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Can I Use Hand Sanitizer on My Baby?

When the COVID-19 pandemic first started, hand sanitizer was one of the first commodities to go. It seemed like everywhere you went — from grocery stores to pharmacies — the shelves were cleared out of hand sani products. Even worse, online retailers like Amazon and Ebay had independent sellers shipping out hand sanitizer and other essential items at up to a 900% increase. Now, they’re facing legal repercussions for price gouging during a pandemic.

While some have taken advantage of the shortage of necessary supplies, many companies are contributing to the solution. A host of distilleries across the country have been using their reserves of alcohol to make hand sanitizer for their communities and beyond. Texas vodka brand Tito’s has donated hand sanitizer to frontline workers throughout the pandemic and is now extending distribution to other U.S. cities for free.

Why the voracious demand for hand sanitizer? Are the ingredients safe for everyday use? And is it something we should be using on our kids? Let’s talk through what you should be looking for, how you should be using it, and whether it’s safe for your little ones.

What Do The Experts Say?

Health organizations across the board recommend hand washing as the most effective way to disinfect your hands. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, washing your hands with plain soap and water for at least 20 seconds removes dirt, debris, and all manner of bacteria from your skin. Hand washing removes certain types of germs (like norovirus, Cryptosporidium, and Clostridioides difficile) plus toxic chemicals like lead too.


Hand sanitizer, on the other hand, kills germs on contact with the skin. With their alcohol-based ingredients, hand sanitizers dissolve the protective membranes around microbes. But hand sanitizer should not be a substitute for hand washing. And if your hands are covered in dirt, grease, or chemicals, hand sanitizer is not going to be able to clean your skin and kill all associated bacteria.


That said, everyone should be stocked up on hand sanitizer right now — and even when we’re not in a global pandemic. Why? Because you need to be able to disinfect during times when hand washing isn’t an option. And this happens more than you might think… like during trips to the grocery store or the gas station, on hikes or camping trips, at the dog park. The truth is there are lots of times we simply don’t have access to a hand washing station.

What’s the Ideal Alcohol Content in Hand Sani? 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance recommends using hand sanitizer with alcohol content of at least 60% to ensure you’re killing those lingering germs. Do not use hand sanitizers with an active ingredient of benzalkonium chloride, as this chemical is not as effective at killing bacteria as ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. Use hand sanitizer as soon as you get in your car after a public outing, and frequently throughout a visit to the hospital or nursing home, until you’re able to wash your hands. Hand sani is a stopgap solution for activities on the go, but again, it shouldn't ever fully replace hand washing.


Use enough hand sanitizer to cover your hands completely — now is not the time to skimp on product! Rub your hands together to coat them in the hand sani and allow them to dry. Make sure you don’t wipe your hands off after using it. Experts say that this common removal of the product before it’s dry is the #1 way that hand sanitizer becomes less effective. 

Baby playing with Natural Travel Size Hand Sanitizer

Is It Safe to Use Hand Sanitizer on Babies?

According to the FDA, hand sanitizer is absolutely safe to use on children, even those under 6 years old, when used appropriately and with supervision. Most schools, playgrounds, and daycare centers are putting some type of hand sanitizer system in place this year, if they weren’t already. The biggest issue with children and hand sanitizer is not the application — it’s accidental ingestion. During the height of the pandemic in March, calls to Poison Control increased by 79% due to unintentional ingestion in kids under 5. 

Here are the three rules that you should always (always, always!) follow when using hand sanitizer on children:

  1. Find a hand sanitizer that has an active ingredient of ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol, with at least 60% concentration.
  2. Apply the hand sanitizer to your child and supervise as they rub their hands together. Keep watch until the product is dry, to make sure they don’t put their hands in their mouths or wipe them on their clothes.
  3. Store hand sanitizer out of reach of children, ideally in a locked cabinet.

Finding the Right Hand Sanitizer for Babies

When it comes to hand sanitizer products, there are a few common complaints. For one, the alcohol smell can sometimes be overpowering and very unpleasant for those with sensitive noses. Second, hand sani often dries out the skin, leaving patchy spots and cracks on the knuckles and fingers. As winter approaches, this second issue will likely worsen. The more gentle and natural the ingredients — while still containing the necessary levels of alcohol disinfectant — the better. 

Finding the right product can be difficult, and kids can be particularly finicky with scents and textures. That said, do not attempt to make your own hand sanitizer! Experts say that homemade hand sani is not as effective, and may even be dangerous for use. Additionally, some hand sanitizers that are advertised to be alcohol-based have been found to actually contain methanol or 1-propanol. These are toxic ingredients responsible for a sharp uptick in recent contamination rates, with severe and even fatal side effects. 

Hand Sanitizer for Kids

So stay clean, but also stay safe. Parasol has just launched a natural hand sanitizer with a sweet floral scent. Our plant-based formula contains Vitamin E, aloe, and other plant extract to soften the skin and keep it moisturized. The active ingredient of 62% ethyl alcohol kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria and doesn’t leave a sticky residue. It’s cruelty-free, dermatologist-tested, and safe for children (under supervision.) Ta-da! A hand sanitizer you can use on yourself and the kids all day long. We’d love to hear how you like it — drop us a review or reach out with a question. We’re here for you, parents, and we’re always evolving our product lines to meet your current needs.

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To help us be our best, we’d appreciate hearing your feedback in a quick survey. And please be honest, we really do listen.

Potty trained, yes!

(And you thought it would never happen…)

Congrats on graduating from diapers to big kid undies. You (both) did it! Tag this milestone @parasolco and give other parents hope that their day, too, will come.

