Good hygiene will help your girl(s) feel better and look nicer.
Personal body hygiene for a girl child is a bit more complex, hence the reason you need to take out time to provide guidance to help her stay clean, have good daily habits, and practice a clean beauty routine.
1. Teach Her To Bathe At Least Once Daily
An essential basic body hygiene lesson is to teach your daughter to bathe once or twice every day.
Bacteria feed on the sweat and skin cells that accumulate on your body throughout the day – that’s what causes body odour. She should shower or bathe every day and use a mild soap to wash off the day’s dirt.
Emphasis should be to wash and carefully dry her feet, face, hands, armpits, and bottom.
In addition to the daily bath or shower, she should also take one after you exercise or get sweaty to keep skin clean.
There should be no use of soap in cleaning the private part; this will disrupt natural chemical balance down there.
She should clean around her inner thighs and around the vulva with mild soap, but just wash the outer and inner parts of the vulva (the exterior part of the vagina) with warm water.
The vagina is good at cleaning itself with natural discharge (the clear fluid that comes from the vagina).
Remind her that deodorant and perfume do not replace daily bathing or showering.
2. Wear Clean Clothes Always
This doesn’t necessarily mean that she has to wash their clothes every time they are worn, but to always wear clothes without stains, wrinkles, and smells on them.
If her clothes are dirty or have sweat in them, they should always wash them before wearing them again.
But more importantly is a fresh underwear and a fresh bra every day.
Teach her to also change socks as needed for comfort and to avoid bad smells.
And depending on her age, teach/help change her bed sheets every week, or more often if she sweats a lot during the night.
Change the pillowcases weekly or every 2-3 days if they have oily skin.
3. Frequent Washing Of The Hands
Your girl should wash her hands regularly throughout the day, but especially after using the bathroom, after sneezing or coughing, before making or touching food, and after touching things that lots of other people have touched for example, after handling money.
Remind her wet her hands with warm water, then lather soap for at least 20 seconds – be sure to wash the wrists, in between their fingers, and under the nails.
Rinse the hands well then dry them with a paper towel, and turn off the water with the paper towel aka tissue paper.
4. Have them carry small products in their purse.
Make a mini-hygiene kit to keep in their purse or backpack.
Put a packet of breath mints, gum, or a small bottle of mouthwash for after meals.
Pack a small travel mirror, hand sanitizer, deodorant, and a small comb for everyday use.
5. Use Deodorant Daily
It’s normal for humans to have body odour, especially under the arms.
This body part naturally sweats more once you go through puberty, and underarm hair can trap sweat and bacteria.
Teach your girl wear deodorant every day to feel and smell fresh.
There are lots of different kinds of deodorant – roll-on, spray, stick; and those with or without antiperspirant (decreases sweating as well as covers odour). Some are perfumed and others are not scented.
It’s up to you (and her) which kind to choose.
Different deodorants are marketed towards men and women, but the only thing that’s different really, is how they smell.
6. Practice Good Dental Hygiene
Teach your daughter to brush her teeth, floss, and use mouthwash at least twice a day – after breakfast and before bed.
This will decrease tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath.
Try to use toothpaste or mouthwash with fluoride. If they have braces or aligners, they may need to brush after every meal.
Show them to gently use your toothbrush to brush your tongue, too.
Get them a new toothbrush every 3 months, or after they’re sick with something contagious like strep throat.
Have You Read: 5 Ways To Tackle Body Odour In Kids
Take them to the dentist about twice a year for checkups and cleanings.
Also teach them not to share personal items.
Yes, it’s nice to share, but not when it comes to things like your toothbrush, razor blade, or hairbrush.
Remind her: “Keep your personal hygiene items to yourself, and don’t use other people’s personal items.
Also, keep your own towels and washcloth. ”
7. Dealing With The Period
Cliché but undefeated is the maxim “to be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Even before the time for this comes, prepare your daughter for this grand phase.
Educate her properly on how to take care of herself and stay hygienic during her cycle. Prepare her to change her feminine hygiene products regularly.
On average, she probably needs to use three to six pads or tampons per day.
For heavier flow (the first few days of her period) and at night, use longer, heavier pads with wings (side protectors) to prevent spilling.
She should change your pad or tampon every four to eight hours, depending on the heaviness of the flow and shower at least twice daily during this time.
Find more resources on parenting and raising a girl child here.