Feb. 22, 2022

Keeping It Clean! Kids And Hygiene

Keeping It Clean! Kids And Hygiene

Scientists say we have between 2 and 10 million bacteria living between our elbows and our fingertips. How many on an independent preschooler who rejects soap and water outright? If your kid is currently running that experiment, we’ve got ideas.

Why are kids so weird about washing hands and brushing teeth and taking baths?

How often do kids really need to bathe, anyway?

Is hygiene a battle worth fighting? Yes. Sometimes. In this episode we discuss the expert advice on how often kids need to get clean, plus our own tips for making it fun or interesting enough that our kids will go along with it.

Here are links to some writing on the topic that we discuss in this episode:

Susan Stiffelman for HuffPost: My 5-Year-Old Won’t Wash His Hands!

What To Expect: Resisting Bathtime

Dr. Claire McCarthy for Harvard Health: Does your child need to bathe every day?

Colgate: How To Help a Child Who Won’t Brush Their Teeth

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