Hygiene fears prompt ban…
A strict law in Australia forbids kids from blowing on a cake in the name of hygiene; Mumbai docs feel it might be taking things too far.
Here's one rule that might literally add to the term 'party pooper'. Australian children are banned from blowing out candles on communal birthday cakes, according to National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines. The rules apply to childcare centers. Reason? They might be 'puffing out germs onto each other on a shared cake. So, for those kids who really love puffing out on a candle, they are to cart along their own individual cupcake and blow out the candle on it. But the new regulations have been slammed, claiming that it's 'bubble-wrapping' children." Indian doctors agree, saying it's much ado about nothing and that some exposure to bacteria is essential to develop a strong immune system.
A strict law in Australia forbids kids from blowing on a cake in the name of hygiene; Mumbai docs feel it might be taking things too far.
Here's one rule that might literally add to the term 'party pooper'. Australian children are banned from blowing out candles on communal birthday cakes, according to National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines. The rules apply to childcare centers. Reason? They might be 'puffing out germs onto each other on a shared cake. So, for those kids who really love puffing out on a candle, they are to cart along their own individual cupcake and blow out the candle on it. But the new regulations have been slammed, claiming that it's 'bubble-wrapping' children." Indian doctors agree, saying it's much ado about nothing and that some exposure to bacteria is essential to develop a strong immune system.
Expert speak
South Mumbai-based clinician Dr Altamash Shaikh says he had got a query from a parent on this issue, after the person had read the news. "Such hygiene apprehensions do come up. The parent in question wanted to know if blowing on a cake with other kids could cause risk; I reassured them that it wouldn't unless the child had a problem. It's obviously no worry unless a child is actually unwell — then it's dangerous. Germs can be passed by coughing, which can happen in any environment."
Developmental pediatrician, Dr Anjana Thadhani, feels the ban goes too far and has no standing. "For one, children have no such blowing capacity to be able to carry the organism load that can cause infection. Sneezing on a cake is one thing, but just blowing on it is not enough. In addition, exposure to a certain amount of antigens are crucial to building a strong and healthy immune system." She also feels we would be putting kids in a bubble by doing so, which is wrong. "I also think it's ridiculous," she says. "Imagine each child carrying his or her own cake, it's totally unnecessary."
South Mumbai-based clinician Dr Altamash Shaikh says he had got a query from a parent on this issue, after the person had read the news. "Such hygiene apprehensions do come up. The parent in question wanted to know if blowing on a cake with other kids could cause risk; I reassured them that it wouldn't unless the child had a problem. It's obviously no worry unless a child is actually unwell — then it's dangerous. Germs can be passed by coughing, which can happen in any environment."
Developmental pediatrician, Dr Anjana Thadhani, feels the ban goes too far and has no standing. "For one, children have no such blowing capacity to be able to carry the organism load that can cause infection. Sneezing on a cake is one thing, but just blowing on it is not enough. In addition, exposure to a certain amount of antigens are crucial to building a strong and healthy immune system." She also feels we would be putting kids in a bubble by doing so, which is wrong. "I also think it's ridiculous," she says. "Imagine each child carrying his or her own cake, it's totally unnecessary."
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