Child Personal hygiene

Good personal hygiene is the base for a disease free life. The habits of personal hygiene are learnt since childhood from our parents. It is the sole responsibility of the parents to teach their children about the habits of good personal hygiene which they practice all through their life.

Hygiene starts at birth and continues life long. The first thing a nurse does once a baby is born is something called 'baby care'. It is nothing but cleaning the eyes, umbilical cord and ultimately the whole body. This is done to prevent infection through eyes and umbilical cord. Though we cannot say this a personal hygiene(because it is not done personally), the baby is completely dependent on us and it is the parents responsibility to keep the baby in good hygiene until the child learns self care.

In the first year of the child, the mother should be keen about changing the nappies regularly once the child wets them. Not changing them regularly will produce irritation and rash to the baby's skin. A bath in the morning and evening is a must for them. The bath time is the best time to assess the baby's body and every body part should be taken care. Care under the chin, behind the year, nape of the neck, arm pits, groin, between the buttock, genitals and between toes and fingers. By the end of the first year, the baby will know taking bath and wearing an underwear is a expected behaviour from him.

Small children can be disciplined. Teaching the correct things at this stage will help them to learn better. They imitate what you do and look at you as a role model. Parents should do everything what you expect from the child. It starts with brushing teeth and cleaning tongue every morning and before going to bed, washing your face and legs when you come back after an outing, washing hands with soap and water after playing with muddy ball in the park or after handling a pet, washing hands before and after eating, taking bath regularly and changing cloths daily, washing hands after toileting and goes on.

Older children should do all the above mentioned things on their own. And they should be checked whether they are doing them properly. Immediate correction should be made if any. When you notice them not cleaning the umbilicus or arm pits or pubic region, or if they try to wear the same under wears correct them then and there. If you don't correct them now then it's going to be too late. Make sure they keep their bed and belongings clean.

Adolescents are mature enough to take care of themselves but as they are still children for their parents they can be taught the necessary things. The important care at this stage is menstrual hygiene for girls. They can be taught how to wear pads and change them regularly. Make them have a warm shower twice during those days it is not only hygienic but also soothes the back, also make them change their under garments after bath. They can be insisted to wash their own cloths and keep their unit clean. They can be involved in taking care of the general cleanliness of their home like vacuuming and height dusting, this will make work easy for parents.

These are simple things our children should know about personal hygiene to keep them healthy and happy