We know that the safety of your child is your number one priority. Protecting your baby from germs and bacteria is essential to keeping your child healthy, but is hand sanitizer safe to use on babies?

Simply put, natural hand sanitizers are safe hand sanitizers. They can help protect your child from bacteria. The organic ingredients in our all-natural hand sanitizer work to kill germs while keeping skin soft and moisturized. Chemical hand sanitizers often contain toxic ingredients that can put your baby at risk. Learn how switching to safe hand sanitizers and other all-natural products can keep your children healthy.

Are Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers Safe?

Alcohol-based products tend to raise red-flags for parents; however alcohol is a necessary ingredient of all hand sanitizer products because it effectively kills germs and bacteria.

Alcohols are organic compounds made of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Ethanol is the most widely known alcohol because it’s the primary chemical in alcoholic drinks; however, the alcohols we’re talking about are propanol and isopropanol, which are commonly used in disinfectants because of their sanitizing properties. Some hand sanitizers do contain ethanol, but isopropanol based sanitizers are just as effective and less harmful.

Alcohols destroy pathogens like bacteria and viruses by breaking down their proteins. The CDC has found that alcohol kills a wider variety of bacteria and viruses when the concentration exceeds 60%.

Like the other alcohol in your home, hand sanitizer should be kept out of small children’s reach. However, alcohol-based hand sanitizer is entirely safe for external use on kids of all ages and can prevent them from getting sick.

Safe Hand Sanitizer vs. Chemical Hand Sanitizer

While all effective hand sanitizers are alcohol-based, some popular hand sanitizer brands use additional ingredients to minimize ethanol and isopropanol’s drying effects. This is where the difference between natural hand sanitizers and chemical hand sanitizers can make a difference in your baby’s health.

Chemical Hand Sanitizers

Leading ethanol-based hand sanitizer brands rely on a cocktail of irritating chemicals to soften the skin and combat alcohol’s drying effects. The FDA has also recently warned consumers against using hand sanitizers that contain methanol, a highly toxic chemical. While these chemicals effectively soften the skin, they can be extremely harmful to your baby’s overall health.

One of the more harmful ingredients in chemical sanitizers is aminomethyl propanol, a clear, colorless liquid that neutralizes acids to form salts and water. This compound is used in cosmetic products to keep the pH at a constant level. Although it is a helpful buffer solution, aminomethyl propanol has many adverse effects, including severe eye irritation, prolonged skin irritation, and eczema.

Furthermore, companies are not required to disclose specific product ingredients that contribute to scent. Many hand sanitizer brands have “fragrance” listed under their ingredients list. These fragrances can be derived from petroleum, benzene, aldehydes, and many other known toxic chemicals.

Although chemical hand sanitizers effectively kill germs and bacteria, the chemical additives used for skin softening can do more harm than good to your baby in the long run.

Natural Hand Sanitizers

So, do natural hand sanitizers work even without all those fancy chemicals? Absolutely!

Natural hand sanitizer is an ideal alternative for parents that are conscientious about the chemicals they introduce to their baby’s bodies. Killing Them Softly natural hand sanitizers are made with a synergistic combination of alcohol, East Asian herbal ingredients, and essential oils that effectively kill bacteria and viruses while providing nourishment to the delicate skin on your children’s hands. Killing Them Softly Sanitizers are formulated with the following ingredients:

• Isopropyl Alcohol (70%)
• Lonicera Flower
• Forsythia Fruit
• Angelica Sinensis Root
• Astragalus Membranaceus Root
• Glycyrrhiza Glabra [Licorice] Root
• Aloe Vera
• Orange Essential Oil
• Lemon Essential Oil
• Rosemary Essential Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil

This proprietary blend of natural ingredients will provide nourishment and hydration to your baby’s skin while strengthening their protective barrier. The skin barrier contains immune cells that help protect from bacteria and harmful substances. When this barrier is intact, it helps guard babies from the damaging elements in the environment. Not only are our alcohol-based hand sanitizers safe for your child, but the essential oils will help strengthen their immune system.

Tips for Using Hand Sanitizer on Babies

Just like any other alcohol-based product, you should exercise caution when using hand sanitizer on your baby. Here are some tips for safely using hand sanitizer on your child:

1. Children should always have adult supervision when using hand sanitizer.
2. Follow the directions on the bottle to find out how much sanitizer to apply.
3. Cover the front and backs of your baby’s hands and in between their fingers. Supervise your child as the sanitizer air dries and discourage them from putting their hands in their mouth until it’s completely dry.
4. Keep hand sanitizers out of sight and out of reach from your child at all times.
5. If you believe your child has ingested any amount of hand sanitizer, call your poison control center immediately.

Benefits of Using Non-Toxic Products for Your Baby

Traditional skincare products are loaded with harsh chemicals that can lead to dry skin, irritation, dependence on specific chemicals, and an overall negative impact on both you and your child’s health. By switching to all-natural products, you’ll know that what you put on your baby’s skin is organic, safe, and effective. Starting these healthy habits at an early age will teach your children to practice wellness in their life, including their skincare routine.

It’s not always practical to make DIY baby-safe hand sanitizer, so finding reliable all-natural skincare brands is a must! Killing Them Softly natural hand sanitizer uses clean ingredients with the addition of essential oils to protect your baby from germs while keeping their skin moisturized. The essential oils found in our products also have antimicrobial properties that enhance natural hand sanitizers’ effectiveness in killing germs, bacteria, and viruses. One of the added benefits of natural hand sanitizer is the essential oils in the product act as a natural source of fragrance that doesn’t rely on artificial chemicals. Prioritize your baby’s health by selecting natural products like our safe hand sanitizer!