Men's Grooming Products You Should Not Share with Children

December 01, 2010, By Jeffrey Weeks 6 comments

I once came home to find my then six-year-old daughter in the bathroom with shaving cream covering her face. She told me that she was pretending to "shave like papa." Thankfully she never got to the point where she was looking for a razor but the incident was a sober reminder to me about the dangers of some common men's grooming products.

Men are not always the neatest of creatures, but you should keep an eye on grooming products that should not be shared with children. Make sure to place unsafe items in a high place in your bathroom. Small children should not have access to harmful items that they could get their hands on when you are not around.

Some grooming products are either dangerous to children or unsuitable for sharing among children and adults. Never let children "play" with electric grooming products like hair dryers and electric shavers, and make sure they know never to handle razor blades, grooming scissors, sharp clippers or similar products.

Here are some specific grooming products men use that children should be instructed to stay away from:

Razors

Razors can be very unsafe for children due to the sharp blades and risk of cutting. A child pretending to "shave like dad" can lead to a serious cut, so children should both be warned about razors and the razors should be placed where they cannot get hold of them.

Electric razors (which might be tempting to small children because of the noise and buzz when turned on) should be strictly off limits, and should be placed high on the wall or counter or at the back where small children cannot get access to them.

Hair Dryer and Other Electronic Devices

A hair dryer may not seem like a dangerous device, but in many families children sometimes use the bathtub in the adult's bathroom. If this is the case, they need to know the hairdryer and the bathtub do not mix. In fact, it's best to have a conversation with your children about not having any electronics near the water, especially in this day of small CD and MP3 players.

Adult or Whitening Toothpaste

For the first few years they are brushing their teeth, small children should not use adult toothpaste. Some toothpaste, formulated for whitening strength, can actually be damaging for young children to use. Children should have their own toothpaste and not borrow daddy's.

Adult Shampoos and Conditioners

Most regular shampoos and conditioners are too harsh for children and should not be used. In addition to the fact that they contain chemicals unsuited to their hair, adult shampoos and conditioners can really irritate a child's eyes if they accidentally get into them.

Soap

As with shampoo, children have their own soap and shower cleanser that is a lot more gentle than regular soap. If they use the same bathtub they should not share adult soaps.

Vitamins and Medicine

Some men keep certain vitamins or medicines in the bathroom. If you do so, these should always go on a high shelf or an unreachable back counter if you have small children. Make sure children know never to touch dad's vitamin or medicine.

Rubbing Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide

Many men have rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide in their bathrooms, and if you are one then it should not go in a low cabinet. Make sure to store it above the counter or in a high medicine cabinet or closet. That goes for all unsafe liquids in the bathroom.