I don't actually cook food in the sink, although I do wash vegetables, fruit and dishes in it.

When the triplets were infants, we used an infant tub and as they grew older and we didn't want to bend over the tub, we'd wash them in the sink. Now, they all like to splash together in the tub (or shower), but I bet I give someone a bath in the sink at least once a week. Henry gets one at least every other day.

I didn't consider this a rude comment, but it did make me wonder.

Why is bathing kids in the sink gross?

Is it gross because the kids are going to get food on them?

Or is it gross because food goes in the sink?

Let's just assume for a moment that I never clean the sink thoroughly before or after I use it for children. Or food. Or both at the same time, providing I'm trying to save a few minutes by making a salad while giving a bath.

37 comments:

  1. I don't think it is gross. For that matter, I thought it was normal to bathe children, as long as they fit, in the sink. The dirt melts off them just as it does your veggies, and it all goes down the drain, so what is so gross about it?

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  2. I say to each their own...opinion that is. I bathed my kids in the sink all the time. I'm guessing that you are smart enough to clean the sink of all the chicken guts before you put your kids in there. You haven't killed them thus far, so I say good going.

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  3. I don't think it is at all gross. I assume you use reasonable sanitation habits. Like making sure if you have been rinsing raw chicken or something you wash your sink down. That type of thing. But I thought everyone bathed babies in the sink. All three of mine got baths there periodically!

    Leeann (who must be gross too)

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  4. I'm not sure exactly what is wrong with baths in the sink. It isn't like you were giving them a bath in a pot on the stove...that also had your dinner in it. Now THAT might be worthy of an eyebrow raise. But even still - they would be both fed and clean, so what more can you ask for?

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  5. My SIL once told me that she could never bathe her son in the sink after she saw me bathing my daughter in mine. Her reason? "What if they pee in there?" Um...it will go down the drain? And then you will wash your sink? I don't see a problem with the bathing in the sink!

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  6. I didn't make that comment, nor do I find that bathing kids in kitchen sinks is gross but I do remember reading an article on webMD called "The Germiest Places in America" (http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/features/germiest-places-america) and kitchen sinks are #1. It might not be the cleanest place to bathe, but with all the suds, soap, and water in there, it won't necessarily harm them. I found the article rather interesting... and recommend the quick read.

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  7. Oh, gosh. People need to get a life! Letting kids play in a pre-cleaned sink is fine. They looked like they were having a blast!

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  8. I don't think it's gross, but I think THEY do for the second reason. If their baby is anything like mine was, s/he will sully the bath water at least once a week, meaning you'd have #1 or #2 in your kitchen sink.

    Considering the amount of foul items that I clean out of my fridge and rinse out in the sink on a weekly basis, I don't think I would wilt at the thought of a little pee in there.

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  9. There is nothing gross about it. It's not like you are bathing them in dirty dishwater!! Although you could... Scrub a kid, scrub a pan (joke)

    By the way, thanks for posting about the blocks... I have been searching high and low.

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  10. I vote for (C): It's not gross.

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  11. Haven't you ever seen the Oprah episode where she tests different surfaces in the house for germs? The kitchen sink won by a long shot. :-( It was even "germier" than the toilet.

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  12. It's not gross! It's not like you're washing dishes the same time your kids are bathing... That person just doesn't get it!

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  13. I'm guessing it is because of the possibility of there being raw meat "juices" or raw egg in there if it isn't thoroughly cleaned.

    I'm not one of those easily squicked out though as I often let me son "do" the dishes. He sucks his thumb anyway, so I figure life is a big cesspool.

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  14. Anything that will keep our children contained, happy, and entertained for any period of time gets my vote. And, they are getting clean to boot! Some people spend too much time worrying about small and inconsequential details. If I could bathe in a sink, I'd do it. How fun!

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  15. It's all relative. The sink here is much cleaner than the bathroom in 3rd world country (where I was born.)

    I do that all the time with my kid.

    Love your blog.

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  16. So what if it IS the germiest place in your house? Are your kids immunosuppressed? Are they compromised in some way that you need to be hyper aware of germs? Isn't that what skin and immune systems are for?

    I think we tend to worry a little too much about germs. Kids do gross things like pick up dog doo and eat their boogers. I would not rank bathing them in the kitchen sink as a major worry on my germ list.

    And, for the record, urine is STERILE!

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  17. To each his own...but I don't like the idea. True there are worse things but I'm all for separating hygiene from food prep. I wouldn't let my food touch the bathtub...and I wouldn't want to take a bath in a sink...I guess I apply the same to kids. -Karen

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  18. Maybe that is why I don't mind the bath in sink. I eat in the bathtub every chance I get to take a bath, which isn't often thanks to hubby being overseas and me having a 13 month terror on my hands along with a full time job, but when I do get a bath, I take food, drink and a book with me!

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  19. Oh.my.God. You are DISGUSTING. Bahahahahahhahahahaha

    I bet you change diapers on the counter while you are cutting up chicken and then don't wash your hands. DO YOU???? Don't make me report you!

    Where do you find the loons?

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  20. My kids all took baths in the sink and will continue to do so as long as they fit. If that makes me gross, then so be it. If I am willing to EAT food that has been in the sink, why wouldn't I be willing to bathe my children in it!

    If a sink is the germiest place, then why would you put your food, that will be placed in your mouth, in it??? Just some food for thought there!!!

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  21. Nope. I am a sink bather...well, not me personally, but i DO bath my children there! Quick rinse after dinner.

