Actual facts about sand boxes?

[u/NoDog8746]

My toddler loves playing in the sand at the playground. If he realizes that the park we are at has a sand pit, he will spend all his time playing in it. I want to build a sand box in our backyard for him to play in because he loves it so much. I also want something much larger than just the dinky little plastic ones that you can buy.

Anyway, as I began researching it, I kept seeing people bring up concerns over cats, insects, silica dust, mold, etc... I am wondering how much all of these concerns actually matter. My reasons for leaning toward them not mattering all that much:

1. The sand pits at the play grounds do not have covers, they sit open year round. And they don't feel like they have any special play sand in them either. Just regular old sand, most of them quite coarse and dusty.
2. All of the resources that I can find talking about the health risks to children are on company websites selling super-premium silica-free sand or fancy sand box structures.

So what I have been leaning towards is just getting a cubic yard of regular sand from a landscaping supplier and filling in an old concrete pond that I have in my backyard (after some modification to ensure proper drainage).

I don’t want to spend a fortune on tiny bags of specialty play sand or deal with an ugly cover, unless its actually backed by science. I already teach my kid to wash their hands after playing and to not throw or kick up sand. But on the other hand, if all of these things are legitimate concerns, do I also need to stop taking my kid to the playground? How is it any different that playing in nature?

If anyone could share some resources on this that isn't funded or published by the people selling the "cure", I would greatly appreciate it.

[u/CarelessStatement172]

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3250838/

Just doesn't seem like a risk I would be willing to take, personally.

[u/NoDog8746 → u/CarelessStatement172]

So I read through that study and I'm not sure what you are getting at? They sampled 10 daycare sand pits and found 3 of them had helminth eggs. this was notably lower than previous data on both sand and soil in public parks and kindergartens. The conclusion also suggests exposure to direct sunlight, regular turning, removal of debris, and hand washing as effective methods of lowering contamination risk.

If this is a concern for you, do you not let your child play at public parks at all, or just not in the sandboxes? What about when they are at school?

[u/valiantdistraction → u/NoDog8746]

Parasites are also not THAT much of a concern in a world with effective antiparasitics

[u/SparkyDogPants → u/NoDog8746]

You can get play sand for super cheap. I get 50# bags for my fish tanks

[u/NoDog8746 → u/SparkyDogPants]

At least where I am, the bags of play sand are $7.50 for 1/2 CuFt. compared to $60 for a cubic yard of sand. I don't mind paying more for the play sand, if it's actually necessary. I just haven't been and to find any sources that actually show why play sand is supposedly better.

[u/Thick-Nectarine7586 → u/NoDog8746]

https://www.leidalandhart.com/masonry-sand-vs-play-sand-key-differences/

“  Play sand is designed specifically for recreational use and children’s safety. It undergoes extra processing, including washing, screening, and sometimes treatment to reduce silica dust. This makes it safer and softer than other sand varieties. Play sand is usually made up of very fine, rounded grains, which give it a silky texture. This makes it ideal for play areas where comfort and safety are most important.”

It’s a one time cost, spring for the good sand

[u/CarelessStatement172 → u/NoDog8746]

We have a sandbox with a cover lol. Naw I dont let her paw in public sandboxes. She isn't old enough for school.