Not all baby wipes are created equal.

Baby wipes aren’t all priced the same...because they’re not made the same. Our new plant-based Clear+Pure™ baby wipes are dermatologist-certified and formulated with only the purest ingredients. They’re stronger to prevent tearing, more effective at getting baby really clean with fewer wipes...and they dispense one wipe at a time. At the end of a long day of changing diapers (and at the bottom of your baby’s bum), that is all clearly the best value we know.

Need to take a timeout?

One of the conveniences of a Parasol diaper subscription or membership is being able to hit Pause. Maybe you’re traveling, maybe someone just gifted you a month of diapers, whatever the reason, you can pause your diaper orders and come back when you’re ready. Just go to your account, select Edit Subscriptions and make your choice. And when you’re time out is up, we’ll always be here for you (that’s called unconditional love).

Before you swipe left on our wipes…

As you shop and compare wipes to find the one best for your baby, it’s important to do your homework because all baby wipes are not created equal. Our new plant-based Clear+Pure™ baby wipes are dermatologist-certified and formulated with only the purest ingredients.They’re stronger to prevent tearing, more effective at getting baby really clean with fewer wipes...and they dispense one wipe at a time. At the end of a long day of changing diapers (and at the bottom of your baby’s bum), that is all clearly the best value we know.

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To help us be our best, we’d appreciate hearing your feedback in a quick survey. And please be honest, we really do listen.

Potty trained, yes!

(And you thought it would never happen…)

Congrats on graduating from diapers pants to big kid undies. You (both) did it! Tag this milestone @parasolco and give other parents hope that their day, too, will come.

Upgrade to a membership and save (big time).

If you haven’t joined our new membership program, you’re missing out on our best value, biggest savings and free perks exclusively for members. You can upgrade your subscription to a membership just by ordering a 3-pack box of diapers. With each 3-pack box, you’ll receive 4 free packs of baby wipes, plus two diaper gift packs to share, one each for two friends. You’ll also save 20% off all future orders, enjoy lifetime savings, can apply extra promo discounts, and can cancel or change diaper delivery service at any time. Ready to upgrade?

Need to take a timeout?

One of the conveniences of a Parasol diaper subscription or membership is being able to hit Pause. Maybe you’re traveling, maybe someone just gifted you a month of diapers, whatever the reason, you can pause your diaper orders and come back when you’re ready. Just go to your account, select Edit Subscriptions and make your choice. And when you’re time out is up, we’ll always be here for you (that’s called unconditional love).

We can make the switch without a hitch.

Maybe it’s time to graduate to a new diaper size? Or to go from diapers to diaper pants? Or from diaper pants to wipes? Some customers think the only option they have to change products is to cancel a subscription and then start a new one (we can all agree that seems rather complicated). The good news is our Customer Service team can change your choice in the system, easy peasy. Just reach out to us at hello@parasolco.com (we never nap), and we’ll take it from there.

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Just for you, 15% off your next order.

We’re sorry that your experience with our lotion didn’t meet your expectations and hope you’ll give them another try to see why so many parents are devoted Parasol fans. As a thank you, enter the Discount Code 15OFFCART to receive 15% off a one-time entire cart purchase (no product limits, no expiration date).

To help us be our best, we’d appreciate hearing your feedback in a quick survey. And please be honest, we really do listen.

Potty trained, yes!

(And you thought it would never happen…)

Congrats on graduating from diapers to big kid undies. You (both) did it! Tag this milestone @parasolco and give other parents hope that their day, too, will come.

Not all baby lotions are created equal.

Baby lotions aren’t all priced the same...because they’re not made the same.

Need to take a timeout?

One of the conveniences of a Parasol lotion subscription or membership is being able to hit Pause. Maybe you’re traveling, maybe someone just gifted you a month of lotion, whatever the reason, you can pause your lotion orders and come back when you’re ready. Just go to your account, select Edit Subscriptions and make your choice. And when you’re time out is up, we’ll always be here for you (that’s called unconditional love).

Before you swipe left on our lotion…

As you shop and compare lotion to find the one best for your baby, it’s important to do your homework because all baby lotion are not created equal.

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Oh, before you cancel your baby shampoo - body wash subscription…

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Just for you, 15% off your next order.

We’re sorry that your experience with our shampoo - body wash didn’t meet your expectations and hope you’ll give them another try to see why so many parents are devoted Parasol fans. As a thank you, enter the Discount Code 15OFFCART to receive 15% off a one-time entire cart purchase (no product limits, no expiration date).

To help us be our best, we’d appreciate hearing your feedback in a quick survey. And please be honest, we really do listen.

Potty trained, yes!

(And you thought it would never happen…)

Congrats on graduating from diapers to big kid undies. You (both) did it! Tag this milestone @parasolco and give other parents hope that their day, too, will come.

Not all baby shampoo - body wash are created equal.

Baby shampoo - body wash aren’t all priced the same...because they’re not made the same.

Need to take a timeout?

One of the conveniences of a Parasol lotion subscription or membership is being able to hit Pause. Maybe you’re traveling, maybe someone just gifted you a month of lotion, whatever the reason, you can pause your shampoo - body wash orders and come back when you’re ready. Just go to your account, select Edit Subscriptions and make your choice. And when you’re time out is up, we’ll always be here for you (that’s called unconditional love).

Before you swipe left on our shampoo - body wash…

As you shop and compare shampoo - body wash to find the one best for your baby, it’s important to do your homework because all baby shampoo - body wash are not created equal.

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