Hygiene for toddlers and children

Mother and young girl standing in front of bathroom sink brushing their teeth and looking in the mirror.

Teaching your child basic hygiene habits helps to keep them healthy. Good personal hygiene also helps to boost their confidence and self-esteem. Young children are unlikely to understand the importance of personal hygiene. So it’s a good idea to talk to your child about when and why they should be washing their hands, face, body and hair.

Explore the topics on this page:

Bathing and showering

Brushing teeth

Using the toilet

Washing and brushing hair

Washing hands

Hygiene habits to teach your child

Your child watching other family members hygiene routines can help to set good habits from an early age.

Washing is a good skill for your child to learn to increase their independence. It can also help provide a sense of achievement.

Remember, never leave your toddler or small child alone when bathing.

Some children won’t like washing and this can be frustrating as a parent/carer. Ask your child why they don’t like washing and talk through ideas on what they think might help. It might be that they don’t like bathing so offer them the choice of showering if they prefer.

Top tips for washing:
- Make the process fun by playing with bubbles, toys or the water falling from the tap.
- It may be helpful for them to sit down whilst being washed. You can also try a bath rail if your children is frightened getting into and out of the bath. Check they are comfortable before starting.
- If your child has sensitivities, they may prefer using unscented soap. Be careful that your child does not eat the soap.
- Encourage your child to become independent with one part of the routine at a time. This will help to avoid overwhelming them. If they find it difficult to hold items or reach certain areas, you can try using a handled sponge.
- If your child has sensory issues it may be helpful to wash them at the same time each day, use the same things to wash them and stick to the same order of washing. You can also try dimming the lights and minimising sound if your child is easily overwhelmed.
- Give your child a small hand towel to dry themselves as it is less bulky to manage and allows for more visual direction. If your child has sensitivities, apply pressure when drying with a towel.
- Drying in front of a mirror and naming the body parts can help to increase your child’s body “map.”
When your child is first able to wash independently, it’s a good idea to check once they have finished. You could create cue cards with your child to help them remember all the stages.

Keeping clean can be a sensitive topic for children, so approach conversations gently.
Before your child starts school, it is a good idea to teach them how to use the toilet independently, if possible. Read our information on getting ready for primary school.

Top tips for using the toilet:
- Ensure there is easy access to the toilet (for example, a step in front of the toilet).
- Some children may be afraid of falling down the toilet. Try using a seat insert to reduce the size of the hole for your child’s bottom to sit on. This can easily be removed for other people in the household.
- Ensure toilet roll or wipes are within easy reach for your child.
- Ensure your child wears clothes that are easy for them to remove when they need the toilet. This will help to avoid your child panicking.
- Remind your child to keep wiping their bottom until the tissue paper looks clean.
Read our information on peeing, pooing and toileting.
Washing and brushing hair is important for general hygiene. The head can be particularly sensitive to touch so a lot of children dislike having their hair washed and brushed. It can be upsetting for them so at the start, they may need lots of encouragement. If your child is old enough, you can ask them what it is they don’t like about hair washing and discuss ideas to help. For example, they may fear getting water in their eyes or the scent of the shampoo.

You don’t need to wash your child’s hair every time they have a bath or shower. For toddlers especially, their hair doesn’t get very dirty, so once a week is fine.

Top tips for washing your child's hair:
- Let your child pick their favourite shampoo. This may be a bottle that they like or it may be because they like the smell. They may prefer unscented shampoos.
- Make it fun by allowing them to play with toys in the bath, sing a song together or play a game with them to distract them.
- Let your child use goggles or a flannel to stop water going in their eyes.
- Some children may feel more comfortable if they have control over certain parts of the routine. For example, it may help if they rub the shampoo in themselves.
Like washing, brushing children’s hair can be an upsetting experience. Children often like to feel in control so allow them to brush their own hair where possible. Be mindful of your child's hair type so as not to cause additional upset. Different types of hair require different types of care.

Head lice and nits are very common in young children. To detect head lice in children you can comb their hair with a special fine-toothed comb. It’s important to treat head lice as soon as you find them. Read more about head lice and nits.
To stay healthy and clean, it is important for children to wash their hands after:
- using the toilet
- before eating
- after coughing or sneezing
- after playing with pets
- after getting dirty
Adults should wash their hands before preparing babies bottles, after changing nappies and after caring for anyone who is ill.

You don't need to wash your hands for long, around 20 seconds. It's about the length of time it would take to sing happy birthday twice.

How to teach your child to wash their hands:

Explain to your child that washing their hands can help to keep them and others healthy. Even though they cannot see germs, they may still be there. A quick rinse of the hands isn't enough to keep them clean. Show your child the correct guide to washing their hands:
1. Wet your hands fully.
2. Add soap to your wet hands. If your child has sensitivities they may prefer using unscented soap.
3. Rub hands together, palm to palm.
4. Use one hand to rub the back of the other hand and then swap over.
5. Clean in between your fingers.
6. Rub your fingers into your soapy palms to clean the nails and tips of fingers.
7. Clean your thumbs.
8. Rinse well with warm water.
9. Dry thoroughly on a clean towel, paper, or dryer.

By school age, children should be able to independently use the toilet and wash and dry their hands. Read more about getting ready for primary school.

If your child needs more help or has additional needs, you can visit our specific section for extra support.

Child development and growing up for additional needs

Last reviewed: 1 November, 2023

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Cambridgeshire

Peterborough

Hygiene for toddlers and children

Explore the topics on this page:

Hygiene habits to teach your child

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