s/o - How do you wash toddler's hands?

[Ariel on Land]

To spin off on the kid sized toilet thread- I can't remember what the sinks were like in the bathrooms. I would definitely like to wash the boys' hands before eating, but it's awfully difficult to do w/ a normal height sink. At home, we obviously use a step stool, and when we go out to eat at home, I'll just wash their hand before we go, and maybe use some sanitizer right before eating. But being in the parks all day, I don't want to solely rely on sanitizer before eating since they're still eating w/ their hands a lot of the time.

I don't remember there being shorter sinks for little ones, so does anyone have any tips on how to accomplish this?

 

[squirrel]

I think most of the bathrooms at WDW had one lower sink.

I know my niece (4.5) used those ones without any problems, except maybe reaching the soap or was it paper towel.

 

[Faldred]

You can use a disposable wipe or the "waterless soap" (the latter works best only if there's no visible dirt to clean off, just sanitizing).

 

[arielmomma]

I just hold my little ones up to the sink while they wash their hands. I help them with the soap and they wash.

 

[J3nn78]

I balance them up on my knee and wash their hands. NEver really thought about it till now.

 

[patchchild]

Wipes or Purell.

 

[Mom2m&k]

I balance them up on my knee and wash their hands. NEver really thought about it till now.

That is what I usually do but I do remember that most of the bathrooms there had a lower sink! Have a great time!!

 

[SandrainNC]

Yep. Lower sink in most bathrooms, but I prop them on my knee if they can't reach.

Sandra

 

[Drewsmommybear]

I also do the prop but in times of real desperation, I've also been known to hold his hands over the sink and splash water at them then we rub on the soap and splash more water . It's not perfect but better than nothing.

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

Yep, most bathrooms do have 1 lower sink. But for the ones that dont, we just prop a kid up and wash their hands. Not so difficult but I wish EVERY bathroom had the 1 lower sink haha.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Yep. Lower sink in most bathrooms, but I prop them on my knee if they can't reach.

I only found lower sinks in some bathrooms, I wouldn't say most. And the ones we did find weren't so low that a small toddler could use them on their own. DD was 5 when we were there in September and she could stretch to use the sink on her own in some bathrooms, but others still needed my assistance. She is short for her age, just above 40 inches at 5yo. In the ones where she couldn't reach, I'd hold her up or balance her on my knee.

 

[Tiger926]

If no lower sink (and as mentioned, not all WDW bathrooms have them - he might be too short anyway to use them alone), then just prop them up and wash away. Honestly, I would not rely on wipes or Purell at all as they have chemicals on them that little bodies should not ingest. I thought your child was older, and then I realized they were 1 year old babies just like mine, so definitely no antibacterial chemicals at all. Regular wipes would be useless too for germs, so handwashing is best!

My 1 year old baby knows how to wash his own hands - we have been washing hands since he was born, and at Montessori school, that is a big skill that they work on each and every day. You can start teaching your baby how to wash at home, and then when you are on vacation at WDW, where it is most important for keeping germs at bay, it will be something familiar.

Good luck - I would suggest using the Baby Care Centers in each park as they have little sinks and some of them have little toilets as well, and they are always very clean, well stocked and air conditioned!

Happy travels, Tiger

 

[Ariel on Land]

Oh good! I'm glad there are some lower sinks! I've never gone w/ kids before, so it just wasn't something I was looking for! They'll have just turned two when we get there, and thankfully they are tall for their age, so that should help. But I'll have to practice the whole propping thing and teaching THEM to wash their hands! Good idea about using the baby care centers, too! Thanks everyone- Hopefully all the bad bugs will be mostly gone by the time April arrives, but I want to be careful!