TEACHING TODDLERS HYGIENE
Written by Caroline Meyer
Hygiene is very important and the sooner we can teach little ones about basic hygiene the better.
Hand Hygiene
Make hand washing a routine and an integral part of your toddlers day. Hand hygiene can go a long way to helping keep germs at bay and preventing illnesses. Not washing hands regularly is a common cause of diarrhoea in adults and children. Germs can also be carried from the hands to the face causing colds, flues and other contagious illnesses to spread. Teach toddlers to wash hands before meals, after using the bathroom, before and after food preparation and playing with pets. Teach them to judge when their hands need washing after play time as well. Without being obsessive, you can instil regular hand washing throughout the day. Hands should be washed thoroughly, including the wrists and then dried well. Explain why hands need to be washed with soap and water. Help them understand other times that hand washing may be necessary, even when it is not part of the usual routine, such as after blowing their noses. Buy fun hand-washes or scented soaps to make it more interesting. Have them sing a little song or rhyme while washing hands to ensure hands are washed for at least 20 seconds. Congratulate them on a job well done.
Toilet Hygiene
Once potty training is underway, you need to help your little one learn to keep all the lower regions clean. Teach them to wipe front to back after using the bathroom and to wipe until the paper comes away clean. They can also learn to flush the toilet themselves as soon as possible. Teach them to always wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom. It can take a while to develop these habits but you need to be consistent and repetitive in teaching until it becomes routine. This will help reduce the risk of infection over the long term.
Bathing
Toddlers should not ever be left alone in the bathtub, but they can be taught the basics of washing themselves. Teach them about adding soap to their sponge or cloth and then washing themselves with it. Let them play with a doll in the bath to teach about washing hair and cleaning all over. You can slowly start teaching hair washing and rinsing as well once you think they might be able to handle it. Stick to baby shampoo to avoid soap burning the eyes while they are learning the process. Make sure you have everything handy before starting the bathing process. Run the water to about belly-button height and check the temperature is around body temperature. Double check before lowering the child into the bath. Explain the process to your toddler so they understand. Talk through all the steps, but don’t forget to make bath-time fun. Let them play with toys in the bath for a little while before you do the full body wash. Allow your toddler to pull the plug at the end of the bath. Some toddlers may prefer to shower if introduced early. You might want to join them in the shower though until they are old enough to wash themselves properly.
Etiquette for sneezing and coughing
Explain to your toddler why it is important to cover your nose and mouth when sneezing. Explain how germs can get spread by coughing or sneezing. Teach them to cough into their elbow or sleeve and how to wipe and blow their noses when they need to. They can learn these skills from a fairly young age, but it takes repetition and reminders to set them as a habit. Play pretend and have your toddler show you what to do under different circumstances.
Brushing teeth
This is another aspect of hygiene that can be taught from a young age. As soon as teeth start appearing, you may want to start with the basics of tooth care and by the time they are toddlers, you can teach full tooth-brushing techniques. Explain why you brush your teeth and tell them about bad breath and teeth that go bad if they are not cared for. Once they understand why it is sometimes easier to get them to brush regularly. Teach the basics of squeezing the toothpaste on to the brush, scrubbing front, top and back of the teeth as well as cleaning the tongue. Show them how to turn on the tap or have a cup of water handy for rinsing and spitting. Teach them to avoid swallowing quantities of toothpaste if possible. When you go shopping, let your toddler pick out a brush and toothpaste. This is a fun way to get them excited to try it out.
Hygiene is also a life skill that is best learned as early as possible. Routines such as these can stick with the child for life and help improve their health right through life. Start as soon as you think your little one may be capable of grasping the concepts behind cleanliness and don’t fret about small messes at the beginning. They will eventually get it.