We all know that it can be a bit of a task to find a restaurant suitable for your baby to dine with you. Babies are noisy and messy; a fact which many restaurant-goers can often take offence to. So it’s nice to find a good restaurant with facilities like high chairs and baby changing rooms to accommodate for your needs. But be afraid – in fact, be very afraid – at this next report from the Daily Mail, as the facilities the restaurants are kind enough to provide may actually be putting your baby at risk…
According to the report (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1319401/And-baby-comes–But-watch–restaurant-high-chairs-harbour-bacteria-average-toilet-seat.html), restaurant high chairs harbour more bacteria than the average toilet seat, according to concerning research from Microban, a leading brand of anti-bacterial products. Swabs from high chairs in 30 different restaurants found that the average number of bacteria on a high chair was 147 per square centimetre. Compare this to the average toilet seat, which has just 8 per square centimetre, and you’ve got yourself a concerning comparison.
The results reportedly varied considerably, with some being relatively clean, and others as high as 1,200 bacteria per square centimetre! I’m no microbiologist – but look at the comparison between a toilet seat with 8 bacteria per square centimetre, and a baby’s high chair with 1,200 bacteria per square centimetre, and try not to share the look of absolute shock I have on my face right now! The research also found bacteria such as E-coli, Staph Aureus and Enterococcus Faecalis – all of which can cause upset stomachs and serious illness to babies and children.
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