Is it acceptable to wash my hands in the kitchen sink after nappy changing
I dont have another sink downstairs so would mean going upstairs and leaving child in room alone
which would be the less of 2 evils :blush:

I had very long conversations with environmental health and Ofsted about this one a few years ago and neither were happy to commit to an answer.

Ofsted said they do not legislate on it... but I know some inspectors have strong views and it has been mentioned in reports as a negative.

Environmental health basically said they don't expect us to have 2 sinks (but some inspectors do) and they say it is not best practice to wash hands in a domestic sink.

To which I say well it's not safe to go upstairs taking 3 under 3s with me or leaving them downstairs when I might change 9 or more nappies a day... plus going back upstairs after each hand wash to clean hand contact points.

Then what about when I have cut up chicken? Is that somehow more acceptable than washing hands in the sink after changing nappies? And on and on the arguments go.

So my advice is... write a risk assessment, state how you clean hands with a wipe and hand cleaner after changing nappy, then wash hands keeping the sink empty and using antibacterial soap, then use a single use towel to dry hands, then clean and sterilise the sink after use etc and hope you don't get a picky inspector.

Hth :D

well it must depend on your inspector coz I never even gave this a thought at my inspection...changed the nappy in front of Mrs O then i went straight into the kitchen and washed my hands...she never even mentioned it

I had a terrible inspector, but she never said anything about how I washed my hands after nappy changing, I changed the nappy in front of her, then wiped my and toddlers hands with a wipe (1 each) and then put anti bac gel on our hands afterwards.
Didn't think any thing of it really until I read this thread. Maybe I had a lucky escape as I got 'good' for hygiene

Thanks for the replies , im even more confused now

I wouldnt have thought using a wipe was acceptable , but then what do i know and it sounds like it depends on your inspector , im hoping its the same one i had for pre reg , she was lovely

maybe ill just use the kitchen sink , and ensure its clear and wiped afterwards , plus use handgel to be on the safe side

dont think ill put it on the child though , oh i really dont know now

what about before they eat , wash the childrens hands with soap and water or is a flannel acceptable which is what i do now

I think you'll be fine as long as you can say why it's better to do it this way - i.e not having to go upstairs.
Take the bowl out if you have one, so you're not washing your hands over it, and spray the sink and taps with antibac after. Use kitchen paper for drying - and I'd have a separate roll by the sink just for this.

If you wear gloves I can't see any problem with washing you hands in the sink.

The way this thread is going it sounds as if our hands are covered in poo every time we change a nappy and that is simply not the case.

I'm afraid I don't spray my taps and sink with antibac spray every time I wash my hands, in fact I don't use and never have used antibac spray. Shock horror!! :laughing:

I have an aversion to the over use of chemicals in the home. I don't and never have had bleach either or the plug in air freshners. I use good old fashioned soap and hot water hand washing and for wiping high chairs and work tops.

I have been a mum for 18yrs and a cm for 17yrs and never given my children or the children in my care anything because of the way I clean. I use envirnmentally friendly toilet cleaners.

I have always been graded Good with Outstanding features and Ofsted have always complimented me on my nappy changing. I have the changing mat on a table as well, I have never changed a nappy on the floor apart from in an emergency, I value my back too much!

Common sense must prevail surely?

I only ever used anti bac hand soap once & it disagreed with my skin so I have never used it since & never intent to.

Cupcake22

Hah! I don't spray my sink with antibac every time either - even I am not that OCD! I just think I might if Mrs O was coming and I thought she might have an issue with it.
I am not advocating putting on a show for Mrs O either, I firmly believe you should do as you always do, but I hate to see people get marked down for really stupid things. No-one will come to any harm if you wash your hands in the kitchen sink - although I do struggle to bite my tongue when dh washes football boots in there! Then I DO bleach it!








If you wear gloves I can't see any problem with washing you hands in the sink.

The way this thread is going it sounds as if our hands are covered in poo every time we change a nappy and that is simply not the case.

I'm afraid I don't spray my taps and sink with antibac spray every time I wash my hands, in fact I don't use and never have used antibac spray. Shock horror!! :laughing:

I have an aversion to the over use of chemicals in the home. I don't and never have had bleach either or the plug in air freshners. I use good old fashioned soap and hot water hand washing and for wiping high chairs and work tops.

I have been a mum for 18yrs and a cm for 17yrs and never given my children or the children in my care anything because of the way I clean. I use envirnmentally friendly toilet cleaners.

I have always been graded Good with Outstanding features and Ofsted have always complimented me on my nappy changing. I have the changing mat on a table as well, I have never changed a nappy on the floor apart from in an emergency, I value my back too much!

Common sense must prevail surely?