Perfume/Cologne Help!

Jmc211 · February 2013

Need help! From day one we nicely asked all family members not to wear perfumes/colognes around our LO. Everytime my MIL and FIL come over, which is 12 times a week our LO will smell awful after they hold her. I have to change and bathe her LO still smells after bath because the oils seems to stick in her hair. Sometimes I've given her a bath before they've shown up unannounced, so that's 2 baths in a row, don't want to dry out her skin. Then I change my clothes and have to wash any blankets the in laws came across. This is a lot of work for a visit! Between the two of them being so heavily scented it really makes me feel sick. I can't imagine how my poor LO feels! We've addressed the perfume/cologne issue with them numurous times and they'll say they "forgot" or they "just put a dab on hours ago and it's already worn off." The crazy part is my MIL completely agrees with us about the heavy scents around LO, I don't think she realizes what she smells like! I'm also feeling angry at them since DH and I have asked them so many times not to wear the scents and they don't respect our wishes.
I don't know what to do? Should I put my foot down and tell them they can't hold LO if they are going to be so heavily scented or just keep letting it go? How have others delt with this issue?

MeaganG11 · February 2013

It would probably only take a few times of you putting your foot down and not letting them hold LO before they'd stop "forgetting". Alternatively maybe you could wrap LO in a blanket and put a hat on her to prevent the scent from sticking to her. This doesn't really solve the issue long term though. Putting your foot down may be the best solution.

MrsCarroll.6-10-07 · February 2013

You have to put your foot down and play mama bear. You'll have to do it a lot with family that won't listen. This is a good place to start. My MIL is here for a month and my husband already had to tell her please don't use your normal lotions and sprays etc. My mom smokes at her house and I won't let her hold the baby if she has not changed clothes and all that before holding the baby. Good luck@!