Ensure your child is protected from illness by using good hygiene practices and teaching him to adopt them too. Our immune systems take time to develop, which is why good hygiene is vital around babies and toddlers. This means regular nappy changes, sterilizing anything you put in his mouth, and turning away visitors suffering from bugs that might put strain on his developing body.
But in the long-term, your child needs to learn to look after himself, especially once he reaches school age, and it’s important to start teaching healthy habits as soon as he is able to follow them. Instilling these sanitary skills may take a little time – and a lot of patience – but will help him to grow into a confident and healthy person.
Nappy happy
It’s crucial to change your baby’s nappy regularly to avoid rashes and infections. Babies have very delicate skin which can become red and sore if left in a soiled nappy. Follow these steps:
- Before you start, ensure your hands are freshly washed, the area you are using is clean, dry and warm, and all of your supplies are close by. Lie your baby on a changing mat or on a towel on the floor.
- If his nappy is dirty, use it to clean off as much of the poo as possible.
- Use baby wipes, cotton wool and warm water, or cotton wool and baby lotion, to clean the nappy area thoroughly. Girls must be cleaned from front to back to avoid spreading germs. It’s important to clean around a boy’s testicles and penis, but there’s no need to pull back the foreskin.
- Apply a barrier cream to avoid your baby developing nappy rash before putting on a fresh nappy.
- Disposable liners can be flushed away, but don’t flush a whole nappy as it can cause a blockage. Roll up and reseal nappies using the sticky tabs and put in a plastic bag reserved only for nappies and dispose of in an outdoor bin. Cloth nappies should be machine washed at 60°C or use a nappy laundry service.
- Wash your own hands thoroughly after changing the nappy.
Get scrubbing
Hand washing is a cornerstone of good hygiene. Your child’s mitts come into contact with all sorts of germs each day, and he will promptly stick them in his mouth or food, if you let him. A little bit of dirt is natural and unavoidable (and actually good for developing his immune system), but it’s important to establish a routine of regular washing as early as you can. Prevention is the best policy.
Teach him to wash his hands following each toilet trip, before he eats and if he coughs or sneezes into them, along with any other messy situations (such as garden play or petting animals). This will help stop germs and viral respiratory diseases from spreading and potentially causing illness to himself and others.
Ideally wash hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap. If your child struggles to wash his hands for long enough, try singing a song together that lasts for that time. Some children forget to hand-wash in the hurry to get back to playtime, so it doesn't hurt to check with him after toilet trips.
A clean toilet routine
No parent particularly enjoys cleaning up their little one after they've been to the toilet and unfortunately it will take some time until he is physically capable of this task. Generally children won’t become adept at wiping themselves properly until 4-5 years old, but that doesn't mean you can’t teach your child how to clean himself from the get go.
Establish good practice from the time you begin potty training (which is usually between 18 months and 3 years old). Using either toilet tissue or flush-able toilet wipes, explain to your child how to wipe from front to back until clean, disposing of the dirty tissue down the toilet.
Once he’s finished, encourage him to flush and then thoroughly wash his hands. Practice makes perfect, so be patient and your child will learn to follow all the steps to ensure he has a hygienic toilet routine.
Sneezing
Good hygiene is especially important at times of illness. If your child has a blocked or runny nose, help him to blow into a tissue. Teach him to blow each nostril individually if you can. Then get him to put the tissue directly in the bin or in the toilet, before washing his hands well. Encourage your child to cough and sneeze into his arm or crook of his elbow if he doesn't have a tissue, to avoid getting germs on his hands, which could then contaminate surfaces. This also prevents germs spreading through the air around him. Remember you’re a role model for your child, so practice what you preach!
Out of the habit
Whether it’s nose-picking, nail-biting, thumb-sucking or blowing bubbles with spit, no child is immune from picking up an unhygienic habit, especially if they've seen another child doing it. If your child suddenly adopts a less than pleasant pastime don’t draw attention to it, otherwise he may continue to do it just to get a reaction.
Aside from gently discouraging him, if you see him indulging in a bad habit, try distraction. After a while he’ll
stop by himself – usually after noticing that his behavior isn't being well received.
Image credit to Huffingtonpost
Image credit to Huffingtonpost
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