728x90
my iParenting
From Our Sponsors
e-newsletters
Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy
award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Home › Articles › Toddler Health › Hand-washing Battles

Hand-washing Battles

The Importance of Getting the Reluctant Toddler to Lather Up

By Jacqueline Bodnar

Pages:  1  2  3  

Whether in daycare, at home or school, it's important to clean and disinfect surfaces. According to the CDC, cleaning removes germs from a surface, whereas disinfecting destroys the germs. While cleaning is usually enough, you may want to go a step further and disinfect, especially if someone in the house has been ill. Disinfectants are registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will be labeled as such.

Germ Warfare
Toddlers will go grow out of their hand-washing battles. But until they do, it's a good idea to be creative in your approach to getting them to take part. Take the time to explain to them that keeping their hands washed will help them stay healthy.

"You just have to kind of make a game from it," Porter says. "Race to see who can wash their hands better. Tell them they can be like Mommy or Daddy. If your child still doesn't want to wash their hands, it's good to carry sanitizing wipes with you."

When to Wash

Start teaching toddlers at an early age when they should wash their hands – and times when you should wash your hands, which include the following:

  • Before eating.
  • Before, during and after handling or preparing food.
  • After contact with blood or body fluids (such as vomit, nasal secretions).
  • After changing a diaper.
  • After using the bathroom.
  • After handling animals, their toys, leashes or waste.
  • After touching something that could be contaminated (trash can, drain, soil, etc.).
  • Before dressing a wound, giving medicine or inserting contact lenses.
  • More often when someone in your home is sick.
  • Whenever your hands look dirty.

Hand-washing 101

Here are tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

  • Wet your hands and apply soap.
  • Rub hands together vigorously to make lather, and scrub all surfaces.
  • Continue for 20 seconds, which is the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" through twice.
  • Rinse hands well under running water.
  • Dry your hands, using a paper towel or air dryer.
  • If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet (and open a public restroom door).


Pages:  1  2  3  


Want to see more?