hand sanitizer/wipes/etc...

Someone made me think about this a little more, so I'm wondering what everyone else does, maybe I'm missing some options! Bryan is a thumb sucker, and honestly, when the boys get sick, HE's the one to get it first, then he passes it to Joel. Joel VERY rarely has ever gotten sick before Bryan. I think a lot of it has to do with him sucking his thumb!

I know washing w/ soap and water is best, but we all know that's not always accessible. I know some sanitizers are more chemical based, and I don't like that. Purell is alcohol based, and from everything I've read, if you're going to use sanitizer, use an alcohol based kind. Then there's the whole ingesting alcohol issue. I've heard some people use plain baby wipes, but I wouldn't think that would do much as far as getting germs off. I guess some might come off, but there's nothing to kill the germs, and they'd easily just be moved around on the hand, right?

So what is a mom to do? I've most often used purell on them, and then waved their little hands around to make sure they're dry before I let them free. I only use it when they've been using public/shared toys or have had their hands in yucky places and I know they're likely to eat or B's gonna suck his thumb.

What do YOU do? Are there other options out there that I'm missing?

 

I have thought about the same thing! I just use baby wipes and you are right, I'm sure they are not getting all the germs off! It's too hard for me to hold them up to the sink and wash their hands with soap and they always get soaked..ugh!

 

I usually wipe their hands once we get into the car with a wipe to get the dirt off and then I use Purell after that. There is only so much you can do. ardon: They are just bound to get colds.

 

I found these at Walmart one day and they have worked out pretty well. I like that they come in little individual packets too so I can just throw them in my bag!

http://www.sanihandsforkids.com/sh4k.html

 

Hi do you mean for YOU or the kiddos? I use the alcohol based sanitizer at home out alot. I just make sure my boys rub well and I help them. I have a large pump at home and a few of the small travel bottles in van. ")

 

There is a natural product that I really like called CleanWell: LINK.

It is a spray and although it's pricey, it lasts a long time. You can buy it at Target near the hand soap.

 

We use the Cleanwell spray too. I like that it's not as chemical-y as Purell but that it still get the germs off. We've had the same bottle for six months, so it definitely lasts.

 

Ditto the Cleanwell! That's all we use, too.

 

QUOTE(twinboys07 @ Mar 8 2009, 02:38 PM) [snapback]1219273[/snapback]
There is a natural product that I really like called CleanWell: LINK.

It is a spray and although it's pricey, it lasts a long time. You can buy it at Target near the hand soap.


btw, cleanwell comes in wipes, too! i have a small pack in my purse. it's great stuff, and, according to some, non-alcohol based ones are best now.

gl!

 

I'm a sink washer. I HATE sanitizer.

 

In a Dr's office you use alcohol to "sanitize" I think if you are trying to kill germs I'd go for something alcohol based. I always throw some alcohol swab packets in the diaper bag for things that fall on the floor...

 

I have only used hand sanitizer once for the kids and maybe a handful of times for myself.
I hate using hand sanitizer...it kills good bacteria on your skin and causes your body to have a harder time fighting off infections. The only time I used it on the kids was when we visited my grandmother...she has MRSA and we went out to lunch with her and the kids sat in her lap. I hope I never have to use that stuff again.

 

Oh YAY!!! I was hoping y'all had some ideas for me! The cleanwell stuff looks great! I recently found out about the triclosan, so I've stopped using AB soaps, and had to throw out a few different kind of hand sanitizers (even my favorite moisturizing kind from Bath and Body. ) I'll be heading straight towards the soaps next time I'm at target!!! Thanks ladies!!!


QUOTE(melissak @ Mar 8 2009, 06:40 PM) [snapback]1219063[/snapback]
I have thought about the same thing! I just use baby wipes and you are right, I'm sure they are not getting all the germs off! It's too hard for me to hold them up to the sink and wash their hands with soap and they always get soaked..ugh!


Melissa- I totally KWYM! Thankfully, within the past few months, the boys have been able to use a step stool in their bathroom, so that has helped a lot. One other thing I do when I'm near a sink, but no stool, is I use those disposable wash cloths by Huggies that I can wet, wash their hands, then turn the sink on, hold them and rinse. It's easier to hold and just rinse than it is to hold them, soap/wash, and rinse without a massive mess. HTH!

 

One other comment, even though it might be too late... I once let my 4-yr-old stepson use some Purell and he was miserable because he had a tiny cut on his hand that I didn't know about and the alcohol stung him like crazy. Just be careful with the alcohol stuff.

 

My husband just sent me this email on the dangers of alcohol based hand sanitizers in children. I assumed it was an exaggeration or a made up story so I looked it up on Snopes. Turns out it's likely to be true. Here's the link, in case you're interested:

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp

 

Sometimes the germs don't hurt all that bad... We can't protect them from everything, but the hand washing and sanitizers help. My mom always made us kids to brush our teeth & wash our hands (safeguard soap) when we first got home from school. I still do it every time I come home even now!!!!