Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Denise Burnett

---

Darcie wrote at 2008-01-23 05:51:42
Due to the alcohol level in hand sanitizers this advice can be a very harmful solution to your child's hand licking.  Many children have been taken to the ER because they have licked/consumed hand sanitizer. So I would advise you NOT to use this as a method to stop the stemming.

---

Suzanne wrote at 2009-04-20 16:17:39
May I suggest using something besides hand sanitizer? Even if ingested in small amounts, it contains enough alcohol to hurt a small child.

---

cobalt wrote at 2009-12-31 01:39:18
I would discourage putting hand sanitizer on the hands of a child who will put them in her mouth.  The high alcohol content of the hand sanitizer can be dangerous until evaporated.  Perhaps some of the nail polish type deterrents used to stop thumb sucking and nail biting.  I have tried them with my son for thumb sucking and tested them myself.  They taste HORRIBLE but are designed to be safe in your child's mouth.  Good luck.

---

Kristen wrote at 2010-01-02 19:08:37
Hi...someone suggested sanitizing her hands suggesting if she doesn't like the taste she may stop licking them. just be aware that if she DOES like the taste... hand sanitizer is very bad for children, even in small quantities it can become toxic. the following is a link to an article about children who were found legally DRUNK off of the consumption of alcohol from hand sanitizer.



While rare, it is very possible.





http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/sanitizer.asp

---