Are the germ rules being taken too far?
Doctors say they are… but it’s not stopping day-care centres in Australia writing up new birthday rules for the kids.
Guidelines state that kids who want to blow out a candle at birthday parties should bring along their own individual cupcakes to avoid blowing germs over one another when then puff out a shared cake.
“Children love to blow out their candles while their friends are singing “Happy birthday”’ states a guidelines document from the research council.
“To prevent the spread of germs when the child blows out the candles, parents should either provide a separate cupcake, with a candle if they wish, for the birthday child.”
Kids are now expected to wash their hands before they jump into a sandpit to play with their friends, but doctors say the rules have gone too far.
Day care staff will also be instructed to wash toys, doorknobs floors and cushion covers every day to prevent the spread of germs.
The new guidelines from the country’s National Health and Medical Research Council has angered parents who say all the fun is being taken out of birthday parties.
Australian Medical Association president Mr Steve Hambleton said he is shocked by the guidelines.
“If somebody sneezes on a cake, I probably don’t want to eat it either – but if you’re blowing out candles, how many organisms are transferred to a communal cake, for goodness sake?” he told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
Mr Hambleton also attacked the new sandpit rules, saying that all that was necessary was for children to wash their hands before they ate.
“It’s normal and healthy to be exposed to a certain amount of environmental antigens that building up our immune systems.
“If you live in a plastic bubble you’re going to get infections (later in life) that you can’t handle,” he told the paper.