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  22. Oh, I have given both my offspring baths in the kitchen sink. Well, to be honest, I have 2 - sinks, I mean. One is in the utility just beside the kitchen, and that is where they go for a quick dip if I don't want to go upstairs and use the bathtub.

    I don't think it's gross - provided of course that it's been cleaned well in between the food prep and the bath.

    It's great for saving your back, and the kids love it even more than being in the bath-tub, for some reason.

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  23. Oh, my husband said he loves the Seinfeld reference. The one where Kramer has the garbage disposal installed in his shower is one of the best!

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  24. plus who doesn't clean their kitchen sink after they do dishes anyway? I probably clean my sink 1X every day-2 days. my mom bathed us in the sink all the time. . . nothing unsanitary about it!

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  25. I had to laugh at this...when my trio were just getting into solids, I told my sister how I fed them in the "one, one, three" method (one bowl, one spoon, three mouths). She gave me a lecture about how "gross" that was...to which I sweetly replied, "Oh? So how did you do it with YOUR triplets?"

    The ensuing silence on the phone answered the question and she never again questioned my methods.

    M

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  26. Does this person get a new bathtub everytime someone uses the bathtub???? I ditto Hilary's comment. A toilet is actually cleaner than the kitchen sink. I think the story goes, if an alien came to earth, they would eat out of the toilet and pee in the sink due to the germ factor????? "Gerba" is the guy behind this idea. BTW babies have been bathed in the kitchen since the beginning of time!

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  27. Heehee just got the "pulling a kramer"

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  28. OMG!!!
    Not wonder that kids grow thinking that the kitchen sink is a bathtub, maybe the next BIG IDEA that you can give them is to take them to a TOILETTE BATH...,
    besides..., if like at the sink they pee or poo... it doesn't matter you are so clean that are gonna desinfect the sink at least with clorox after that.., so Go Ahead and put them at the Toilette too.., I mean you are so clean that I bet you clean so good the Toilette too..
    LADY DON'T GO MAD, USE COMMON SENSE... and don't be LAZY,
    give them a real bath at the Bathtub!

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  29. Not gross at all, in my opinion! I'd do anything to raise my tub up to kitchen counter height to make bath giving easier (my sink isn't as big as yours)!
    Thanks for the info on the wooden toys. I've been searching for a kitchen for my girls and Community Playthings has the perfect one!

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  30. RealMom: Do you happen to clean carpets in your spare time?

    I'm just wondering...

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  31. Am I the only one that doesn't know what a toilette is? Do I have to Google that?

    I mean, HUH????????

    Actually I just re-read it and I'm still like, HUH?????

    But we all know you are clean. So at least since you can't do ANYTHING RIGHT, at least you are clean! Get that toilette cleaned Jen!

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  32. Toilettes = toilet en Fracais. Maybe that is what she meant? But why write in French? Beyond that, I am also confused as to what she is trying to say. There is definitely something lost in translation.

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  33. I cannot believe some of the comments people leave. ref: realmom...what the heck?! I read it twice. I can't believe the nerve of some people. I don't think there is anything wrong with giving your babies/toddlers a bath in the sink. What's the big deal. I love your blog, it's truly one of my favorites!

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  34. I've been bathing babies in my kitchen sink for over 45 years!! First my babies and then the grandkids. When my first grandchild was born I cut out a bunch of black and white pictures and taped them under the kitchen cupboard where I had fashioned a changing and drying area on a big fluffy towel on the draining board. He loved those pictures and would "talk" to them everytime he got to be bathed at my house. I'm sure most moms clean out their sinks before and after baby. Oh my! What a flap over something so simple and back saving for busy moms.
    I loved your bath pictures!!

    By the way what happened to your carpet cleaner neighbor?? We haven't heard about him for a whle. I was interested because I have a simiiar situation in my neighborhood and I don't want to make trouble, but I sure don't like the looks of it.

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  35. I'm a germophobe, so I would worry about the bacteria left behind if you rinse your raw meat prior to cooking. If you don't rinse your meat, or if you clean your sink thoroughly before putting the kids in there, then all is well.

    As far as thinking that using the sink after a child has bathed in there is gross - I don't understand that line of thought.

    Take care,
    Sarah in Ohio

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  36. I've seen oodles of pictures of your kids taking baths in the sink and it never bothered me and I never gave it a second thought.

    Now that I am giving it a second thought...

    A lot of people seem to be commenting whether your kids could catch something from the food that was in the sink. That sounds like a real stretch and I'm sure that was not "whoever's point."

    However, I am one of those who fills there sink directly with water and soap in order to do dishes. I don't put in a dishpan. The idea of eating off of a plate that was washed directly in a sink that last had kids butts and privates in it IS a little bit gross. But I never would have thought of it.

    And we all know your luck with dishwashers....

    Another thing though...RealMom...Why would you read some nice lady's blog, who is sharing her life with whomever it can help/uplift/entertain/commiserate with, and then leave a comment with such a nasty, bitchy tone? Do you scan the web just looking for places to vent? People to make you feel superior? Would you treat a friend or family member like that? Get some manners.

    And Jen, IF I ever had the good fortune to eat at your house, I would eat off of plates washed in your sink no matter whose rear end was in there because you are a nice lady.

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  37. I confess...I just read another post where you talked about Henry having a blowout and plopping him in the sink...and I thought, ewwwww....poop in the sink! I know you can clean it, but I feel much better washing poop off my child somewhere else, just in case I miss a little bit when I clean it afterwards.

    It may gross me out a little bit, but it works for you and many other people. I'm sure I do things that you'd find gross!

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