Comments | booju_newju: Personal Hygiene

raving_liberal in booju_newju

Personal Hygiene

Jan 08, 2009 10:56

To what extent are you responsible for your children's personal hygiene. To what age ( Read more... )

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merlyn4401 January 8 2009, 16:17:14 UTC

Right now I still direct everything for my 7, 5, and 4 year olds - tell them to shower, brush their teeth, wash hands, etc. We help the 4 y/o with the shower and still go over their teeth when they are done.

I'd love to say the whole "as long as they live in my house they'll do as I say" thing, but I wonder if this is a battle worth fighting. Teenage boys will figure out eventually that being stinky with bad breath and oily hair and straggly facial hair and yucky clothes won't attract girls OR a job...won't they? It strikes me as the type of thing that could become a huge power struggle, and I don't know how I feel about that. I'd probably not say much about clothes and deoderant and shaving, and focus on bathing and teeth brushing, as those are actual health concerns.

My sister had a 5 year running battle with her son over his hair. I just don't see it as being worth it.

corporatebabe January 8 2009, 16:18:33 UTC

this.

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merlyn4401 January 8 2009, 16:30:27 UTC

Yeah. I have horrible, horrible teeth. We brush the kids' teeth twice a day, and floss, and the oldest has had two cavities (between teeth - tricky places) and the middle one has a "hot spot". I'll hammer on that more than anything, in terms of hygiene.

breakableheart January 8 2009, 16:31:14 UTC

We have to get the sugar buggies because they hide. It's all very cloak and dagger, exciting stuff.

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breakableheart January 8 2009, 17:15:30 UTC

Yeah, it's not a hesitation thing it's just fun. We've brushed his teeth since he was wee so he doesn't know anything else.

OMG but one of my friends has to pin her daughter on the ground and forcibly brush her teeth. It's sad.

sheisred January 8 2009, 17:03:18 UTC

We have to get the alligators out of his ears and from between his toes. My husband started that when he was a baby and it kinda stuck. You can never be too careful about alligators.

audiobiblio January 8 2009, 18:32:31 UTC

We catch the sugar bugs, too! It's worked especially well, since now my 4 year old insists on brushing her teeth after she eats something sticky and sweet so that she can get the pesky sugar bugs that will give her cavities.

non_fiction January 8 2009, 17:51:15 UTC

IMO, it's weird *not* to check your kids' teeth after they brush. How else will they learn?

I'm like you - almost 40 with no cavities and so far my sons are following my path. Also, I'm a floss freak.

As I tell my boys: YOU ONLY GET ONE SET OF TEETH, YOU'D BETTER TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM.

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