One time at a routine doctor visit, a nurse changed my son’s diaper, went to the sink…and washed my BABY’S hands! That surprised me, but the reason she gave surprised me even more.
She told me that hand washing is the best way to prevent illness—and that goes for babies, too!
Once babies are past the newborn stage, washing those tiny hands is a great way to help them form good habits (and don’t worry, the nurse washed her own hands too, LOL).
When your tiny tot gets so big that holding them up to wash their hands gets awkward, try wiping their hands with a damp paper towel moistened with a drop of liquid soap, followed by a wet paper towel to remove residue.
Here are some other great tips to help prevent your little one from getting sick:
Sleep it off.
Embrace daytime naps and consistent bedtimes. Getting enough ZZZs keeps their growing bodies producing proteins that help them fight illness.
(Actually that’s true for you, too! 😉)
Dance those germs away.
If your cutie is a bit older and likes to dance, teach them the dab, then tell them to “dab” each time they sneeze. It’s a sneaky, fun way to get them to cover their mouth with their elbow.
Play it safe.
Did you know that letting your kids play outside is one great way to prevent them from getting sick?
Like me, you might have heard that being outside (especially when it’s cold) make them more likely to get sick, but actually all that fresh air and physical activity keeps them healthy by increasing circulation, warding off excessive weight gain, and more.
Sing at the sink.
Try singing while they wash their hands. A lot of kids don’t wash long enough to be effective, but two rounds of the “Happy Birthday” song are all it takes!
You can also sing the ABCs, or make up lyrics to the tune of a popular song, like this (repeat twice):
