What cunning tricks do you have to make sure your DCs keep clean? Tell Andrex® for a chance to win a £250 voucher + a month's supply of Andrex®! NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

Andrex® have asked us to find out what cunning tricks Mumsnetters have to make sure their DCs keep clean, and learn good clean habits.

Here’s what Andrex® say, “We all know the importance of keeping clean, not only to our health but also our confidence. So if you have any ways of keeping your family clean we would love to hear them.”

So, what tricks do you have up your sleeve to make sure your DC keeps themselves clean? Do you have a special song you sing to them to make sure that brush their teeth properly? Maybe you introduce an element of competition between siblings to see who can wash, dry and dress themselves quickest? Or perhaps you encourage your DCs to clean thoroughly by fashioning them stylish ‘bubble beards’? Whatever it is, we’d love to hear it!

Add your comment to this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 Spa voucher and a month supply of Andrex®. Please note comments may be used by MN and Andrex® on social media, on the Andrex® pages on MN or possibly elsewhere: anon of course - but please only add your comment if you're happy for it to be used like this!

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

[AllSorted]

They are both keen to go in the bath so that isn't a problem. Also good at hand washing after toilet and before meals - we have always done it si they don't question it.

Teeth brushing can be tricky. With DD (now almist 4) we used to take it in turns brushing her teeth and various teddy's teeth. DS (22 mth) we have to let do his own before we can get near them.

[gonnab40]

toys at bath time along with goggles - sometimes I tell a story or put in scented bubble bath or provide the bath time crayons
and that's just to get my hubbie bathed!

[domesticslattern]

DD2 will do anything if she is told that "Mr Tumble says it's time to..."

So there is a lot of "Mr Tumble says it's time for your bath", "Mr Tumble says it's time to wash your hands" etc. in our household.

She is only two. This tactic might not work forever.

[TheSpottedZebra]

I'm another who doesn't faff around with cajoling. Clear expectations eg you WILL wash your face and brush teeth in morning, hands will be washed after loo and before meals. I spose we do try and normalise that, make it clear that adults wash their hands etc as well and it's not just a children thing.

One thing I do do is let them have mini packets of tissues for school. For some unknown reason they really like them and do use them. So if I see different patterned ones I will buy them.

[Moominmarvellous]

Now my children are of an age to understand, 8 & 4, I do explain about germs and what they can do if they're not cleaned away after using the toilet.

However, I once saw an idea which I know would appeal to my children, which was a clear soap bar with a small toy/plastic coin in the centre so the more you wash your hands, the closer you get to the toy!

My kids also love a bath so I have no problem getting them in, but to make it more fun I do sometimes theme them.

So I'd do a treasure bath, with a few drops of blue food colouring to make it a lagoon, drop in some pennies, plastic beads, crystals from an old lamp an shells from the beach and they love hunting through all the bubbles for their treasures!

Working on a Spider-Man themed bath box for my son at the moment actually

[Kathderoet]

Use timers for toothbrushing, for the boys and girls I always got them branded with their favourite characters - soaps, shampoos, bubble baths etc. a lovely warm towel and clean jammies to jump into makes bath time a treat.

[titchypumpkin]

I have no problem getting the DDs in the bath they both love it.

Baby wipes are a godsend they can be used for so much so always have them handy.

And a mini egg-timer for teeth cleaning, cleaning their teeth is the one thing i'm really strict about.

It's easier enough to get them to do anything if you involve some sort of game or rhyme.

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

When brushing teeth DS (2) is asked to be an animal of his choice ie. a lion or a dinosaur. When he 'roars' that's our chance to get the toothbrush in!!

For hand washing the novelty of the soap dispenser hasn't worn off yet!?!

He loves his baths (one every night as part of his bedtime routine) helped by a frog that swims and an elephant that squirts water at daddy!

[chaztree]

With our 19 month old the excitement of a shower or bath with one of us is all.it takesto keep him clean. He also loves washing his hands and he brushes teeth same time as me so just loves to.copy me.

