What are the most important hygiene habits you have to teach for your kids?

It is important for you to teach hygiene habits for your kids because not only does it maintain a good appearance but also prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and viruses. The following good hygiene habits will aid your kids in staying healthy, avoiding infectious diseases, developing a healthy personality, and maintaining a healthy body appearance. Children are unable to understand what personal hygiene is. Hence, parents have a duty to teach their kids the importance of doing personal hygiene habits. To teach your kids easily, you should start early and do simple practices at your home. Children have a natural ability to pick up things quickly and learn fast. This also helps to establish good hygiene habits that remain with your kids throughout their lives.

1. Toileting Hygiene

When your kid gets toilet-trained, you need to teach your child how to keep their little body parts clean.

Remember to teach your kid to wipe this area from the front to the back thoroughly with toilet paper before getting out the washroom. Moreover, teach your kid to continue wiping it with fresh toilet paper till it completely comes out clean. You should also teach your child how to flush out the toilet or use the bidet. If needed, you can put a sign on your bathroom wall to remind your kid what he/she has to do after utilizing the toilet. Moreover, you should also teach your child how to wash the hands every time when using the toilet. These good habits will help to reduce irritation and remove infections.

Remember to have patience when teaching your kid about toileting hygiene because almost of children have trouble learning these habits.

2. Oral Hygiene

You should add this good oral hygiene practices to the daily routine of your child. In a point of fact, parents need to take care of oral hygiene for their child properly from the moment when your kid has the first tooth. By cleaning the teeth & gums of your kid regularly, you may help to prevent a lot of health problems such as heart disease, cavities, and a bad breath later in their lifetime.

When your kid is old enough, it is important for you to supervise the way your child is practicing this hygiene. Your child needs to learn to brush their teeth regularly for at least two minutes twice a day. Moreover, encourage your kid to brush their teeth after their meal to prevent the development of bacteria and keep tooth decay at bay. Apart from brushing the teeth, flossing and rinsing their mouth with a good mouth rinse is also very important. Proper brushing & flossing is a skill that may only be improved with regular practice. Therefore, parents should instill this important hygiene in their kids as soon as possible.

At the same time, make sure that your kid is not consuming an excess amount of sugary junk foods, which leaves a side effect on their teeth. If your kid is not taking care of their teeth properly, discuss this subject to them. If needed, you need to take them to a dentist who can help to teach your kid about the effects of bad breath and symptoms of dental issues.

 

 

3. Foot Hygiene

It is also important for you to teach your kid about foot hygiene habit. Doing foot hygiene properly will reduce the chance of ringworm, smelly feet, and other foot infections. Rinse your kid’s feet at least 2 times per day, and be sure to pat dry in between their toes completely. The accumulation of water between their toes is a reason for foot fungus. Avoid making your kid wear footwear all day, particularly without wearing socks.

• When your kid is old enough to care for his/her feet, teach them the following basic tips:
• Wash their feet at least 2 times per day. To rinse the feet, teach them to scrub their feet with soap between their toes, the foot soles, and under the toenails.
• Always teach them to wipe their feet dry with a clean cloth. Then, apply a good moisturizer to keep their feet hydrated.
• Teach them to keep the shoes clean & dry.

You should buy socks lined with or made of cotton rather than synthetic fibers. In addition, you should buy leather & canvas shoes for your child because they allow your kid’s feet to breathe easily.

4. Nail Hygiene

Taking care of nails is important in pampering to stay healthy; hence, you should teach your kid how to take care of them at a very early age. Practicing healthy nail care habit is essential because nails are considered a breeding ground for bacteria that may easily transfer to the eyes, nose, and mouth of your child, making him/her sick.

For a smaller kid, you should clip their fingernails every week. Keeping their nails short is a great way to minimize the number of germs under the nails. Moreover, short nails are cleaner and less broken.

When your kid is able to trim his/her nails, teach them the following basic rules:

• Trim the nails after taking a shower or bath because they will be softer.
• Cut the nails straight across to avoid ingrown nails.
• Use an emery board or nail file to smooth the edges of nails.
• Teach them to avoid cutting the cuticles because they protect their nail root.
• You may also buy a good nail brush & teach your kid to remove the dirt from under the nails before going to bed.

If your kid has the nail biting habit, discourage it instantly. Nail biting may transfer harmful bacteria to their mouth, which will make their way to your baby’s digestive tract causing a lot of problems.

5. Hand Hygiene

Washing the hands is a crucial part that you should teach your kids at a young age. Although this is a very simple activity that only takes several seconds of time, this hygiene habit may get rid of infections and germs. Moreover, washing the hands regularly can decrease may reduce illnesses in kids because harmful microbes often enter the body through the hands. An improper hand hygiene habit can result in diarrhea in children and adults.

For younger children, use a clean washcloth to wipe their hands frequently. When your kid is old enough, teach him/her how to rinse their hands thoroughly, not just make them wet under the water. You should teach your children to rinse their hands with a mild soap and clean water. Firstly, apply the soap, rub his/her hands together for about 30 seconds and then wash the soap off thoroughly with clean water.

Your kids should be taught to cleanse their hands before and after their meals, after playing with pets or in the dirt, after using the toilet, after sneezing or coughing, and after contacting with someone who is sick.

6. Bathing Ritual

Although your kid can like or hate to bathe, bathing is considered a personal hygiene habit which needs to be taught for your kid at a young age. The skin helps to protect the body from external factors such as dust, dirt, and bacteria. By taking a bath regularly, you may keep the body of your kid clean.

Taking a shower or bath also aids in getting rid of the dead cells on the skin, helping to produce the new skin cells to give a healthy & beautiful skin. Therefore, you should give your kid a bath, and remember not to leave them alone in your bathroom because your kid may be in danger with a sponge. When your kid is old enough to shower or bathe, oversee and teach them in the beginning. Remember to make your kid take a shower or bath 2 times per day. While taking a shower or bath, teach them the way to clean the different body parts such as the hands, legs, feet, armpits, groin, joints, belly button, back, elbows, and knees. Make sure to show your kid how to do it.

In addition, teach them how to pat their body dry after bathing and then use a lightweight moisturizer to keep the body hydrated. Be sure to make your child change his/her underwear every day and put on clean clothes.

Author BIO

This guest post is by Nga Do, a beauty and health blogger with many years of experience on searching the effective remedies for skin & hair care and health problems.