Bloody. Hand sanitizer is a God-send and should be treated as such, and like jello-shots, not something kids should play with! When there is no water that is potable to wash with, or just no water I want everyone who has to change a diaper or has their kid hand them a cat poop (or as we call them, crunchy kitty litter treats) to use hand sanitizer before they go on to open doors, touch grocery carts or the fruit and vegetables in the store, before they touch playground equipment or me. Used with common sense it is more likely to save lives and prevent illness in ourselves and others by eliminated exposure to germs. Like everything else in the world, it needs to be used judiciously. Even water is a poison if you drink too much!

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I just have to throw my 2 cents in and say that it's one of my pet peeves that people flush public toilets with their feet (shoes). Using your hand and then washing it is completely sanitary, but the main thing is that the FLOOR of a public bathroom has proven to be, by far, the most germ-y place, over the handle or the toilet seat even. By using your foot, your condemning the next user, who may use their hands to flush, to touch the contents of the floor. (But then that user should be washing their hands also!:) ) OK Rant over.

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Ethel, I'm right there with you. This was going around on another board that I am a member of, and people were panicking and claiming "OMG, I'll never use hand sanitizer again!!!!"

I mean come on. If you didn't know that hand sanitizer contains a high level of alcohol, than you've never used the stuff. It REEKS. Would you pour vodka in your kid's hands and leave them alone? So why would you do it with hand sanitizer?

Also, it should be noted that if used properly (rub your hands together until the stuff evaporates), you could lick your hands until the cows come home. The little girl in the mail ATE THE GEL. A teacher squirted it on her hands, and then walked away. The kid was 3. I would blame the teacher for not properly supervising, rather than the product.

There is a reason why the product has "Keep away from children" on it. Just keep it out of their reach and allow them to use it when supervised, just like anything else.

And yes, Jennifer, the things that toddlers will put in their mouths just astonishes me. I'm told when I was a kid, I ate the deodorizing tablet out of the diaper pail! Also some mothballs.

I notice these things haven't been banned!

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Another situation where some parental monitoring is necessary. I don't leave hand sanitizer on the sink alongside the hand soap because I was afraid that Cass or one of the kids might use it and rub their eyes (or squirt it in other kids' eyes, you know that stuff happens!). I never considered that one might take a swig, as the OP said, it stinks of alcohol!

Jan from www.unique-baby-gear-ideas.com

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I am a fan of hand sanitizer. I think that if more people used it, then less illness would occur. I however, hope that this does not ever happen to me or someone I know. My hand sanitizer is on the sink, i want them to be able to get to it. But I have seen my three year old lick lotion off of his hand before, so I think I might reconsider. the bathroom is not a place to play, and if you can't be with your kids to make sure they are not playing with things, leave the hand sanitizer at the kitchen sink, and get them when they run by.

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I think that it's healthier for children to get sick occasionally than to always be "sanitized". Living germ-free not only increases the odds you'll just get sick later, it also increases the risk you'll develop allergies or auto-immune disorders. And all these antibacterial products, they kill beneficial bacteria along with bad ones, and cause the surviving baddies to reproduce more quickly, helping to evolve new superbugs.

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Check out CLEANWELLTODAY.com
Its a new hand sanitizer that is perfectly safe. Its uses Ingenium. Which is something that kills germs, without alcohol...I was part of a focus group when it came out, and I really fell in love with it.
The smell takes a bit to get used to. My husband says is smells like my baked chicken. One of the main ingredients is Thyme Oil. lol I really like the smell now, I think its refreshing.
As of right now that only place you can get it is on their website...(I think)
Check it out.

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I never use those hand sanitizers. They totally creep me out. What's wrong with washing your hands? Also, I agree with Uly's post.

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I agree with Uly pretty much although hand sanitizers certainly have their place.

Then again, I have to remember I'm three generations removed from current practice.

I read the email my friend sent me 2 or 3 times before I submitted it. I didn't want to appear alarmist over nothing and I know that chances are that anyone who reads a parenting blog uses good sense. On the other hand, if a caution saves even one child from becoming ill, it's worth mentioning.

