THIS MONTH, WE ASK I sanitise my kid’s hands many times a day. Am I hurting his immune system because he’s too “clean”?
THIS MONTH, WE ASK
I sanitise my kid’s hands many times a day. Am I hurting his immune system because he’s too “clean”?
The use of sanitisers has been increasing in recent years, mainly due to outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease. It is good to clean your child’s hands whenever you feel he may have come into contact with germs that could make him sick.
This is especially so for toddlers who have little regard for cleanliness and it’s unlikely that over-sanitising his hands will weaken his immunity. But don’t stop him from playing outdoors – coming into contact with germs and bacteria will generally not harm him if he is healthy. It’s not necessary to sterilise everything at home, either.
Dr Chan Poh Chong, National University Hospital.
EDUCATION
Brian Caswell is the dean of Research and Program Development at Mindchamps. He has 15 grandchildren.
Helen Marjan is the joint managing director and director of Studies at Lorna Whiston Schools. Her three children are in their teens.
June Rusdon is the chief executive officer of Busy Bees Asia. She has three kids in their 20s.
Leanne Sunarya is the executive director of Etonhouse International Education Group. Her two children are in their 20s.
PSYCHIATRY
Dr Cornelia Chee is a psychiatrist and director in the Women’s Emotional Health Service at the National University Hospital. Her daughters are aged 11 and 14.
CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
Dr Richard C. Woolfson is a child psychologist based in Britain. He has written 15 books on child and family development, and is Young Parents’ long-standing Age by Stage columnist. He’s also a grandfather of five.
PAEDIATRICS
Dr Chan Poh Chong is the head and senior consultant with the Division of General Ambulatory Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Khoo Teck Puat- National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital.
Dr Natalie Epton is a specialist paediatrician and neonatologist at the International Paediatric Clinic. She has three children aged three to 10.
GYNAECOLOGY
Dr Goh Shen Li is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist in the S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Medical Centre. She has three children aged one to five.
LACTATION & PARENTCRAFT
Kang Phaik Gaik is a senior nurse manager and parentcraft/ lactation consultant at Mount Alvernia Hospital’s Parentcraft Centre. Her two children are in their 20s.
NUTRITION
Pauline Xie is a senior dietitian with the Clinical Services Division at the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics. Her three daughters are aged three to 10.
DENTAL
Dr Rashid Tahir is a paediatric dentist at The Kids Dentist. He’s also the president-elect of the Pediatric Dentistry Association of Asia. His two daughters are in their teens.
FAMILY
Alfred Tan is the chief executive officer of Singapore Children’s Society. His two children are in their 20s.
Any views expressed by the Members of the Editorial Advisory Board in this magazine are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of, or are sanctioned by, this magazine. Members of the Editorial Advisory Board do not, by virtue of their membership, endorse or support any product or service advertised or articles featured in this magazine.
The articles in this magazine are for your information only. Do not substitute them for the advice of a qualified health-care practitioner or professional adviser.
