The sun is shining and for children it means creating, making sand castles and messing with mud. Putting your toddler in a sandbox soon leads to a handful of sand in the mouth. How bad is that?
With the hands of everything to grab, feel, taste, smell, look: this is how a baby slowly discovers the world. If you put a toddler in a container with sand, the child wants to know what that stuff is.
Taking a few bites and swallowing can really do not hurt, says Caroline Schouten, youth doctor and board member at Jeugdartsen Nederland. It is part of the development and they will not do that for years. “After a while they know: this is nice to feel in your hands and to play with, but it doesn’t taste and doesn’t feel good in the mouth.”
They usually do not have that after one time and not even after one snack. Moreover, all children are different and the development goes into a smooth movement, says the youth doctor. “So you can’t say: if they are one and a half, they certainly don’t do it anymore.”
Something in the mouth every two minutes
Children under three years old appear to put their hands or objects in their mouths every two to three minutes, shows scientific research from more than thirty years ago. Other research in children from one to four years at a daycare center showed that the children are an average of 40 milligrams of sand a day.
But what does that sand do in your body? A few snacks can do no harm, says pediatrician Lissy de Ridder. Sand itself passes the stomach and nothing happens.
Speelzand is natural material and 98 percent consists of sand and 2 percent of additives such as glycerol, dimethicone or polyisobutene. That ensures that it sticks a bit so that you can build castles and cakes with it. There are small amounts of quartz in the outside sand, and that substance can cause damage to the lungs and even cancer. But when playing with sand, children do not receive quartz fabrics, says RIVM. Maybe something on the beach, but that is so little that it doesn’t hurt.
Worms in your shit
Sand itself is innocent, but dirty, shit and parasites in it. So watch out for dirty sand in which cats or birds have pooped, both doctors say.
Aarsmaden are parasites that are passed on to each other in a busy sandbox full of children. You get those worms by swallowing worm eggs, and that quickly happens because the eggs also stick to objects in the area.
The eggs are only visible with a microscope. You discover the worms in the stool. They are innocent, but can give severe nocturnal itching to the anus and labia. Children get restless and awake. Due to strict hygiene measures, the worms disappear automatically after a few weeks and to accelerate the process, a worm cure works well.
Watch out for cat poop
The rinsworm in the stool of cats is also a point of attention, says Wieke van der Vossen, Food Safety Expert at the Nutrition Center. “If cats poop in sandboxes, there can be parasites or worms that make you sick.”
You can get an infection because you get toxocara eggs, or riotworm eggs, through that ground contaminated with poo. Eating unwashed vegetables is also an infection route. When it comes to a small number of larvae, most people will not have any complaints, according to RIVM.
“With larger numbers, flu -like symptoms can occur, such as general malaise, fever, abdominal pain, liver enlargement and coughing. This is called visceral Larva Migrans (VLM).”
The RIVM advises sandboxes always after use, and states that daycare centers and public playgrounds with an open sandbox should not be allowed by the GGD.
Sandy banks are a lot dirtier
According to Jeugdarts Schouten, it is quite a difference whether you put your child in a clean sandbox or let his or her course go by a puddle on the sandy bank. “Such a bank of natural water can be full of poop of water birds, blue -green algae or viruses and can be a source for infectious diseases.”
The doctor points to an outbreak of the norovirus in a nature playground a while ago. The virus in the stationary water caused many sick visitors, who suffered from vomiting and diarrhea.
If you play with sand, water and mud from the point of view of the development of a child, it only has benefits, says Schouten. “You can also put a child in a maxicosi with a screen in front of his nose. Then the development is different from when a child can be outside, feels the wind, the structures of sand can discover and taste, the birds can hear. They build castles, are creative. Those three -dimensional experience need children for a healthy development.”
How do you reduce the chance of getting sick?
The Sun is shining, and for children, that mean digging, making sandcastles, and brass around with mud. Putting your Toddler in a sandbox quickly leads to handfuls of sand in their mouth. How bad is that?
Grabbing Everything with Their Hands, Feeling, Tasting, Smelling, Looking: that’s how a Baby Slowly Discovers the World. If you put a toddler in a box of sand, the child hens to know what that is stuff.
