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16 - 18 months

Top 5 hand-hygiene ingredients for toddlers

19 April 2021 | By Tammy Jacks

From hand washes to soaps and creams, here are a few key ingredients that are gentle enough for little one’s hands.

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One thing kids are really good at, is getting their hands dirty, whether it’s from making mud cakes in the garden, dipping their fingers in tomato sauce or wiping their noses without a tissue. Fortunately, this is the perfect time to teach your little one about good hand hygiene practices, as regular hand washing is a strong defence against germs.

According to the World Health Organisation’s Save Lives: Clean Your Hands global campaign, “Hand hygiene is one of the most effective actions to reduce the spread of pathogens and prevent infections, including the Covid-19 virus.”

But when it comes to practicing good hand hygiene and washing hands regularly, you also want to make sure the handwashes, soaps and creams you use are safe and gentle enough for your little one’s skin.

Safe, toddler-friendly ingredients to look out for 

1. Tea tree oil

While it’s effective at removing dirt and bacteria from the skin, tea tree oil is also a powerful antioxidant and is known to calm irritation and reduce redness, while being gentle enough for children. While tea tree oil is safe in smaller amounts in children’s products, pure tea tree oil is more potent and can be too harsh if applied directly to your child’s skin.

2. Rooibos

Rooibos is high in antioxidants, plus it’s packed with minerals such as zinc and magnesium which help to support healthy skin and reduce inflammation linked to skin conditions such as eczema. A study in the journal Molecules, also shows that rooibos contains properties which prevent certain bacteria from multiplying. 

3. Glycerin

Glycerin (also known as a humectant) is a natural compound (derived from vegetable oil or animal fats) used to moisturise and protect the skin’s barrier function, especially when using handwashes and sanitisers. Glycerin is safe for little ones and can help to keep the skin smooth, soft and hydrated.

4. Aqua (purified water)

This is one of the main ingredients found in aqueous cream – an emollient, which has been used for decades to moisturise children’s skins. It can also be used as a soap substitute to gently cleanse the skin. However, if your child suffers from eczema, you’ll want to look for an aqueous cream that doesn’t contain sodium laurel sulphate – which, according to the National Eczema Society, can irritate the skin and make eczema worse.

5. Lavender

The lavender plant is anti-inflammatory and has been known to kill bacteria. This means that lavender oil, which is widely used in children’s skincare products, also has antifungal properties. In fact, studies show that it can help to speed up healing in small cuts, scrapes and wounds. 

Avoid these ingredients for toddlers

• 70% alcohol
• Artificial fragrance
• Parabens
• Sodium lauryl sulphate
• Triclosan

When and how to wash hands

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends washing hands with soap and water and using a scrubbing motion for at least 10 seconds to help get rid of germs. When you wash, cover every surface of your child’s hands, including underneath the fingernails.

Always wash your children’s hands before they eat and after they use the bathroom, as well as when you arrive home from an outing, or come inside from playing outdoors.

How to avoid dryness and irritation

Dr Judey Pretorius, biomedical scientist and founder of Biomedical Emporium, says it’s important to use a good-quality hand cream at least four times a day (one that’s rich in emollients and humectants) to protect your little one’s natural lipid layer.

“Skin sanitisers and soaps should be pH-balanced because our skin is also known as an ‘acid mantle’. We need a skin sanitiser or soap to be between the pH of 5.2 and 5.8 to reduce the risk of developing contact dermatitis or atopic dermatitis,” she explains.

It’s also a good idea to look for cleansing products with additional hydrating ingredients to help moisturise the skin.

 

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com

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