Best hand sanitisers for kids of all ages going to school - and hand sanitisers without methanol

Last modified on Jun 10, 2021 09:25 BST Carla Challis

One thing we've all taught our children over the past year is how to wash their hands properly – and many parents provide their kids with a sanitiser to take to school too.

A bottle of hand sanitiser is the perfect stop-gap for when they can't get to the sink or need a quick anti-germ fix. But which kids' hand sanitiser should you buy - and can children use adult hand sanitisers?

We answer your questions and have found the best – and safest – hand sanitisers for children.

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Is hand sanitiser effective for children?

It is, and they can definitely use hand sanitiser as a way of protecting themselves against germs. Of course, washing with soap and water for 20 seconds is more effective but a hand sanitiser is a great way for them to cleanse their hands between washes and throughout the day.

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How do you make hand sanitiser safe for children?

Choose an alcohol-free hand sanitiser for children under 5, unless supervised by an adult. There are plenty of natural and non-methanol hand sanitisers for children to choose from. Otherwise, older children can use any hand sanitiser.

Is hand sanitiser allowed in schools?

Most schools will recommend that children take their own hand sanitiser with them to school (schools will have their own, too). If you're worried about your child losing theirs (which let's face it, is bound to happen), some come with handy chains to attach to bags or pencil cases. These are usually refillable so you can top them up when needed. And there are cool ones for the style-conscious teenager, too.