Does my 9 year old son have a problem or is it just a phase?

It's not really a problem... it's more because of the times we live in. I saw something on TV about restaurants and especially buffets, how everyone leans over them. I won't eat at them anymore either. I use hand sanitizer ALL the time. I wouldn't consider it a problem.... just being conscientious.

i dont think its a problem proably just a phase .....if he's eatting dessert maybe he doesnt like whats being served and its his polite way of not eatting it.......

sounds like a phase, just don't feed into it and he will outgrow it.

I have a 9 year old son as well. It's probably just a phase...try to help put his worries aside and enjoy life and it's good that he is cautious but not if it interferes with the fun of life!!

I don't know that it is a significant problem since he will eat dessert & will eat at restaurants. It is probably just a phase. If he were truly a germaphobe he wouldn't be eating anything outside your home & probably not a lot in it.

Sounds like it might be a phase, each of my boys went through a phase where they wouldn't eat meat of any kind.
Although I have to admit I won't eat at buffet's because of the idea everyone touching the food and sneezing or coughing, basically germs.

I don't think it's a problem. I'm also a little iffy about homemade foods if I don't know the people who made them. At a restaurant, you at least know the department of public health is keeping an eye on it. I would encourage him that he's unlikely to die of food poisoning in this day and age, and that the polite thing to do is to eat the food when you are at someone else's house.

Sounds like he just doesn't like the food served at your friend's house and doesn't want to tell you. Either that, or he just wants a legitimate excuse to just eat dessert.

Sounds like it's just a phase. If he's eating desserts, I really wouldn't worry too much just yet.