X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

What You Must Know About the Importance of Genital Hygiene for Kids

4 min read

We were having one of those mum conversations over a latte. It was pretty light-hearted until my friend suddenly froze for a second before telling me never to underestimate the importance of genital hygiene for kids. Her son had recently been hospitalised for a bacterial infection that resulted from improper cleaning of his, you know. Oh, the horror!

Genital hygiene for kids is really important. Otherwise, they fall prey to certain types of illnesses. You see, the nether regions are an ideal place for germs to breed. So do make sure that you explain this to your children. 

What You Must Know About the Importance of Genital Hygiene for Kids

Image source: iStock

Also, if you are a busy working parent, and your helper or the grandparents shower your children, it’s important that you check their private parts every now and then. 

From a young age, we repeatedly emphasise to our kids that they should wash their hands, face and hair. We keep spraying hand sanitizer and telling them to rub their hands with it to kill germs. But we really need to place more emphasis on the importance of genital hygiene for kids, from a young age, so that they form good habits early on.

Genital hygiene for kids is especially important when they are between the age of 6 to 11 as this is when their private areas begin to develop.

Here are some tips on genital hygiene for kids.

Genital hygiene for kids – boys 

  • Penis tip – once the area beneath the foreskin can move easily,  it it needs to be cleaned regularly. Show your boy how to gently move it back and clean the area. Take caution not to force the foreskin away from the tip, in due time, it will start moving back.
  • No soap – remind your boy not to soap the area below the foreskin. It is an extremely delicate area and you don’t want to irritate it. If you see some white substances there, it’s called smegma and it’s nothing to worry about. It’s something the body secretes naturally and you can easily wash it away while bathing.
  • Infections – look out for groin ringworm or jock itch. These are fungal infections that occur more when the weather is warm. It also happens if your boy wears clothes that are too tight and the genital area doesn’t get proper ventilation. Symptoms include redness, blister and itching. 
genital hygiene for kids

Talk to your son about the importance of genital hygiene for kids.

Genital hygiene for kids – girls 

  • Nothing extra – the vagina cleans itself so apart from regular washing, the vagina doesn’t need additional care.
  • Don’t insert anything – inserting anything into the vagina (such as a loofah for cleaning) could damage the delicate skin. It also allows germs to get in and infect the area. So emphasise to your girl to be very gentle and careful with her lady bits.
  • Front to back motion – remember, clean from front to back. This is to avoid any bacteria from the anal area coming into contact with the urethra or vagina.
  • Period talk – as they get slightly older, talk to them about menstrual cycles and how important it is to take care of their genitals during that time. Remind them that it’s not advisable to clean the area too much during a period. Ideally, once a day is fine. Don’t forget to teach your girls about changing their sanitary pads and tampons regularly!

childproofing your home

Genital hygiene for kids – approaching the topic 

As they get older, they may become more reluctant to talk about their genital areas, let alone hygiene. It’s best that you talk to them about the importance of overall cleanliness and hygiene, and weave in the importance of genital hygiene of kids. 

For the younger ones, explain to them that there is bacteria all over their body and they feed on dead cells (like sweat). Bacteria cause unpleasant odours and no one wants to be around someone who smells bad. Therefore, they should clean themselves regularly to get rid of bacteria and smell good and stay healthy!

Remember, never underestimate the importance of genital hygiene for kids. It’s really not fun to get infected down there!

Source: World of Moms 

Partner Stories
How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!
How to Raise a Super Smart Baby? Check Out These 12 Tips!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Parenting Lesson from a New Mum - Don’t Try to Do it All on Your Own!
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
Inside Your Baby’s Mind: Understanding Cues, Cries, And Smiles
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night
The Almost Magical, Mum-tested Way To Get Your Baby To Sleep Through The Night

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Nasreen Majid

  • Home
  • /
  • Breastfeeding & Formula
  • /
  • What You Must Know About the Importance of Genital Hygiene for Kids
Share:
  • 'Family Litter Secrets': Mum-of-three Shares How to Teach Kids About Good Hygiene and Cleanliness

    'Family Litter Secrets': Mum-of-three Shares How to Teach Kids About Good Hygiene and Cleanliness

  • Must read: 7 vagina facts you didn't know but should

    Must read: 7 vagina facts you didn't know but should

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

    ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

  • 'Family Litter Secrets': Mum-of-three Shares How to Teach Kids About Good Hygiene and Cleanliness

    'Family Litter Secrets': Mum-of-three Shares How to Teach Kids About Good Hygiene and Cleanliness

  • Must read: 7 vagina facts you didn't know but should

    Must read: 7 vagina facts you didn't know but should

  • Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

    Study: Nagging Mothers with High Expectations Raise Successful Daughters

  • ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

    ‘You Will Always Be a Part of Us’: Singaporean Family Gives Helper of 20 Years ‘Long Service Award’

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.