Best Ways To Teach Your Child Good Hygiene

Good personal hygiene practices are essential for children's well-being and health. Teaching children about good hygiene from a young age ensures they develop these habits for life. Good hygiene practices are particularly important during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Simple & Effective Methods To Help Your Child Develop Good Hygiene Practices:

Here are some effective ways to teach your child good hygiene practices:

1. Handwashing:

   • Encourage frequent handwashing, especially after coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, or using the bathroom.
   • Use soap and wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
   • Dry hands thoroughly.

2. Nail Cutting:

   • Keep nails clean and trimmed to prevent the spread of germs.
   • Teach how to clean under nails with a nail brush.
   • Choose a relaxed time for cutting nails and offer a reward.

3. Teeth Brushing:

   • Encourage brushing teeth twice a day for two minutes, using a children's toothbrush and toothpaste with a flavor they like.
   • Supervise teeth brushing until the child is capable of brushing on their own.

4. Face Washing:

   • Teach them to wash their face twice a day to keep skin clean and acne-free.
   • Avoid excessive or violent washing that can irritate the skin.

5. Changing Clothes:

   • Wear clean clothes every day, including new underwear, to keep things tidy.

6. Cover Mouth and Nose When Coughing:

   • Teach to cough and sneeze into a tissue or their elbow/sleeve.
   • Encourage them to throw used tissues away and wash hands with soap and water.

7. Bathroom Hygiene:

   • Teach about proper bathroom hygiene, such as wiping from front to back for girls and washing genitals like the rest of their body for boys.
   • Wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom.

8. Bathing:

   • Teach how to bathe on their own.
   • Ensure everything they need, such as a fresh towel and clean clothes, are in the bathroom.
   • The ideal water temperature ranges from 37 to 38 degrees Celsius for children.

9. Taking Care of the Ear Canals:

   • Teach them to take care of their ears. Do not use cotton swabs or other foreign objects to clean the ear canals, as they can push earwax further into the ear or cause injury.
   • Instead, clean the outer part of the ear with a warm, damp washcloth.
   • If your child has excessive earwax, consult a doctor or use over-the-counter ear drops to soften the wax before gently cleaning the ear canal with a bulb syringe filled with warm water.

Conclusion

Teaching your child good hygiene practices can be challenging, but it is essential for their health and well-being. Encourage them to make it a habit by leading by example and providing positive reinforcement.

Get expert medical advice from our team of experienced pediatricians within 15 minutes or emergency-consultation for your child's health and development. Sign up for Babynama's care plans today to get unlimited access to chat with a pediatrician directly on WhatsApp to get answers to your child's health-related queries and the best possible care. Babynama's aim is to provide fast, reliable, and quality healthcare support to parents. Be a part of Babynama today!