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I am a big fan of hand sanitizers. I have three children and its nice to know that a little dab of the sanitizer will kill the nasty germs that they pick up. I even use the sanitizer on my two year old son. In fact, he is the one that I feel benefits the most from it. I put it on my hands first and rub it in just enough for it to begin to evaporate and then I rub his hands. By the time I let go of his hands, they are dry and clean. I keep the bottle of sanitizer on top of the refrigerator.

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I have taught P-K in public school for 6 years and I have not had any problems with a child eating hand sanitizer, but on the other hand, could we ban buggers?

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Late in the spring when we last bought handsanitizer, there were many fruit scented ones on the shelf. Just for those few instances when I have to use it to clean the small hand of a young one, I think I shall stick with the clear, regular scented and reduce the temptation of pink strawberry scented one. Those can stay on the store shelf.

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Okay, I use those hand sanitizers all of the time. I have to. I have a compromised immune system from years of cancer and cancer therapy (chemo, radiation) and I am a BIG FAN of all things that protect me and my body from everybody else's germ warfare - especailly kids. OMG they are like little germ ATM'S. So, instead of blasting the product - how about blaming the kid watcher? I know not to let kids alone with any product that might harm them - anything that contains alcohol included. Don't pluck a dollop on their tiny plam and walk away without showing them how to rub their hands together in washing simulation, to the point of absolute evaporation of the cleaner. And as a former foot flusher, I will take your very good suggestions and apologize - I will flush with my hands from now on! I promise!

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I'm an RN and I won't use them. In order for these sanitizers to work, they have to be at least 70% Rubbing alcohol.... not the drinking kind, people! Though your kid may not get drunk or even ill directly from normal use, the extreme drying affect, which ultimately causes more problems than the germs ---- that wash away with soap and water! Why do we keep doing things without thinking of the consequences? Dry cracked hands are then open for really scary things like flesh eating bacteria that can get into your bloodstream from one of those cracks. Wake up, America!

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I agree we should not remove a much-needed product because of such a report. A warning on the label, careful use are what we need. I use purell on my grandbabies' hands but supervise the use. For the very small babes, I rub the product into the hands myself.

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I am a teacher and I have to say that I love Germ-X. If one child gets sick this can lead to half the class or more getting sick. Though Germ-X may not prevent all children from getting sick, it certainly helps cut down on absences. They can't learn if they miss too much school and I can't teach if half my class is out. I use hand-sanitizer daily for myself. After all, I don't want to get sick. There are a lot of germs and bacteria at school. I will continue to use hand sanitizer in my class for my students and myself.

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I agree that supervision is the issue here, not the sanitizer.

Incidentally, I was told that when I was a toddler at a church supper where my mom was helping out, I put an ant trap in my mouth that I'd probably found behind a refrigerator or something. My mother initially thought someone had given me a cookie because I had something brown dripping from the corner of my mouth! Needless to say I was rushed to the ER, and obviously I was fine. Thank God I can't remember that incident! Yuck! (Though that deoderizing tablet or mothballs that Jenn ate couldn't have been much tastier!)

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I have children and have no problem with their using hand sanitizer. Unfortunately there are new and potentially dangerous/deadly strands of germs out there. As a substitute teacher, sometimes for special needs children, I see A LOT of ways that germs are spread and it is scary. What I have seen and apply my self, is having the sanitizer on a high shelf near the front door. Each of the younger children are given a squirt by me or a teacher as they are standing in line as the prepare to leave for say, lunch. These children rub the sanitizer in to their palms right away as we watch. We also make a point of working with these children with regards to washing up after the most obvious use of the restroom and when they come in from the playground. Yes, children do "test" everything one way or another and none of us can be there every second. But just like we should be doing with anything and everything else out there, it is up to the adults to teach these children about safety and child proofing the home and class rooms. Unfortunately we can't take all the hazards in life away and nor should we. Children need to learn safety guidelines because there will always be hazards in their lives. But it is up to us to take the time to do just that.

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just another thing that people will want banned because they cant watch their kids...

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I am an RN also but I use hand sanitizers constantly. In my practice, I have 15 patients all together in the dialysis treatment room. I am continually going from patient to patient, machine to machine, to assess and give medications. I use a large amount and wipe off my stethoscope with it between patients too. I used to clean the stethoscope with an alcohol prep pad between patients but this is alcohol too and I feel it is doing a good job and is quicker. I don't have skin problems and I probably use it between 50 - 100 times a shift.

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