Disinfectants & children - where do dangers lurk?

Hand disinfection for children

As great as the abundance of hygiene products and disinfectants for adults is – for children there is still a lack of the corresponding, officially approved counterparts recommended by the RKI. However, common disinfectants contain a high proportion of alcohol. How suitable are such disinfectants for children? And is it even important to disinfect children’s hands?

Why is disinfection also particularly important for children?

Children can also become infected with or act as carriers of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, as well as all other viruses. Therefore, children should also wash their hands regularly and preferably also disinfect them. With young children, of course, this is not always easy. After all, in the toddler phase, little ones explore their environment not only with their fingers and eyes, but often with their mouths as well….

Hazards & Risks

…and this brings us to the dangers and risks. Unnatural colors and odors can cause allergic reactions – just as they do in adults – so parents should look for products with natural ingredients. As long as the exposure time of the product is observed and the disinfectant does not find access to the organism – i.e. via the mouth or eye contact – the use is safe. With younger children, you should take over the disinfection and prevent the child from touching his face with his hands before the end of the exposure time. Failure to do so may result in symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting, irritation of the eyes or mouth area, coughing or abdominal pain.

Is there hand disinfection specifically for children?

Disinfectants specifically developed, tested and approved for children are still not on the market. Nevertheless, this does not mean that it is forbidden for children to use commercial disinfectant. We developed our disinfectant with the intention of teaching children how to disinfect their hands and to show them that hand disinfection can also be fun. We know how delicious our disinfectants smell and look, so strict supervision is required. Therefore, always keep the disinfectant out of the reach of children and rinse eyes or mouth thoroughly in case of eye contact or ingestion.

Safe disinfection for children – wipes, gel or spray

If you want to disinfect your children’s hands safely but gently, we recommend wipes, gel or spray. These products have the following advantages and disadvantages.

Disinfection wipes

The advantages of disinfecting wipes are quite clear. They release fewer vapors, providing a high level of respiratory safety. They also come in several package sizes and are convenient to handle. The downside: it creates waste.

Disinfection gel

Disinfecting gel does not drip, fits in any diaper bag and mostly moisturizes. It is also quickly absorbed into the skin. The disadvantage is that there are few high-quality products on the market that do not make hands feel sticky after use.

Disinfection spray

Spray is suitable especially for surfaces. It is not fully recommended for children, as it can drip and settle on clothing or toys.

Poisoning due to disinfection more frequent

With all the concern about pathogens, it should still be mentioned that children under the age of five are particularly at risk for symptoms of poisoning. In any case, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued an urgent warning against poisoning by alcohol-containing disinfectants in children. So keep a close eye on your children when they have just cleaned their hands.

What to look for

Even though no disinfectants for children have yet made it through approval and onto the list from the RKI, children can disinfect their hands. The alcohol in common products has no influence through pure skin contact. A care active ingredient is also gentler on children’s hands. So if possible, rather reach for a caring disinfectant. And to make it a little nicer for kids, choose a disinfectant with a scent. Follow the hazard warnings on the label as a matter of urgency – as a rule, disinfectants are highly flammable and should therefore be kept away from heat and flames.

Guaranteed safe disinfectant from WIESENBERG

We at WIESENBERG give everything for your safety and hygiene. That is why we have developed a disinfecting gel for the whole family. Whether a small bottle for the backpack or as a storage bottle for the bathroom – we offer different sizes, so that our disinfectant is versatile but above all can be used by the whole family in any situation.