Taking a Few Bites and Swallowing is Really Not Harmful, Says Caroline Schouten, Youth Doctor and Board Member at Youth Doctors Netherlands. It is Part of Development, and they won the that for years. “After a while, they know: This is nice to feel in your hands and to play with, but it Doesn’tn’t taste good and Doesn’t Feel Good in the Mouth Either.”
They usualy don’t realize that after just one time or one bite. Moreover, All Children are Different, and Development is a Fluid Movement, Says the Youth Doctor. “So you can’t say: If they are one and a half years old, they certainly won do it anymore.”
Something in the mouth every two minutes
Children Younger Than Three Years Old Appear to Put Their Hands Or Objects In Their Mouths Every Two To Three Minutes, Accordination to Scientific Research From More Thirty Years ago. Other research on children aged one to four in a daycare center showed that the children at an average of 40 milligrams of sand per day.
But what does that sand do in your body? A Few Bites Are Not Harmful, Says Pediatrician Lissy de Ridder. Sand itself passes through the stomach, and nothing happens.
Play Sand is a Natural Material and Consists of 98 percent Sand and 2 percent Additives Such as glycerol, Dimethicone, OR polyisobutene. That ensures that it sticks a little so you can build castles and cakes with it. Outdoor Sand Contains Small Amounts of Quartz, And That Substance Can Cause Damage To The Lungs And Even Cancer. But children do not taught quartz Dust when playing with sand, accordance to the rivm. Maybe a little on the beach, but that’s so little that it’s absolutely not harpul.
Worms in Your Poop
Sand Itelf is Harmless, But Dirt, Poop, and Parasites in It Are Not. So Watch Out for Dirty Sand in which Cats or Birds Have Pooped, Both Doctors Say.
Pinworms are parasites that are passed on to each other in a busy sandbox full of children. You get Those Worms by Swallowing Worm Eggs, And That Happens Quickly because the Eggs also Stick to Objects in the Environment.
The Eggs are only visible with a microscope. You discover the worms in the stool. They are harness but can cause severe nocturnal itching of the anus and labia. Children Become Restless and Wake Up From It. Through Strict Hygiene Measures, The Worms Disappear On Their Own After A Few Week, And A Worm Cure Works Well to Speed Up The Process.
Watch Out for Cat Poop
The Roundworm in Cat Feces is also a point of Attention, Says Wieke van der Vossen, Food Safety Expert at the Nutrition Center. “If Cats Poop in Sandboxes, there may be parasites or worms in them that make you sick.”
You can get an Infection by Instance toxocara Eggs, or roundworm Eggs, through Soil contaminated with Poop. Eating Unwashed Vegetables is also a route of Infection. If it groups a small number of larvae, most people will have no complaints, Accordination to the Rivm.
“In Larger Numbers, Flu-Like Symptoms Can Occur, Such as General Malaise, Fever, Abdominal Pain, Liver Enlargement, and Coughing. This is Called Visceral Larva Migrans (VLM).”
The RIVM advises to always close sandboxes after use and States that daycare centers and public playgrounds with an open sandbox should not be allowed by the ggd.
Sandy Shores are a lot dirtier
Accordance to Youth Doctor Schouten, it makes QUITE A DIFERCE WHETER YOU PUT YOUR CHILD IN A Clean Sandbox or Let Them Go Their Own Way by A Puddle On The Sandy Shore. “Such a shore on natural water can be full of poop from waterfowl, blue algae, or viruses and can be a source of infectious diseases.”
The Doctor Points to An Outbreak of the Norovirus in A Nature Playground A While Ago. The virus in the stagnant water caused many sick visitors, who suffered from vomiting and diarrhea.
If you look at playing with sand, water, and mud from the point of view of a child’s development, IT only has advantages, Says Schouten. “You can also put a child in a maxi-cosi with a screen in front of their Nose. Then the development is different than when a child can be outside, feel the wind, discover and taste the structures of sand, hear the bird node nodes. Three-Dimensional Experience for Healthy Development. “