Kids and alcohol hand jel

[OverTheRainbow88]

So I may be overthinking this... but BC ( before corona) I had never used alcohol hand jel on my kids! Had a bottle and rarely used if I had to change a nappy at a park or something. Sometimes would use an antibacterial wipe your clean their hands of at the zoo before a snack.

This morning we went to a playground, before their snack alcohol jelled their hands, once we left I alcohol jelled their hands.

This afternoon we went to the zoo, 4 different playgrounds there, played on them all after each.. guess what.. alcohol hand jelled their hands, then did it again in the car when we left!

Now that’s 7 lots of alcohol jel in one day? Is that excessive? Is it better not to do it? Should I take a flask of soapy water out and use it? Are the chemicals in alcohol jel
Worse than getting corona for a kid?

Sorry that was longer than I expected!!

Also on the way back from the zoo my youngest sucked all his fingers the whole way home!!! After putting on the alcohol hand jel should I use a baby wipe to wipe it off before we get in the car?!!!

Gosh I don’t know but I do remember that BC a lot of bottles of alcohol hand gel used to say “not suitable for use on young children” (or similar) on them...

You don't need to wipe your DC's hands, the alcohol in hand gel will evaporate pretty quickly

You don't need to wipe your DC's hands, the alcohol in hand gel will evaporate pretty quickly

Oh that’s I didn’t know that about the alcohol evaporating!

I’ll have a read on the bottle to see what it says!

I guess today was an excessive day, we got carried away with open playgrounds and usually would only have to do it once or twice!

I'm a single parent so have been taking my 5 yo everywhere with me throughout lockdown. We both use hand gel everytime before we enter shops, as we leave, if he touches a gate or a handle out and about, etc etc. So we've been using it multiple times a day for 3 months. His hands have been totally fine with it, and as pp says the alcohol evaporates very quickly, as it's designed to do.

What effect are you concerned might happen?

Just make sure you only use a small amount and keep the bottle out of reach. In theory if there is loads on their hands and they are licking it it wouldn't be great but just be aware of that. No need to stop using it.

I guess just the chemicals, inhaling them as well, when we got in our car in smelt of the alcohol hand jel! My youngest licking his hands after I’ve put the jel on!

It’s gel not jel - sorry I am turning into my Mum!

I’ve struggled with dyslexia my whole life!

It's under 20 seconds that the alcohol will be fully evaporated. I know there are issues from long term use of anti bac products but at the moment I think the risk is less than corona so just carry on and re asses if your DC's hands start to look affected

Everything's a chemical. And no, children using hand gel is not worse that catching coronavirus . Thank god they'll have science teachers.

@yellowsunset

Yup I’m happy they’ll have proper science teachers! I try my hardest but we can’t be an expert at everything!

If you want to avoid drying alcohol gel, search for 'No Germs'. It's kills 99.9% of germs, is alcohol free and even gives 'upto four hours protection'. Handgel flared my eczema up in March but this has been fab and kids don't flinch at all about using it. I wouldn't go back!

Gel

So sorry OP

@BrandyandBabycham

No worries!

@RapidRainbow

Thank you. I thought I read it has to be at least 60% alcohol to kill corona?

I think the alcohol is less "chemically" than anti bac wipes. The not suitable for children thing is becuse of the risk of them drinking it, I believe. As others have said, by the time the hands are dry the alcohol has evaporated.

My dc has weak immune system, has been using gels and wipes since he was a baby. He is still ok at age 12.

It's the evaporation which kills the virus btw...

Thank you for replies, will keep using the alcohol gel for now then!

@jimmyhill

Sorry what does that mean?

Don't let your child drink it. A lick will not harm.
But think about it which is more harmful... do you prefer a lick of alcohol ( will be minute if already evaporated) or a lick of germ or faeces?

hellobello.com/blogs/hello-bello-blog/what-age-can-babies-use-hand-sanitizer

I don't think you are overthinking it OP. I think washing hands with hot soapy water will be quite sufficient. As a mother, I too worry about unnecessary exposure of young children to chemicals.

I think there is a hysteria around Covid that is making people forget some really basic health and safety stuff, I would not put alcoholic hand gel on a child who is not old enough to not lock their hands after.

Lick

So this is an American paediatric resource, but surely the principal is the same, there is a risk to children under 5 of alcohol poisoning from ingestion of even small amounts of hand sanitizer/ hand gel: www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Keep-Hand-Sanitizer-Out-of-Childrens-Reach.aspx