Sandbox Sand

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a danger because of inhalation. You don't think kids are inhaling that dust? Especially ground as fine as it is?

There is silica dust in the air you breathe every day. It's one of the most common substances that make up the earth's crust. It's dangerous when exposure is heavy and prolonged. If you want to pay more for fake sand, go ahead. But it's not necessary.

Like when you're sitting and playing in it for hours on end every day? I want to avoid sand made only from a known carcinogen marketed to kids.

If you have them in an unventilated area, then it's possibly dangerous. If they are outside, it's no big deal. Companies are capitalizing on your fears when there's no real reason to worry. It's like formaldehyde. That's carcinogenic, too. But your body naturally makes it and it's circulating in your bloodstream and exhaled when you breathe. But everyone goes nuts about it because it gets talked up in parenting forums, blogs, and articles everywhere. California also requires anything that contains formaldehyde to be labeled as carcinogenic. Again, it's all about frequency and quantity of exposure, not the element itself.

Good to know you're happy to let your kid sit and inhale a known carcinogen. I'll look for an alternate.

[Anonymous]

Go ahead and follow the herd. I'll stick to science.

[Anonymous]

Eg the science that this sand is made from a known carcinogen if inhaled and ground so finely that its more easily inhaled by children who play incredibly close to it?

[Anonymous]

For Godsake where can you buy the "kid friendly" sand????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For Godsake where can you buy the "kid friendly" sand????

You can buy it here http://safesand.stores.yahoo.net/ornatplaysan.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eg the science that this sand is made from a known carcinogen if inhaled and ground so finely that its more easily inhaled by children who play incredibly close to it?

Sand you buy at the Hardware store has known carcinogens and is an inhalation hazard that causes fatal lung problems. It's documented by the EPA.

[Anonymous]

So glad I read this. I purchased sand from Toys R Us (but have not opened it yet). I hate how nothing is environmentally safe to our children anymore. Who would have thought something like simple sand could be so complicated? I want my son to be safe, but I can only control for so much. Now, I need to pay $200 for enough safe sand to fill his sandbox, which is made from painted plastic and therefore is probably leeching BPAs and other toxines into his system. Jeez

[Anonymous]

OP here. I had not read the Young House Love blog before posting my question, but went back and read it after reading your comments... I guess it's just that time of year when we are all getting our outdoor spaces ready for our kids, LOL. I made an impulse buy at Costco and picked up one of those water/sand tables and wasn't sure what kind of sand was best. After reading that post, pea gravel it is!! Thanks Has anyone actually spent the money for "safe sand"???

[Anonymous]

You can get kids sand at Home Depot and Lowe's. Not sure if that's considered "safe sand".

Our kids play and roll around in the sand at the beach, play in dirt, etc. I think there is a level of paranoia out there that I do not want to reach.

FYI - for a sand table you can also turn it into a sensory table. Fill it with rice, dried beans, etc. We do that occasionally. If you get magnetic wands you can fill it with magnetic items (great fine motor activity).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get kids sand at Home Depot and Lowe's. Not sure if that's considered "safe sand".

Our kids play and roll around in the sand at the beach, play in dirt, etc. I think there is a level of paranoia out there that I do not want to reach.

FYI - for a sand table you can also turn it into a sensory table. Fill it with rice, dried beans, etc. We do that occasionally. If you get magnetic wands you can fill it with magnetic items (great fine motor activity).

you are in idiot - sand at the beach is OK -- that is real sand. Packaged "sand" from the hardware store is not real sand. It's taken from quarries.

[Anonymous]

Can you make sand castles out of pea gravel?

[Anonymous]

What kind of sand is in sandboxes at parks and playgrounds? Preschools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I had not read the Young House Love blog before posting my question, but went back and read it after reading your comments... I guess it's just that time of year when we are all getting our outdoor spaces ready for our kids, LOL. I made an impulse buy at Costco and picked up one of those water/sand tables and wasn't sure what kind of sand was best. After reading that post, pea gravel it is!! Thanks Has anyone actually spent the money for "safe sand"???

We just do water on both sides of the table, the kids love it all the same. Buy lots of toys for it, water wheel, cups, mermaid barbies, whatever. So much easier to keep clean as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can get kids sand at Home Depot and Lowe's. Not sure if that's considered "safe sand".

Our kids play and roll around in the sand at the beach, play in dirt, etc. I think there is a level of paranoia out there that I do not want to reach.

FYI - for a sand table you can also turn it into a sensory table. Fill it with rice, dried beans, etc. We do that occasionally. If you get magnetic wands you can fill it with magnetic items (great fine motor activity).

you are in idiot - sand at the beach is OK -- that is real sand. Packaged "sand" from the hardware store is not real sand. It's taken from quarries.

That wasn't my point, and I didn't claim they were the same types of sand.

[Anonymous]

Where can you buy pea gravel? Sounds unnatural, pea gravel. Sigh