How often did you and your child wash your hands today? Perhaps you didn’t give it much thought. Either it’s part of your routine, something you do frequently without thinking about it, or you don’t do it at all. However, as your pediatrician may have informed you, hand washing is the single most critical act you and your kid can take to avoid disease.
Making it a habit to wash your hands
Get your child into the habit of washing their hands frequently and thoroughly as early as possible. Your child is exposed to bacteria and viruses all day long, whether they are touching a playmate, exchanging toys, or petting the cat. When their hands come into contact with these viruses, they can swiftly infect themselves by:
They were rubbing their eyes.
rubbing their nose
They are putting their fingers in their mouths.
The entire process can take seconds and result in an infection that can endure for days, weeks, or even months.
When should you wash your hands?
Hand cleaning can help prevent the transmission of infections. The trick is to remind your child to wash their hands frequently throughout the day. For instance, assist or remind them to wash their hands.
Before you eat (including snacks),
Following a trip to the restroom
When they come in from playing outside
Following contact with an animal, such as a family pet
If they cover their lips after sneezing or coughing
When a member of the household becomes unwell
According to studies on hand washing in public facilities, most people have poor hygiene practices. “Hand washing” may imply a brief sprinkle of water and a squirt of soap, but not nearly enough to clean their hands.
Hand washing
How to Wash Your Hands Properly
So, what exactly is “complete hand washing”? The following actions are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Make your child’s hands wet.
Apply clean bar soap or liquid soap to the hands, then drain the bar on a rack before the next hand cleaning.
Rub your hands together vigorously. Completely scrub every surface.
To effectively eradicate the bacteria, continue rubbing and cleaning for 20 seconds.
Completely rinse and dry your hands.
Concerning antibacterial soaps
Trendy antibacterial soaps line drugstore shelves, yet studies reveal that these antibacterial products are no better than ordinary soap at wiping away dirt and germs. Some infectious disease experts have even proposed that using antibacterial soaps may kill off regular bacteria while increasing the likelihood of resistant germs growing.
The best remedy is to wash your child’s hands with warm water and regular soap that does not contain antibacterial ingredients (such as triclosan). When your child’s hands are visibly unclean (and with youngsters, there is usually dirt on the hands! ), regular use of soap and water is preferable to utilizing waterless (and typically alcohol-based) soaps, gels, rinses, and hand sanitizer rubs. Hand rubs, on the other hand, can be a handy option when there is no sink accessible (for example, in the car).
How long should you wash your hands?
Keep in mind that, while 20 seconds of hand washing may seem like an eternity, it is actually significantly longer. The next time you wash your hands, time yourself. Keep an eye on your child while they wash their hands to ensure they are learning appropriate hygiene habits. Choose a song that lasts 20 seconds and sing it while you wash your hands. Encourage your child to wash his or her hands not only at home but also at school, at friends’ houses, and anywhere else. It’s a crucial habit to form and, ideally, one that will be difficult to break.
Read more on personal hygiene in kids
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