Your child is frequently interacting with new environments and different people such as childcare, public playgrounds, and libraries. As a result, your preschooler comes into contact with new germs and bacteria that can easily spread and make them sick. Teaching good handwashing habits can prevent many infections.  

See the Hand hygiene factsheet for more information. 

Bathing your preschooler two to three times a week is usually enough to keep them clean and healthy. You might choose to have more frequent baths as part of a bedtime routine, for water play, or simply for bonding time. 

Make sure your child’s face and genitals are cleaned every day. 

• use a gentle cleanser instead of harsh soaps to avoid drying out or irritating your child’s skin
• wash hair once or twice a week, or more often if it’s dirty, oily, or after lots of activity
• try to avoid products like bubble baths for as long as possible, as these can increase the risk of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in some children
• for girls, wipe the vulva from front to back with water to reduce the risk of infections. Soap is not necessary, as the vagina cleans itself
• for boys, wash the penis and scrotum as normal, including under the foreskin if it is naturally retractable. Never force the foreskin back - this can cause pain, bleeding, or infection
• as your child gets older, you can give them more independence with cleaning and self-care activities
• if you have difficulty getting your child in and then out of the bath, try giving them time cues or warnings and making bath time fun
• gently dry your child completely before getting dressed to avoid rashes 

It is important that you always stay within arms’ reach of your child in the bath and encourage your child to sit in the bath to avoid slips and falls. Primary carers need to understand the major risks when your child is near a bath, including drowning and hot scalds.  

See Water safety for more information. 

At this age, your preschooler is likely to know the names of many body parts, like their eyes, nose, arms, and legs. Being curious about private parts and asking questions is a normal part of a child’s development. It’s also normal for children to touch their private parts as a self-soothing strategy when they are anxious or because it feels good.  

You can help your preschooler learn more about their private parts by teaching them: 

• the correct names of their body parts, including all private parts
• the differences between male and female bodies
• the difference between private and public body part
• how different body parts function 

It’s also helpful to explain the difference between a secret (something kept hidden) and a surprise (something happy that is revealed later), so they know it’s always okay to tell you if someone asks them to keep something about their body a secret.