Un Safe Sand?

Updated on May 22, 2008
L.E. asks from Plano, TX
11 answers

Hi
I have this new sandbox and found out at Home Depot about the warning label attached to the sand they sell there. Have any of you other Mama's have any experience with this "unsafe" sand sold at Home Depot?
I'm wondering how it has affected your children if used. I've already read the risks and the reason why it has the warning label on it but I just don't know what else to do. I'm considering returning the sandbox all together to avoid guilt if I do end up getting the sand. Which would be a real shame because I think they would have liked it. But I'm not going to let them play in an "unsafe" sand pit. Ughh.
I thought about wetting it down a bit so it was not as "airborne" so to speak. Afterall, isn't that like the real sand at the beaches? And I believe that kind of sand is "safe".
Thanks Mamas.

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

I don't know about the sand at Home Depot, but the ladies at the daycare were talking about filling the sandbox for the infants to play in. I asked them about the kids eating it and was it safe. They said they use Kid Friendly sand. I can't remember the name of it, and for that I'm not being very helpful. I bet you could find it at Wal-mart or someplace like that. They said that since infants put everything in their mouth, they use this kind of sand. I thought that was really great, that they have something like that. I hope this helps you even a little bit. I'm going to start looking for it myself!

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

There is playsand. It actually specifically set for sandboxes and other.

D.H.

answers from Dallas on

L.,
If you don't want to use the sand or the play sand, one of my girlfriends put pea gravel in her sandbox and her children LOVED it!
Just thought I'd pass that along :)
D.

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A.J.

answers from Dallas on

my 3 boys play in sand all the time and they seem fine...

I have read the web sites listed below and it talks about the workers having prpoblems but it does not say anything about kids playing in the sand boxes... I think everything now days causes cancer and asthma and our houses are more dangerous than the sand box. I use shaklee products in our home but kids are more likely to get sick from the non natural chemical cleaners in our homes than the sand...

A. J

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S.G.

answers from Dallas on

Does the bag also say "Playsand" on it?

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S.W.

answers from Dallas on

I am not sure about the "unsafe" sand. But I remember my brother had a sandbox that he LOVED, only problem was it wasn't covered and the neighborhood cats (that we didn't even know were around) braved my 100 lb dog to use the sand box as a litter box. My brother was senstive to the diseases cats carry and got "ring worm" and other parasites every single month until my mom had the sand taken out.

IF you use any sand- I agree with the other mom who said to make sure it was covered!

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G.W.

answers from Tyler on

Do your exercising when the child is asleep or occupied watching a DVD in another room.

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J.B.

answers from Dallas on

Linda - do not use the unsafe Home Depot sand in your children's sand box. It is unsafe for several reasons - most often that it has shards of sharp items or that it was dug from containminated areas and bagged for use under stone patios, etc. Many nurseries or garden centers carry whats called 'Play Sand". This sand is for sand boxes, has been inspected and is clean, safe sand. Not sure what part of Dallas you are in - I can tell you where I've purchased mine, or provide you with resoruces close to you if you let me know what area of town you shop.

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

Use Play Sand. Home Depot used to carry it because I have bought it there. If Home Depot is out of it Lowes or Walmart likely have it. The sand you were looking at was construction sand to mix in concrete, mortar, gardening or to use under walkways and such. The play sand is filtered for large sharp pieces that would cut or hurt your children.

Also keep your sandbox covered when not in use, especially overnight. If you don't the neighborhood cats will think you put out a nice new litterbox for them and that can be dangerous to your kids and to you if you were to get pregnant and then mess around with them in the sand.

In light of checking the link someone sent I found another one on the silica issue that has things on both sides of the issue.

http://parents.berkeley.edu/recommend/where2buy/sandbox.html

I played for hours in a sandbox growing up, my kids have and no one has ever had any lung issues. Unless they are sandblasting without masks the danger appears to be very minimal. I would only be concerned if one of my children and compromised lungs or breathing issues.

K.M.

answers from Dallas on

L.,

You can get play sand at Toys R Us!

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