ive always joked about Rhys having an OCD about being clean but just lately its getting a bit extreme. he HATES being dirty,having stuff on his hands like food or paint.. he screams and is histerical within minutes if i dont wipe his hands. he must wash his hands 10 or more times a day, after going to the loo (obv) before and after meals and at any other point he feels hes dirty.

during our holiday this weekend we went to the beach.. well what a nightmare.. he didnt want the sand touching him because it was sticking to his hands. he wouldnt take his shoes off and refused to walk at all, we had to carry him then sit him on our lap

at nursery he wont touch the fingerpaints/glue or glitter, wont play in the sand box or anything like that.. its crazy.

hes been like this since around 9-10 months old. do you think its something he will grow out of? what should i do?

Please don't take this the wrong way, but how are you with him?? have you always wanted him clean asap, are you funny like this yourself?? or is it all just him?

The reason I ask is because im a bit of a freak with washing my hands and I don't like messy stuff, so Bethanie tends to have a bit of a panic if shes too dirty (what you're describing, paints etc). I try to encourage her with paint and she gets a bit stuck in, but then she asks me to wash her hands. Also, after dinner.. she says "mummy clean me" and I feel like i've caused this from being too clean with her.

Maybe it's just some children and their age? I wouldn't personally worry too much now, just try to encourage him to get stuck in and forget about it if you can.

Casen is the same way, we use to joke about it but now I seriously think he is OCD. Just a few examples, when he gets nervous he will wash his hands over and over...like first day of preschool (2hrs) he washed his hands 9times. It got better over time but even after months it was still as soon as he got there, once during being there and before leaving as well. He's very particular about things, he does some times a certain amount of times, it's not always the same number it's like it depends on his mood, if he's being easy going he will do it 2-3times where if he's anxious for some reason, nervous, tired, he will do things over and over...and you can't stop him. Like he will run around something...you can call him and he will say hang on and he has to finish and you see him count it out. If you make him stop it's a total meltdown, and it's not toddler tantrum it's that he is seriously upset, it bothers him so much, not that he's being stubborn. He has many other little quirks like that, I am sure it's OCD but it's never been diagnosed. We have found the best thing to do is to let him do it, it's not a fight I want to take on when I see how much it bothers him. BUT we don't encourage it, we try and ignore it more than anything and just let him do his thing

no im not like that and i havent encouraged him to be super clean, obviously ive tought him about washing his hands after the loo and cleaning his hands before he eats but ive never been stressed about it. Ffion gets stuck in and gets messy.. to me thats what being a child is all about! i really wouldnt mind if he got really dirty during playtime as he can always have a bath later but he is just a clean freak!

Robyn is the same she will play with glue and stuff at nursery but as soon as it goes on her she hates it and will go to the toilet and wash her hands x
if she ever gets anything on her clothes she has to get changed

Plus she always eats her dinner a certain way
but then im like that so maybe she is just like me and im always saying wash your hands

I mentioned it to the HV when she had her 3 1/2 years check and she wants to see her wen she is 4 in november just to make sure there is nothing up with her as she said robyn is too bright for her age and she noticed robyn always has a routine and everything has to go back the way it was

Hun dont worry maybe they will grow out of it

Tom is now starting to do this. "Wash Hands - Wash Hands!" He chants it all the way to the bathroom and will really clean them until theres nothing left on there, and hes just turned two!! Hes not too extreme with it though, he doesnt mind getting dirty, as long as he can get clean after iykwim?

Try not to worry hun, he might just like to be clean, and thats not a bad thing even though its rare for males

Hi there
I used to work with young children and it certainly isn't uncommon. Some kids just don't like getting their hands dirty. I used to give them the choice and if they didn't want to play with the clay/sand/glitter, etc that was fine. In all cases I've seen as they got older and saw other children having fun their curiousity has taken over and they have eventually joined in most messsy activities and usually enjoyed them.

All my nephews were like this, they'd go MAD if they thought they had a bit of dirt on their hands (the smallest tiniest bit ever)

We all thought it was weird because "boys are meant to like getting dirty" but they grew out of it x

Ethan is obessed with baby wipes atm and as been for about 3 months ...he wants his hands cleaned even half way thru eating crisps ect he also cleans his toys with wipes i guess its just there age x

I think he will grow out of it....

Jade used to wash her hands tons, so much so they would go red at times! After anything that she deemed dirty (but may not have been) she was at the sink washing away. She used to be like it with doors too, she could not be in a room with an open door........She is no longer like it, she gets annoyed with Alfie for always wanting doors shut (pay back :lol) and it is a nightmare getting her to wash her hands after doing things that require her to wash her hands but may not leave actual dirt! x