grow ready, set the clean on personal hygiene

Hygiene is defined as 1] a science of the establishment and maintenance of health or 2] conditions or practices [as of cleanliness] conducive to health. So let’s get down and dirty and talk about keepin’ the kiddos, washed, clipped, brushed, wiped, shaved and smellin’ sweet…let’s talk personal hygiene.

Your wee one is the most beautiful baby ever born. So make sure those razor blades called fingernails don’t gouge up or scar your beauty.

cut above the rest

There are lots of ‘unexpected-s’ when you finally have your wee one home. But who knew just the thought of trimming his nails could strike fear in the hearts of the best mommies on the block? Your wee one’s fingernails will grow quickly and will probably need to be trimmed weekly, while his toenails should only need a trim monthly. Here are some tips to calm your nerves and get those little digits trimmed:

• timing After a bath can be a great time to cut wee one nails. The nails will be softer and easier to cut and he should be relaxed from his recent soak. Also consider cutting his nails when he is sleeping. You’ll want him to be in a deep sleep; the kind of sleep where his arm is limp.

• tools Any project done right starts with the right tools, so get a clipper that is specifically designed for infants.

• teamwork As a new member of the wee one nail clipping club, have someone else hold your wee one so you can concentrate on the deed at hand. The greatest fear of a first time clipper is drawing blood. The best way to minimize this happening is to depress your wee one’s finger pad away from his nail as you cut. And with someone else holding him, you’ll have two hands to work the clipper and manipulate his finger.

• take it easy Remember, like every new thing you tackle, there is a learning curve, so take your time, but give yourself a break if you do snip junior’s finger. If it happens, apply a little pressure and a dab of antibiotic ointment to the snip. Oh, and of course a little kiss never hurts!

tots [18 months–3 years]

2002, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported almost 40% of bathtub drownings occurred when another child was in the tub rub-a-dub-dub

Imagine if you could read your tot’s mind…”So, here’s the deal, mom…I’m a tot and there are some things I find completely revolting. It might be my car seat, going to bed, not letting me eat the plant or what not. Trust that I will do everything in power [i.e. cry, whine, scream, stomp, blow a gasket] to convey my feelings or at least make you miserable until you eventually give up.” While our tots can make things challenging, there are a number of things you can’t just give in to when we are talking about hygiene.

Obviously, you need to bathe your tot. Here are a few tips to keep your tot safe and squeaky clean [or close to it]: uh…NO

• stay Lesson numero uno…DON”T LEAVE YOUR TOT ALONE IN THE TUB! Make sure you’re bathtub is safe as well. Use a non-slip mat or smaller tub with soft sides.

• hot Your tot can be easily scalded if the water is too hot. Make sure your hot water heater is set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t control the water heater in your building? Consider getting an antiscalding device like HotStop [www.h2otstop.com]. These shower heads and water spouts, available at Menards, automatically shut off if the water if above 120 degrees.

• fun Keep bath time fun and get some toys. Use toys that are meant for the bath and do your best to completely dry them after use. You don’t want that cute little rubber ducky shooting out mold & fungus!

• down Don’t forget to drain the tub. You never want water standing where your tot could fall into.

So what happens when your tot hates taking a bath? Keep these options in mind when bath time becomes medieval torture for you & that adorable tot: teeth tango

• the ol’ switcher-oo Try giving him a bath at a different time of the day.

• down size Your big tub might be a little intimidating for your tot, so try a smaller version you can put in the tub. This can offer your tot some needed security.

• look away Don’t let your tot watch the water drain out the tub. Who knows what’s down there & your tot doesn’t need to think he could succumb to the same fate!

• don’t force it Forcing your tot to take a bath when he is frightened is only going to make things worse. Take some time between bath attempts, do some spot cleaning or a sponge bath, but don’t force it.

Our preschoolers are learning independence, which is great. But they still need our help working to refine their recently learned hygiene skills. But how much should you help and when should they be going solo?

You know the importance of a nice healthy smile. Brushing up down, back & forth and in a circle takes some skill and may be difficult for your preschooler