Best way to keep baby's hands clean?

[Nennie]

Leaving for WDW on Saturday (yay!) with 5 month old DS, and have never really thought about this til now, but what is the best way to keep his little hands clean?

Like most babies, his hands are constantly in his mouth! Obviously, I'll wash them whenever I can, but what about during the day, on the rides, etc? Baby wipes? Anti-bacterial wipes? Hand sanitizer?

I want to keep him clean, but don't want him sucking down anything that could hurt him either.

I'm sorry if this is a dumb question with an obvious answer, but I'm a new mommy, and all the talk of hygiene and swine flu is making me very nervous!

Thanks so much!!!

 

[geishagirl81]

I wouldn't use Purell. If there is any on his hand when he puts it in his mouth it could be toxic due to the high alcohol content. I'd say inbetween sinks, just use a baby wipe.

 

[goofygal531]

Germ X hand wipes.

They're anti-bacterial wipes. The only ones on the market without alcohol.

 

[Nennie]

Thank you both so much!!!

Going to look for the Germ-x wipes when I go to Target tonight!!!

 

[Skwinkles]

You could also try Sani-Hands for Kids. I know they have them at Babies R Us, and I think I remember seeing them in the baby aisle at Target as well.

 

[brergnat]

When it comes to WIPES, you don't have to worry too much about the alcohol...it will evaporate off very quickly.

WET ONES wipes kill FLU VIRUS...they are the only ones on the market that do!!!

I've been using Wet Ones on my kids since they were babies. If you wipe their hands, and hold their wrists until the hands are DRY...it's fine. Once the hands are DRY, there is no danger from them putting their hands in their mouth. Their hands will dry very quickly. You can follow the Wet Ones cleaning with a wipe from a baby wipe, if you wish, or just a rinse of water from a water bottle...that will take the "chemicals" off your baby's hand, if she will be putting her hand in her mouth immediately afterward. That's what I used to do.

DO NOT USE Purell!!! As mentioned, that stuff is not the same...it takes MUCH longer to evaporate, and some of it seeps into the skin. On a baby, this can be dangerous.

Keep the Wet Ones usage to only when necessary too...like before meals or if baby has been touching something grimy, otherwise just use baby wipes.

 

[NotUrsula]

Ordinary non-toxic diaper wipes.

Honestly, I'm sure that nature protects little ones somehow from 90% of the stuff that they get on their hands. If every germ they ingested made them ill, kids wouldn't have a healthy day for their first three years at least. Babies are amazingly resilient.

I've read of situations where kids have mouthed hand-sanitizer and gotten alcohol poisoning; I wouldn't ever use the stuff on a baby's hands.

 

[Kaler131]

Gloves!! Just kidding! I would also agree ith pps who say wipes....those things are GREAT!!

 

[bumbershoot]

At 5 months old at disney, what is baby touching anyway? My 5 month old would be in a sling or Ergo with infant insert, and would pretty much only be touching me... It's not like a walking toddler with hands everywhere and falling and touching the ground etc etc etc.

 

[2girlsR2good]

BTW--if you take his shoes and sox off, you have a better chance of keeping strangers who love babies from grabbing his hands. Sweet grannies (who could be harboring who knows what germs) just love to tickle baby toes!

A friend told me this when my girls were babies and it worked like a charm.

Have a great time!

 

[JuneChickie]

Germ X hand wipes.

They're anti-bacterial wipes. The only ones on the market without alcohol.

NOT TRUE ,, I just bought some Germ-X Wipes today and they are
62% alcohol.
**************
They even have a notice on them , that reads KEEP OUT OF
REACH OF CHILDREN , IF INGESTION OCCURS. SEEK MEDICAL
ATTN RIGHT AWAY or call the POISON CONTROL CENTER Immediately !!

So please read anything you buy to wipe your baby's hands with
to be sure they don't contain anything bad.

 

[brergnat]

NOT TRUE ,, I just bought some Germ-X Wipes today and they are
62% alcohol.
**************
They even have a notice on them , that reads KEEP OUT OF
REACH OF CHILDREN , IF INGESTION OCCURS. SEEK MEDICAL
ATTN RIGHT AWAY or call the POISON CONTROL CENTER Immediately !!

So please read anything you buy to wipe your baby's hands with
to be sure they don't contain anything bad.

I was JUST going to post this. I had some GermX wipes in my car (as well as Wet Ones) and compared the ingredients.

GermX is ALL Ethyl Alcohol as the "active ingredient-Antibacterial"

Wet Ones, on the other hand, have a SENSITIVE SKIN version that is, according to their website, safe for babies:

Wet Ones® Sensitive Skin Hands and Face Wipes

Our best clean for hands and faces, gentle enough for sensitive skin.
Now, clinically proven and pediatrician tested to be safe for babies.

www.wetones.com

 

[Ariel on Land]

Cleanwell-- It's an all natural, non chemical/non alcohol based hand sanitizer. You can find it at Target. Check out it's website. Cleanwell.com Totally recommend it! Also, another trick I did, that might not work well for OP since her LO is so young, but for others out there, I used the disposable washcloths by Huggies- cut them in half, put them in a baggie. THat way I could wash their hands thoroughly, and only had to deal w/ holding them up to the sink to rinse. Less chance of them touching sink/counter etc. Also, a few times I'd use them w/ bottled water and not even mess w/ bathrooms.

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

Cleanwell-- It's an all natural, non chemical/non alcohol based hand sanitizer. You can find it at Target. Check out it's website. Cleanwell.com Totally recommend it! Also, another trick I did, that might not work well for OP since her LO is so young, but for others out there, I used the disposable washcloths by Huggies- cut them in half, put them in a baggie. THat way I could wash their hands thoroughly, and only had to deal w/ holding them up to the sink to rinse. Less chance of them touching sink/counter etc. Also, a few times I'd use them w/ bottled water and not even mess w/ bathrooms.

Great tip! We leave on Sunday and this Swine Flu has me freaked! I have loaded up on hand sanitizer, lysol, and lysol wipes, but I was wondering the same thing as the OP - what is the safest for my 2 year old who puts his hands in his mouth. I really like this idea for my 2 yo and my 5 yo. I'll be picking up some of these today!! The CDC site says soap and water is best, but if that is not available then to use the alcohol based hand sanitizer. This makes soap and water more readily available. Thanks!!!

 

[mrsklamc]

I'd be extra careful at WDW at the moment because of the swine flu, so many people who have been who knows, who, etc. But in general, when you are home and stuff....Moms, please remember that your kids have to 'eat a little dirt' to develop a healthy immune system. If it doesn't have to fight anything off, it won't learn to fight anything off.

 

[seashoreCM]

Want to get some anti-thumb-sucking treatment? To discourage him from putting his hands in his mouth to begin with?

Apply some after washing his hands.

As far as his only touching "you", "you" have to wipe yourself down with alcohol and wear cleane(d) clothes each day.