Do babies need to use hand sanitizer to wash their hands

Release time : 04/09/2025 09:30:02

Hand sanitizers are frequently used in daily life. Many parents use hand sanitizers for their children's hands.

Recently, the news that "hand sanitizers contain carcinogenic trichloroethene" had once been widely circulated online, drawing high attention from parents and grandparents.

So, can babies really use hand soap when washing their hands? Why does washing hands also "wash away" eczema? Today, let's talk about the topic of hand washing together with parents and grandparents.

Do babies need to use hand sanitizer? Hand sanitizers are cleaning and skincare products containing specific antimicrobial ingredients that can kill bacteria and viruses.

But it is these antibacterial ingredients that have raised controversy.

Triclosan, triclocarban and p-chlorophenol are common antimicrobial ingredients in hand soaps.

Among them, trichloroacetate was once suspected to be a carcinogen and could affect human health.

Actually, triclosan is a relatively safe substance.

As early as 2012, the United States Food and Drug Administration publicly issued consumer guidance on triclosan, evaluating its safety: There is currently no experimental data to prove that triclosan is harmful to humans.

In addition, TCAB, OPP and PCMX are safe substances and have very low toxicity, which will not pose a threat to human health.

Therefore, the addition of the aforementioned antibacterial agents to hand sanitizers is safe, especially since they do not significantly increase the risk of cancer.

Parents can rest assured that purchasing and using this product will not pose any harm to their baby's health.

Which is better, hand sanitizer or soap for babies to wash their hands? Besides the question of whether hand sanitizer has cancer-causing properties, parents wonder if there's a need to use antibacterial hand sanitizers for their baby. Compared to soap, which is more suitable for babies to use? If parents are still wary of hand sanitizer, they might opt for using soap instead.

Research has found that the efficacy of washing hands with soap and water is as good as that of chlorine disinfectants, capable of removing most bacteria. It is significantly stronger than hand sanitizers in terms of germ removal.

Of course, it's okay for a baby to wash his hands and use hand sanitizer, but it should take more time to choose the right hand sanitizer. For example, hand sanitizer with mild ingredients and influential brands is easy to accept by the baby's skin and keep hands relatively clean.

Some hand sanitizers contain moisturizing ingredients such as vegetable oil, sheep oil, and milk, which can also keep the skin soft and moist.

It is important to note that hand sanitizers typically contain more than 60% alcohol, which is essential for effective disinfection. However, prolonged use of high-alcohol hand sanitizers can cause skin irritation and harm. Thus, opting for traditional soaps for hand washing appears to be more beneficial for health.

The correct method of handwashing for babies, whether using antibacterial hand sanitizer or soap, is essential to ensure that bacteria are not left on their hands.

And the good habit of washing hands can reduce the chances of babies getting diarrhea by 53%! Imagine how to wash your hands: Step1: Wash your palms.

Wet the hands with water, apply hand soap evenly, and then rub palms together and fingers together.

Step 2: Wash the back of your hands.

With palms facing each other, rub the backs of your hands together along the creases. Then alternate hands.

Step 3: Clean between the fingernails.

Place your hands palm to palm, cross your fingers, and rub each other.

Step4: Wash your thumbs.

Hold the other hand with your thumb and rub it, then alternate your hands.

Step5: Wash the back of your fingers.

Bend the joints of each finger, half clench your fist, place the back of your fingers on the palm of the other hand, rotate and rub it, then alternate your hands.

Step6: Wash fingertips.

Comb the fingertips together in your other hand and rub them. Then alternate hands.

Step 7: Wash your wrists and arms.

Thumb and forefinger rubbing the wrist and arm, then alternately.

Tips for washing hands for your baby. Washing hands is also a delicate task. Don't think that everyone knows how to do it.

Baba, let's first take a look at the major misunderstandings about washing hands. Otherwise, the baby's hands will be washed incorrectly, and the more dirty they are washed, the more dirty their hands will become.

Generally, these five major hand washing myths should be avoided: Myth 1: Washing hands too frequently Although washing hands frequently is a good habit, washing hands too frequently will damage the protective layer on the skin surface of the hands and cause the hands to be exposed to various stimuli. The resistance to factors is reduced, so your baby should clean your hands properly according to the situation. If you wash it too frequently, it can easily cause skin diseases such as eczema.

Myth 2: If the baby uses too much hand sanitizer, press too much hand sanitizer at one time when washing his hands, and it will be difficult to rinse it off in a short period of time. Chemicals will remain on the skin, causing the hands to become dirtier when washed. Therefore, control the amount of hand sanitizer each time is important.

Myth 3: Mixing water with hand sanitizer will reduce the efficacy of hand sanitizer. This is not right.

Because the concentration and composition ratio of hand sanitizer are scientifically based, it will affect the disinfection effect after being mixed with water, making it difficult to ensure cleanliness in place.

Myth 4: Not enough hand rubbing. Some babies are determined to be quick. When washing hands, they apply hand sanitizer and rinse it off directly. They are not rubbed enough at all. This will not make the hand sanitizer work. Therefore, when washing hands, rub it until the hand sanitizer bubbles, and then rinse it with water.

Myth 5: If the baby does not dry his hands in time after washing his hands, if the baby does not thoroughly dry his hands after washing, bacteria will easily grow and the skin of the hands will easily become dry. Therefore, dry with a clean towel after washing your hands, and apply hand cream in time in autumn and winter.

The medical content mentioned in this text is for reference only.

If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately, and the medical diagnosis and treatment will be subject to offline diagnosis.