Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Toddler Hygiene
Photo by Jennifer Burk on Unsplash
An article on the Active for Life website explores questions about toddler hygiene: from bathing frequency to laundry recommendations for socks, pyjamas and bedding.
Hana LaRock, writing for Active for Life, talks about how adults have developed their personal comfort levels with hygiene routines, “but when it comes to our children – particularly active and messy toddlers that still smell sweet – you might be wondering how often they really need to take a bath or shower!”
LaRock references the advice of Clair McCarthy, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing.
Times when washing up makes good sense for a young child:
· Your child is grimy from a day in the dirt
· Your child is covered in sweat, paint, or other visible dirt
· Your child has had an explosive bowel movement
· Your child has spent the day in the pool (chlorine may be irritating to the skin)
· Your child has been swimming in the sea/a lake/a stream (there could be things in the water that are irritating or unhealthy)
· Your child has been well-covered in bug spray to ward off ticks and mosquitos
But, under normal circumstances, daily bathing is not necessary for young children. “Lots of bathing can lead to dry, irritated skin. But also, the skin has natural protective oils, and natural bacteria, that help to keep us healthy and safe – and that can get washed away with daily bathing…. Really, bathing two or three times a week is fine. In fact, for many kids, even just once or twice a week is fine. You can always do a quick wipe with a wet washcloth to the face, groin area, and any dirty spots.”
LaRock shares a number of toddler bathing tips:
Make sure bath toys are non-toxic and are cleaned of mold.
Clean the tub—especially a plastic tub—at least once a week.
If your toddler pees in the bath, don’t worry. If they poop in the bath, that’s another story. You’ll want to empty the bath and clean it thoroughly.
If you’re wondering whether to give a shower or a bath, toddlers can stay in the bath for several years before they start showering. But introducing them to a shower—especially getting their head under the water—is important for them to start getting used to. With proper guidance and supervision, around age two they can also practice putting their head underneath the water in the bathtub. (Which of course makes it easier to wash their hair!)
If your toddler is prone to ear infections, be careful when you rinse their hair. Some parents may wish to try earplugs.
You can start teaching your toddler about cleaning themselves in the bathtub. Ask them to help you wash their hair, pour a cup of water over their head, or scrub their arms.
Pay attention to which soaps and shampoos you use.
To clean their genitals, you can use a warm cloth and a very gentle cleanser on their tush. Bubble baths and harsher soaps and shampoos can cause vulvovaginitis in toddlers. It’s a good idea to do their shampoo last for this reason, so they’re not sitting in that soap for too long.
And remember: your toddler should never be left unattended for even a moment in the bathtub or shower.
If a child has been sick or had an accident, bedding and pyjamas should be changed straight away and washed. Otherwise, LaRock recommends changing your toddler’s pyjamas every two days or so, especially if they’ve had a meal or been playing in them, and washing the toddler’s bedding every week to 10 days. She ends with the following note, “Being barefoot as much as possible is good for toddlers learning how to perfect their walking and running, but that’s not the reality we live in. So be sure to change their socks every day.” Any concerns about your child’s genital health, overall hygiene, or excessive bathing aversions (some is common), should be discussed with your physician.