I think something like this has been asked recently, but I'm hearing all kinds of answers on different sites that sell sand. I am going to be getting sand for a sand box for my twins that are about to turn 3. The sand at the park, on the volley ball pit, seems to be beach sand, i think. It is very white and soft. I know that some sands have dust that can be harmful, but others are saying that safe sand doesn't hold shapes when building castles and such. I know my girls want to build castles and am sure they would want to tunnel and bulldoze etc. We have some beach toys they are anxious to use in a sand box and it has molds of lobsters and seahorses as well as sifters and rakes. What kind of sand should I get that is not course and painful, not overly dangerous (I'm willing to wash the sand or let it get rained on once or twice), but hold shapes when molding it?
Thanks Y'all,
I looked at the Safe Sand website and to get the amount we need it would be almost $800! Not in the budget!!! I will be getting the play sand at either walmart or lowes and 'washing' it to remove the silica dust. And, yes we will cover it. I cant stand the thought of my kids scooping sand and finding cat scat! Blech!
Please don't buy the sand from Home Depot or Lowe's. It is not safe and you can read about it on the OSHA website... people who work with it are required to wear masks. I can't believe they label that stuff as play sand. We use Safe Sand and my daughter had no trouble making molds. It is not as good as beach sand, but still fun and safe.
I used to buy the cheapest sand I could find.
:-)
LBC
Usually people use play sand - you can probably get it from the hardware store. When it's wet it shapes easily, just like the stuff on the beach.
Be sure to make a cover for your sandbox, by the way, so that not only wandering cats but also birds and other critters won't "play" in it, too.
Most places sell "play sand". A friend of mine decided to make a box for her son a long time ago..She bought "sand". Well , it was construction sand and was very painful and would cause him to get abrasions if he fell in it. Then she tried some other type and it was very dusty. The play sand that places like Toys R Us sells is similar to beach sand, not too fine, and does mold okay. Do not take sand from the beach because some towns will fine you if noticed.
We just get the play sand at home depot. If they want to make castles, we just wet it a bit.
