Your child is full of energy, constantly playing and exploring, which inevitably leads to a bit of dirt. Their little teeth are coming in, which naturally means brushing them! As your toddler grows, their personal hygiene needs evolve, so it’s important to adjust their care routine. In this article, we review the different changes in children’s hygiene and how to build the right habits.

What are the personal hygiene rules for children?

Body hygiene

From a very young age, babies enjoy bath time—newborns in particular—because the warmth of the water and the feeling of security it provides remind them of the sensations experienced in their mother’s womb. In our article "", we explain everything about babies’ baths. Many things remain the same for young children: the room temperature should be between 22 and 25°C, and the bath or shower water should be at 37°C.

By now, your little one can sit up, making splashing in the bathtub even more fun. However, make sure the water does not rise above their tummy. Also, remember to equip your bathtub with a non-slip mat and never leave your child unattended. With little ones, accidents can happen quickly.

Often, children’s evening routine includes going to the toilet; however, many parents wonder whether they should give their child a bath or a shower every day. The answer is no—unless your child has gotten dirty while playing or eating, has sweated a lot, or has been swimming in a pool or at the beach. Generally, bathing 2 to 3 times a week is sufficient. Between baths and showers, make sure to clean their intimate areas, feet, hands, and armpits every day.

Although many toddlers take a lot of convincing to get out of the water, some children refuse to even talk about baths and showers. Several reasons can explain this reaction, such as a fear of water. If this is the case for your child, there’s no need to force them to bathe; instead, try to understand the reasons for their refusal, then help them discover the pleasure of water. Explain what personal hygiene is and why it matters. You can offer a quick wash at the sink, and play is also a great way to prepare them for bath time. Let your little adventurer bathe their toys and dolls in a basin; they can wash them just like you do with them. Taking a bath together can also help your toddler better understand their care routine. Not only will your child feel safe, but you’ll also show them that taking a bath or shower is completely natural. Most of the time, a fear of bathing is just a phase that disappears on its own.

Washing hair

It’s very likely that your little one already has much more hair than they did a few months ago! As with the rest of the body, it’s important to teach your child how to care for their hair. Since hair generally doesn’t get greasy as quickly as adult hair, it isn’t necessary to wash it every day; once or twice a week is enough. As with bathing or showering, this depends on how dirty it is and on the activities and games your little one has enjoyed during the day. In general, children don’t like water and soap running into their eyes, so try tilting the head back or placing a washcloth on the forehead. Pool goggles can also be helpful. It’s best to wash hair last so your child’s head doesn’t stay wet for too long, then gently dry their hair with a soft sponge towel. Finally, move on to the sometimes dreaded step of combing and detangling. Feel free to use a detangling product to avoid knots and tears.

Brushing teeth

Your child’s little teeth appear one by one, brightening their smile. They should be brushed every day, from a very young age. In our article "", we review the different steps to follow. The more brushing becomes part of the routine, the more natural it will feel for your child.

Seat care

Although it isn’t necessary to give your little one a bath or shower every day, caring for the diaper area remains a daily task. Even as your child grows and needs fewer diapers, it’s important to clean the diaper area and intimate parts at each diaper change with soap and warm water or a suitable care product like liniment, which is also a good alternative when you’re on the go. Be sure to dry the diaper area well after each cleaning to prevent irritation. If your child no longer wears diapers, you can incorporate intimate care into their morning and evening routine.

Hand washing

Washing hands thoroughly with soap several times a day is essential for both adults and children who are exploring and touching everything. Depending on your little adventurer’s level of independence, you can teach them the proper technique and let them wash their hands on their own.

Ear care

Ear care should be done regularly. It is recommended not to use cotton swabs, as they only push earwax further into the auditory canal, increasing the risk of a blockage. Clean the outer ear and the entrance to the ear canal with a clean cloth or a damp washcloth.

What are the essential products and care items for babies?

By taking a quick look at the children’s care aisle, it quickly becomes apparent that the product range is endless. As with babies, the rule for young children is: the less you use, the better! The skin of babies and young children is much more fragile than that of adults, as the skin barrier is still developing. Sweat and sebaceous glands also don’t function the same way as in adults, so little ones’ skin is not yet sufficiently protected by the hydrolipidic film. Since their skin is more sensitive and dries out more quickly, it needs special protection.

• For daily cleansing, choose a gentle, unscented, soap-free product with a neutral pH, close to that of the skin; it is less likely to irritate your little adventurer’s delicate skin. For hair, a gentle, unscented shampoo is ideal.

• To soften bath water, you can add a few drops of bath oil, such as our sweet almond oil . It is especially recommended in winter to prevent your little one’s delicate skin from drying out. After getting out of the water, massage the excess oil into your child’s skin, so there’s no need to apply an additional treatment.

• For the face and dry areas, you can apply a gentle moisturizer specially designed for the delicate skin of little ones.

• If your child has a diaper rash , choose an unscented zinc-based diaper cream.

Always remember to check the ingredients list of the skincare products you use on your child’s skin; the shorter it is, the better!

How to teach a child about personal hygiene?

Teaching your child personal hygiene is important. As they strive for independence, building good habits—such as washing and brushing teeth—should become a daily ritual. The more independent your child becomes, the more you can involve them in the process. We’ve gathered a few tips to help you include your little adventurer in their daily care:

• Show the example: children learn by imitation; the more they see you taking a shower, washing your hands, or brushing your teeth, the more likely they are to adopt these actions until they become second nature.

• Create a routine: Integrate personal hygiene into your child’s morning and evening routine so that it becomes a habit.

• Put everything he needs within reach of his hands: avec un tabouret antidérapant devant le lavabo de la salle de bain, sa brosse à dents, son dentifrice et son savon pour les mains à portée de main, vous lui permettez de prendre les choses en main et d'être autonome. Vous l'encouragez à suivre sa routine comme un grand.

• Impliquer lui dans ses soins: By involving your child, you make care time more fun. During bath time, include them by asking them to lift each limb so you can wash it. If they’re already more independent, you can let them wash themselves, or do it together with your help. The same goes for diaper changes, with our pantalons d'entraînement which can be pulled on like a pair of underwear; if your child wants to, they can easily change them without help from dad or mom.

Even though your child will naturally learn what personal hygiene is, it shouldn’t become a barrier to their curiosity. So, when you’re faced with little hands full of paint and jeans covered in dirt, let it go!