Table of contents:
- When do children need to wash their hands?
- How to wash and maintain proper hand hygiene
- How do you get children to get used to washing their hands?
Washing your hands is a simple habit with tremendous benefits. This habit can reduce your little one's risk of contracting an infectious disease, for example the flu. Therefore, parents need to teach children from an early age to get used to washing hands. As a guide, you can follow the steps below.
When do children need to wash their hands?
First of all, it's a good idea to explain to your little one why it's important to always wash your hands. Explain to him that washing hands can get rid of germs and viruses that stick to his hands, so that he doesn't get sick easily and also doesn't spread the disease to other people.
Your little one needs to understand the importance of washing hands before adopting this habit. Make sure your little one is washing their hands at the following times.
- Before eating
- Before touching your nose, mouth or eyes
- Before touching the wound
Then wash your hands after:
- Finish urinating or defecating
- Play with pets
- Come home from playing from outside
- Being close to the sick
- Sneezing or coughing
Washing hands before and after eating is an obligation so that children are not exposed to bacteria or viruses through the mouth. However, don't forget to also choose healthy food sources to help increase your body's resistance to be able to fight bacteria that have already entered your body.
Hand washing which is taught to children is not just washing hands with water. There are ways and stages of washing hands that need to be followed.
How to wash and maintain proper hand hygiene
Water is not enough. You need to teach your little one to always wash their hands using soap. In addition, follow the following steps so that the hand washing process is more optimal:
- Wet hands and use soap
- Rub your hands until the soap is lather
- Do it for at least 20 seconds (or with a standard of singing the birthday song twice)
- Rinse hands thoroughly
- Pat dry with a clean dry towel or tissue
If you and your little one are outdoors and find it difficult to find clean water and soap, hand sanitizer can be used. But keep in mind, hand sanitizer cannot clean mud, dust, or greasy hands. Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol.
How do you get children to get used to washing their hands?
Even though it sounds and looks simple, adopting the habit of washing hands is a challenge in itself. Washing hands will be done by children continuously during their lifetime when it has become a habit.
To help your little one get used to this, you can do the following tips:
- Set a good example. It's not fair if your little one should always wash their hands but you ignore this yourself. In addition, basically, children often imitate what people around them do. So, you also have to get used to washing your hands if you want your child to do this habit.
- Don't be bored to remind you. Again, building this habit takes time. You need to be patient to keep reminding the children to wash their hands and if necessary again explain about the benefits.
- Start early. Children who are two years old can be taught this habit.
- Make hand washing fun. For example, invite children to sing while washing their hands or make washing hands a game so that they are more enthusiastic about doing it.
How about wet wipes? According to the CDC, wet wipes are not made to remove germs or bacteria from hands. Therefore, hand washing remains top priority and use hand sanitizer if he is unable to do so.
Good habits must be taught to children when they are able to do them. Parents should not be lazy to always remind and explain how important it is to wash their hands. This can have an impact on your baby's current and adult health.
