Flu fighters: 3 products that can help keep hands free of germs

  • By Sarah Jackson Herald Writer
  • Monday, December 14, 2009 1:13pm
  • Life

In honor of this interminable flu season, we present three gimmicky yet fun innovations to help your kids keep germs — and perhaps unwanted colds and other illness — from spreading.

Sniffle Buddies ($9.99 each): It isn’t easy to keep kids from wiping their runny noses on their sleeves and hands.

Parents, if you just can’t take it anymore, Sniffle Buddies’ Velcro-closure sweat bands might be just the thing.

They’re easier to change and wash than an entire snot-covered shirt and may actually encourage kids to keep their noses dry.

Whether your kids will keep them on may be another story.

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See www.snifflebuddies.com.

Disney Musical Hand Wash Timers ($3.99): If singing the ABCs two times in a row isn’t enough to get your child to wash his hands for the recommended 20 seconds, maybe Lightning McQueen will?

When pushed on, these soap dispenser toppers — which fit over most liquid soap pumps — play music and flash lights for 20 to 25 seconds to keep your kid engaged in good hand washing.

Popular tunes are tied to classic Disney characters, such as Ariel of “The Little Mermaid,” whose timer plays “Under the Sea.”

See www.GetHealthyHands.com.

My Tiny Hands ($7.95): Who can resist the teeny-tiny hands of a newborn baby?

Not everyone, apparently, is the answer.

Now there’s a new stroller-friendly sign that tells people to wash their hands before making contact with your baby: “Please wash your hands before touching mine.”

We’re thinking even that baby-crazy lady who corners you in the cereal aisle isn’t going to hunt down the grocery store bathroom just to touch your baby, right?

See www.mytinyhands.com.

Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037, sjackson@heraldnet.com.

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