Hand sanitizer after using the bathroom

[Neera]

Dd wants to use the hand sanitizer to clean her hands every time after using the bathroom. I have used it sometimes, in a hurry, after cleaning her. I have been encouraging her to go back to soap and water but generally she wants the easy way out since the sink is high and she always has to climb on her stool. I am not sure if this is ok?

[AdinaL]

My daughter LOVES hand sanitizer.  I have some that is essential oils and alcohol, which I let her use when we are out.  But when we are home, I have explained that when we have access to our own soap and water we should use that. :)

Most of the time it works. LOL

[JudiAU]

Hand sanitizer should be limited to times when you absolutely cannot access water and soap. First, it is an inferior cleaning agent. Soap and water are more effective. Second, it has been throughly proven that the widespread use of hand sanitzer helps breeds superbugs that make our antibiotics less effective. In this case, I suggest putting it away and not modeling the behavior.

[meemee]

neera this is totally a personal  personality thing. 

this could be about anything - not just hand sanitizer.

if i remember right your dd is 3 or 4. 

i will tell you what works for me. what i have discovered about dd and me. she has the personality that when she discovers something new, she would immerse herself in it, and then once she was over her needing to 'know' to 'discover' she was done. but that initial immersion is over the top. 

i discovered this about her as a baby, which is why i gave into things like tv, etc which others would frown about. she would watch tv for 7 hours and then be done for a month. 

now i did that otherwise if i said no, it would become a huge thing far bigger than it is meant to be. 

even today at almost 10 my extremely curious child immerses herself (of course now most of it is good - like researching for a project for school, where i have to tell her hey enough) and i recognize that is HER personality.

what i have decided my role is - is provide her the choices BUT NOT FORCE her into it. and i think its the tantalizing pull of those choices are what made her not be addicted (well her curiosity would get to her). 

so in your case i would not remove the hand sanitizer. i mean remember it IS fun. that coolness on your hand.  instead i would offer her other choices. like that foaming soap bottle. i would think two things - texture and smell. so i'd have a bar of VERY fragrant soap in the shape of some fun thing (or a hand made soap with a flower in it that you can see if not made in a nice shape). and a liquid soap that has a smell but has the picture of fishes or cartoony sea creatures on it. so when your dd wants to wash her hand she has the choice to use which one she wants. 

you'll be surprised how much they love the foaming kind. 

[Neera]

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

Hand sanitizer should be limited to times when you absolutely cannot access water and soap. First, it is an inferior cleaning agent. Soap and water are more effective. Second, it has been throughly proven that the widespread use of hand sanitzer helps breeds superbugs that make our antibiotics less effective. In this case, I suggest putting it away and not modeling the behavior.

Thanks.

[lvvq]

Originally Posted by JudiAU 

Hand sanitizer should be limited to times when you absolutely cannot access water and soap. First, it is an inferior cleaning agent. Soap and water are more effective. Second, it has been throughly proven that the widespread use of hand sanitzer helps breeds superbugs that make our antibiotics less effective. In this case, I suggest putting it away and not modeling the behavior.

^THIS should be written in large print on every bottle & dispenser of hand sanitizer. too many folks have it completely backwards

[Neera]

Thanks, meemee, dd is 5. Yeah, I have noticed that when we ban things those are the things she wants the most e.g sugar!! :) She is not obsessed by hand sanitizer though, but she uses it because it is convenient. I am planning to explain to her what a pp said and not make it accessible.

[One_Girl]

My dd went through a hand Sanitizer phase and got out of it at this age. I wad fine with her using it because it made her independent in the bathroom and she did a better job with that than with washing with soap. I have heard there is a hand Sanitizer controversy, that hand Sanitizer is worse/better than soap, and that antibiotic resistance isn't a big deal because we are constantly finding new antibiotics that are viable and after that I just decided to do what worked for us because the science isn't there and it is mostly opinion at this point.

[mamazee]

I agree a bit with everyone. Hand sanitizer isn't great stuff, so I would put it up. But this is probably about novelty and the sensory experience, so I'd probably replace it with cool smelling foamy soap or something shed like.

[SweetMama34]

I agree - put the hand santizer away and insist on soap and water. If that's not 'fun' enough - get some fun soap - maybe a foaming kind, a fruit scented kid's soap?

[mkksmom]

My dd decided that she didn't like hand sanitizer because it just kills the germs and they stay on your hand. The idea of dead germs on her hands made her appreciate soap and water more. LOL! But my dd doesn't like to wash her hands after using the bathroom either. It's always a struggle. Makes me crazy. She will wash them routinely in a public bathroom or even at her grandparent's house. Not at home.