How to Establish Healthy Hygiene Routines With Your Child

Until kids reach the teenage years and realise the consequences of being the smelly kid in school, they often need some convincing when it comes to tasks such as bath time, brushing the teeth and washing their hands. To a young and active mind, hygiene can seem like a hassle, and nothing more than a silly chore that mum and dad insist on just to be annoying.

The principles of good hygiene should be taught from a young age, and not be overlooked by parents and caregivers. It’s important to remember that hygiene habits are the result of training, and that they don’t come naturally to a child. You must lead by example and show them how and when they need to take care of themselves.

No matter your age, the principles of hygiene should be a big part of everyday life. For young children this is especially so, as they are often exposed to germs whilst in the school environment or playground. The problem is, hygiene in theory isn’t fun unless you make it fun in practice. Be creative and make mohawks using shampoo, make funny honking sounds through your nose, download a toothbrushing app, or consider creating a hygiene behaviour chart.

Most of all, be consistent!

Important considerations

Oral hygiene

It goes without saying that oral hygiene is hugely important. Learning from a young age to brush your teeth well is an investment in health that pays huge dividends, and by putting in the time to really practice each brushstroke, children learn that oral health is not something to be taken lightly.

Kids often need help with oral hygiene until the age of around 8-years-old. You will need to:

• Encourage brushing both morning and night
• Use a pea-sized amount of gentle fluoride toothpaste
• Look for a soft-bristled brush.

Step 1: Brush the inside surface of each tooth first, where plaque may accumulate first

Step 2: Clean the outer surfaces of each tooth and angle the brush along the outer gumline

Step 3: Brush the chewing surface of each tooth

Step 4: Use the tip of the brush to clean behind each front tooth, both top and bottom

Step 5: Gently brush the tongue (there will be lots of giggling and squirming at first)
Step 6: Floss from four-years-old.

Hand washing

Hand washing is the single most important factor relating to the spread of infection, not just for children, but for adults too. Children should be encouraged to wash their hands before eating, after using the toilet, after handling animals, when playing with a newborn, and regularly when ill.

Most schools and preschools make it a requirement that children know how to toilet themselves before attending, and that includes remembering to always wash hands.

To teach proper hand washing habits, encourage your child to follow these steps:

Step 1: Wash hands in lukewarm water

Step 2: Squirt a good amount of soap onto the hand and lather for 20 seconds. (Try singing a nursery rhyme to ensure you lather enough.)

Step 3: Clean between the fingers and under the nails, and don’t forget the wrists

Step 4: Rinse well and dry with a clean towel.

Bathing

The bath is a fun way to get clean, and gives you a good excuse to offer your full attention. Young children should NEVER be left alone in the bath, so use the time to connect and have a chat, sing some songs, or read one of these great books about hygiene.

Everyone has their own opinion as to how often your children should take a bath, but as a guide babies should be bathed every couple of days, and toddlers a bit more frequently depending on their habits. Many parents find their toddlers get filthy pretty easily, but unless they’re covered in dirt or need a bath as a sleep cue, every second day should be adequate.

As you bath your children, talk about what it is you are doing – “Mummy is now going to wash your tummy with a washcloth to get all the yucky dirt off.” “Daddy needs you to tip your head back so I can rinse your hair without soap getting in your eyes.” You might also consider letting your toddler bring a doll or action figure into the bath so that they can copy what you are doing.

Coughing and sneezing

Leading by example is the best way to teach good coughing and sneezing habits, as is a “show-and-tell” approach. If you or your child has a cold, offer constant reminders about what to do if a sneeze or cough is coming.

Step 1: Catch it. Always carry tissues so that should you need to cough or sneeze, you can catch it and throw it away

Step 2: Bin tissues straight away. Germs can live on for several hours

Step 3: Wash hands with soap and water following a sneeze or cough.

If there are no tissues around, coughs and sneezes should be caught in the sleeve of a shirt or in the crease of the elbow. As hands are frequently touching surfaces, they should not be sneezed or coughed into.

Nose etiquette

Teaching young children to blow their nose takes time and patience, but it can be done. Take advantage of bath time and instead of waiting for a snotty nose, encourage your child to put their nose just below the water to make bubbles through the nose. It may take some practice, but they’ll get there eventually and they’ll be ready when that snotty nose does come around. You could also try holding a tissue just below the nose and asking your child to make it move by blowing through their nose.

Children are very reluctant to try anything new when feeling sick, so your best bet is to make them as familiar with nose blowing as you can before the sickness comes. When the nose actually does need blowing, try:

Step 1: Explain the importance of blowing and why it will help them

Step 2: Remind them to keep the mouth closed

Step 3: Highlight siblings that may be blowing their nose too

Step 4: Hold a tissue to their nose and ask them to blow. Be patient

Step 5: Dispose of the tissue straight away.

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