[Eva50]

I find that the pump dispenser shower gels and shampoo encourage ds3(8) to shower independently without using a whole bottle at a time.

[HannahLI]

Both of my boys have a flashing toothbrush and its surprising how this little trick makes them super keen to clean their teeth. We also have a rule because they are only two and four that one of the times they clean their teeth mummy will do it and the other they can do it themselves - independence is a great resource and one we should use more often.

[sfancy]

I buy everything and anything with despicable me to encourage my kids to use the products. If the products dont have the minions on it, I will put a sticker on it ( they dont know the difference yet!)

[kissmyheathenass]

I make them bath/shower before supper. We tend to eat quite late when dh gets home from work and by then dcs are too tired and relaxed to bath and dry their hair. So for us, its bath before food - this works best when I have cooked something they really like; I have less success when it's a salad for supper!

[BeCool]

We talk about not wanting to grow mushrooms!! So when washing in the bath (for example) I encouraged the DC from a young age to wash their own faces and bodies and then I will ask them if they have washed behind their ears and their arm pits etc as if they don't they will get mushrooms growing there.

Basically I use a silly sense of humour to encourage self care from a young age.

A a bubble bath a couple of times a week.
And the Aquafresh ap is great for teeth brushing.

[Patilla]

We get DS to show his little sister how to go "ahhh" to open her mouth for teeth brushing. Poor kid, he's very accommodating!

For DS it's his strawberry scented soap that gets him hand washing.

And bath time is, as I'm sure is the case in homes across the country, accompanied by masses of bubbles that we decide what we are going to build with them each time. Last night we had a bubble castle, though DS was unimpressed of my suggestion of bubbley crowns!

[wellington1975]

The best way IMO is to be a role model through modelling the desired behaviour.

Also consistent routines are very helpful too.

[Bubbles85]

Put a lot of bath toys in the bath with her. It makes bath time last twice as long!

[Roseformeplease]

I remember reading stories in the bath, toys, games, bath paints, tooth brushing games.....now they are teens they are kept clean by a combination of peer pressure, vanity and the odd comment. The problem now is getting them out of the bathroom....

[DifferentNow]

We don't use any tricks but we do explain what might happen if they don't clean their teeth/hands/bodies properly. They still try and get away with it though so we do spot checks and send them back to try again if necessary.

[AndHarry]

When DS needs a bit of a prod to move towards the bathroom DH tells him that DD will 'steal his bath'. That sends him off like a shot, to make sure he gets in before her!

[Pumpkinification]

Bubble bath, always. We use the stuff that is free of SLS etc as the normal stuff makes DD's curly hair more frizzy. After hair washing, I use a soft nail brush in the bath to gently sweep off any paint etc from nursery from round her fingernails.

She loves washing her hands, so keeping them clean after meals & when arriving home is actually not a problem. Just have to make sure she can't get to the hot tap & burn herself. (She's 2.5)

We have always let her watch a favoured TV programme as reward for teeth brushing. Now, whenever it comes on, she asks for her toothbrush - unexpected but very welcome! She will brush the front teeth very well & mostly sits still to let us do the rest. We brush our teeth so she can watch & she copies & gets praised for doing it herself like a "big girl". Actually that seems to work for lots of things, the "big girl" or "grown up" comment, if used as a reward in it's own right, has been really helpful. DD has started repeating it for things like potty training etc, which is great!

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

When my son was younger, his teddy had his own toothbrush and I would "brush his teeth" at the same time as my son. DS thought it was hilarious and would actually ask to brush his teeth. We would make crazy hairstyles in the bath during hair washing time to make it more fun.

[AspieGran]

No bubble bath, no soap, no irritating shampoo, lots of Unguentum merck or diprobase, water that is not too hot or too cold. Avoidance of anything with added perfume, moisturiser, and that includes toilet roll!!!! Absolutely no encouragement needed where eczema is involved.

[howtoapproachthis]

i make the bath more fun for dd by giving her cheap shaving foam to play with and also using food colouring in the bath water. otherwise she would be out after one minute.