Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Early Child Development - Hand Washing for Health

12.17.2007 | 1:12:55 am | Posted by mummums

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) named the first week of December National Hand Washing Week. With cold and flu season in full swing, it is never too early to teach your toddler to wash their hands properly. Even beyond immunizations, hand washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection. Children have weaker immune systems making them particularly susceptible to illness. Hand washing is so simple and it plays a crucial role in keeping your kids healthy.

The CDC cites the five following common scenarios for germs getting on hands:

Hands to food: germs can be passed from unwashed hands to food
Food to hands: raw, uncooked foods can pass germs to hands
Infants to hands to other children: if you don’t wash your hands after changing diapers or wiping the nose of your infant you can then pass germs to other children in the house
Nose, mouth or eyes to hands: sneezing or coughing into hands and rubbing eyes without washing hands afterward
Food to hands to infants: not washing hands after handling raw foods then tending to your infant can pass bacteria

Both parents and children should wash their hands after using the restroom, blowing your nose or coughing into hands, as well as after playing outside or with pets. And, don't forget - always wash your hands before eating. Caring for Kids highlights many more instances where hand washing is a must.

Proper hand washing includes four basic steps:

1. Apply a generous amount of soap under running water

2. Rub your hands together for 15-20 seconds. Hint: sing the “Alphabet Song” or “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” twice

3. Rinse your hands well

4. Dry your hands with a clean towel, use the towel to turn off the faucet

Do infants need to wash their hands? The answer is yes, with your help of course. Be sure to wash your infant’s hands wrist to fingertips, dry well, and then be sure to wash your hands. For more great tips and fun activities to help kids remember to wash their hands, visit Henry the Hand.

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