Do you wash your doorknobs every day? Limit candle blowing on birthday cakes or get your children to wash their hands with alcohol sanitiser before and after playing in the garden or a sand pit?

I am a mum and I definitely do not do those things, but my daughter is very happy and healthy and sick very infrequently. I don't know about you, but I can definitely remember mucking around in, well, muck as a child. Playing in dirt and most likely eating it, as children tend to do. I remember my old Nana, a very Victorian lady who believed that washing was unhealthy, having kerniptions at my brother and I playing about SHOELESS in the rain, terrified we would "catch a chill".

Sure we had the usual amount of snot, infections, childhood diseases etc. No more than every other child. We were taught to cough into our hands, wash our hands before eating and clean our hands, faces and teeth before bed. And that's about it…

But we were basically very healthy and I'm happy to say I've grown up being a pretty hardy adult. I even eat communal peanuts in bars. Isn't that what childhood is all about - developing and growing the tools we need, including immunity, for later on in life so we don't keel over at the slightest infection?

The new version of the government's Staying Healthy - Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services has just been launched by the Minister for Child Care Kate Ellis and the Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek. While its intentions are honorable, it's possibly going just a teensy weensy over the top and it's not impressed the Australian Medical Association (AMA), who warn of the consequences of bubble-wrapping kids.

The AMA has spoken up against the NHMRC, saying the guidelines go too far, claiming that if child care services adhered to all the new recommendations children would develop no natural immunity to infection at all.

AMA President Steve Hambleton told News Ltd: "It's normal and healthy to be exposed to a certain amount of environmental antigens that build up our immune systems. If you live in a plastic bubble you're going to get infections (later in life) that you can't handle".

Mr Hambleton particularly objects to the recommendations that child care services wash door knobs every day, limit candle blowing on communal cakes (parents must provide an individual cupcake for the candle blowing) and require children to wash their hands with alcohol sanitiser before and after playing in a sand pit.

The guide sets best practice guidelines for child care services and is in line with National Quality Framework requirements.

Sophie Cross is a public relations consultant and writer who has publicised and written about everything from makeup to The Muppets, child care to celebrity chefs and perfume to Partners in Population and Development! Originally from the UK and as a languages graduate she has worked around the world, living in Australia for the last 11 years where she runs, PR Chicks.

She is sometimes devoted wife of Stu and always devoted mother to Francesca and two cats, with whom she's embarked on her latest adventure, living and working remotely from their little piece of Spanish heaven in Chite, the Lecrin Valley, just south of Granada. And FYI it's pronounced "ch-ee-tay" not shite.

According to the National Health and Medical Research Council the new edition of Staying Healthy places more emphasis on risk management in preventing outbreaks of infection in child care settings than the older version of the guide.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek says the guide provides simple and effective methods for minimising the spread of infectious diseases for child care workers, including advice on cleaning, food handling, hand washing and other day-to-day operating procedures, which is all pretty sensible and standard. Except you have to wonder if carers are going to be spending more time cleaning surfaces than caring.

Of the guidelines, Ms Plibersek says, "It will also help staff recognise and manage a child who is sick, how to discuss with parents the reasons for keeping unwell kids at home, staff immunisation and diseases common to education and care services".

Minister for Child Care Kate Ellis said the guide would help child care centres provide quality early education and care and ensure they meet the National Quality Standard set by the National Quality Framework.

"All services across the country will be assessed and rated against new National Quality Standard which will ensure that services are meeting basic requirements including children's health, safety and wellbeing. This guide will provide an invaluable resource for services and educators as they strive to improve the quality of their child care services for children," said Ms Ellis.

That said, although the guide is just a bit "detergent happy", it is largely based on common sense and basic hygiene. There are some very useful elements to the guide for parents – such as how to prevent infection and break the chain of infection; which illnesses and infections mean you can't send your child to child care/school (called "exclusion") and which are OK and general procedures for food preparation to avoid chances of food poisoning etc.

It's important to note that the Staying Healthy guide represents best practice guidelines and some services may choose to operate against the recommendations. The NHMRC advises services, who adopt different operating procedures to ensure that minimising the spread of infection is still a priority.

At the end of the day the new Stay Healthy Guide will keep hygiene in the consciousness of all involved, and that can't be bad. As long as it doesn't get in the way of the enjoyment and fulfillment of both carer and child.

Download a copy of the new guidelines.

We'd like to know your thoughts on the Staying Healthy guide.