amo_mea_filiis. Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I need to keep ds's fingers out of his nose and mouth. If I use hand sanitizer every time I see his fingers in his nose or mouth, is this safe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Not the alcohol based kind. Use soap and water or a baby wipe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 I can't use soap and water consistently, and he likes the taste of baby wipes. Lol. Any other ideas? What about non alcohol based sanitizer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 He likes that, too. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 I'm going to start using no-bite again, but that doesn't fix this issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Could you explain why his fingers need to be out of his nose and mouth and why you think you need to sterilize them? That might help us brainstorm better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I don't think hand sanitizer is safe even on people's hands. That stuff is bad for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurie4b Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Your best source of information on your question is to call poison control. They will know exactly what dosage of whatever product you are using could cause problems. It's a free call and you will get medically reliable information. That is who doctors call when they are unsure. ETA: The nonalcoholic hand sanitizers contain ingredients that are suspected to trigger antibiotic resistance. That would include any "natural" ones if they actually work, as well as triclosan. These are akin to chemical warfare. I wouldn't use them with my child in their mouth all the time. Alcohol based hand sanitizers work in a way more like dropping a physical bomb. The alcohol (bleach does this too) dries up the cell walls. They don't develop resistance to that. I do know (from having a kid eat some alcohol based hand sanitizer years ago and double-checking my memory because of work with kids, that Poison Control was not at all alarmed . A 2 year old needs something like 2 full teaspoons of it to get "drunk" which is a huge amount of hand sanitizer from a typical drop or two from the pump kind. (I think the foam kind might produce more) What they told me to do was to give my kiddo some sugar because the main effect if he had gotten more than I thought would be a drop in blood sugar. So just call Poison Control and see what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 I wouldn't use hand sanitizer in that scenario. Why do you feel you need to sanitize his hands each time he puts his fingers in his mouth/nose? I'd enforce hand washing (after going to the bathroom and before meals), and call it good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 Ok, no hand sanitizer. :) I don't feel the need to sanitize his hands, but I thought that having *something* on his hands would make him aware when he sticks his fingers up his nose. Socially, I need to reduce his booger eating. Hand washing is already a battle with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 It sounds like you want to use it as some kind of aversion therapy? I don't think it would poison him but it is very drying and I would worry about the mucous membranes in the nose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amo_mea_filiis. Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 It sounds like you want to use it as some kind of aversion therapy? I don't think it would poison him but it is very drying and I would worry about the mucous membranes in the nose. Yes! Lol. I wasn't sure how to word it without sounding completely crazy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 16, 2013 Share Posted November 16, 2013 Yes! Lol. I wasn't sure how to word it without sounding completely crazy. May I suggest that every time you see that finger head toward the nose or even in the nose that you hand your son a tissue and require him to use it? That will redirect him to a new habit to take care of the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 May I suggest that every time you see that finger head toward the nose or even in the nose that you hand your son a tissue and require him to use it? That will redirect him to a new habit to take care of the problem. Absolutely this! My dd went through a really, really disgusting phase of this last allergy season...and it always tended to happen at the most embarrassing public moments as well:) I finally started a seek and destroy mission-I sat and watched like a hawk, and every.single.time Isaw that index finger headed upward? I stopped it en-'root' with a tissue. I made sure play was interrupted as well, and finally made her either come and get a tissue or find one in the bathroom. Eventually, she got the message that picking her nose equalled play interruption/mommy interference and ceased...for the most part:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmamaz Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Yeah, i went through phases of this problem. Constantly offering a tissue helped. allergy meds helped. accepting that eating boogers is gross, but not actually dangerous, and just trying to ignore it actually worked pretty well, too. The worst offender was horrified when his younger brother started doing it . . only 2 or 3 years after he had stopped . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I think vinegar would be better than the sanitizes even if he does stick it in his mouth anyways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kerileanne99 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Forgot to mention in my above post the little catch phrase that worked wonders...of course, mine little mucus muncher was a princess fanatic:) I kept repeating: 'Princesses pick roses, not noses or toesies! As I handed the tissues round. 'But mommy, I AM a princess, see?' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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