Tell me about hand washing?

[Katico]

I still wash DD's (2yo)hands for her most of the time, with a washcloth....can you tell me what type of stool you have for your toddler and what you have done to make the  process easier for them?

[Jenni1894]

I have a stool in each of my bathrooms.   In the most frequently used downstairs bath I have just a plain wooden stool (which I got off free cycle!).  It is 2 small steps.   I personally don't like this one b/c it's in the way of the door and if it isn't pushed off to the side of the vanity, when you walk in, you can and probably will stub your toe.   In the kids bath, we have a double vanity.   Each sink has a stool.  Or had a stool.   DS doesn't need the stool, so DD put it in the master bath b/c she likes to brush her teeth with me.  lol   This is a plastic one that is much easier on the toes and lighter and more sturdy IMO.   It's white with a blue top from Little Tykes I think.   The other is a very solid and very heavy yellow wooden duck.   This one is nice too, it's from Pottery Barn Kids.  Smooth edges and very sturdy.  But heavy.  

I make sure there is soap and a towel.  The foaming soap seems to be the best in our house b/c it limits the usage.   Yes, one pump is all you need, but it doesn't seem like enough when it's a liquid soap and you are 2 or 3!!   My LO are shorter so about 2 when I started washing their hands in the sink.  I would use the stool.  Prop my leg up there and have the kid sit on my leg, turn the water on and I would give them a squirt of soap, and rub their hands together myself.   And sing the ABC song.   I also found it helpful to switch the faucet to the lever kind you can just pull to turn the water on, rather than the twist and turn kind.   And I can't wait to redo our baths so I can do just that.  This house has stiff faucets and DD has a problem turning it on and off.

[Marissamom]

I haven't started using a stool yet because DD still can't reach the water when standing on one. I just pick her up by the armpits. 

[Shanny2032]

I have this one in one of our bathrooms that I leave there at all times.  I can't remember the last time I washed her hands for her.  She loves it.  When we just moved she went through a little obsessive stage so she washed her hands many, many times a day which was fine with me!

http://www.nextag.com/Cosco-Two-Step-Wood-769968204/prices-html?nxtg=21890a280518-580C0BCADE89C37F 

[crunchy_mommy]

I got an adult stool (wooden one from IKEA) because DS is very short and our sink is on the deep side. Kid's stools would be useless for him! We keep it right in place and just wash our own hands around it so it's always ready for him. We use bar soap and there's a towel hanging on the wall right beside him. He also stands up there to brush his teeth. He loves his stool (but has fallen off of it a couple times, always on DH's watch of course... ) I don't think there's really anything I had to do to 'make it easier' for him, he's been washing his hands for a long time now on his own, though sometimes I help due to his or my preference or if he's tired or distracted or something. When we are out, I often sit him on the counter so he can reach...

[Katico]

Thank you ladies....this is one of those times when it suddenly occurred to me I should be doing something I hadn't even thought of  

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by Katico 

Thank you ladies....this is one of those times when it suddenly occurred to me I should be doing something I hadn't even thought of  

don't think of it that way... often when I get that feeling, I realize it's because DS wasn't ready or wasn't interested sooner. For me at least, DS was the one who took the initiative with hand washing, teeth brushing, etc. (But I still get him dressed/undressed because he has no interest in doing that himself!)

[mbm]

IKEA Molger stool.  It was the only one we could find that was tall enough for DD to reach the taps.

The down side is that the space is tight, so we can't just leave it in place, but the stool is too heavy for DD to move over to the sink herself.

We also keep the soap out of reach, because DD has been known to hide in the bathroom covering herself in soap suds when DH thought she was asleep.

[cocoanib]

Good info!

I just sit DD on the edge of the sink and do one hand at a time, but I've been contimplating getting a stool or something soon, so she

can do it herself, but with assistance. Plus it may be more comfortable for her then the sitting on the edge, leaning over deal.

[Everrgreen]

We don't do a whole lot of handwashing here.  I know I should be getting him in the habit!  I try and remember after he poops in the potty and if we've been out running errands or at a playgroup.  I should have him do it more!

Anyway, the only stool that allows my ds to stand on his own at the sink is this one.  He has a couple other kids stools but he can't quite reach on his own with those. 

[lovepickles]

We are less concerned with bringing DD to the sink, but rather bringing the sink to DD. We are using a version of the Montessori Handwashing demo seen here:
 

http://www.infomontessori.com/practical-life/care-of-the-person-washing-hands.htm

It is a little crazy to see so many steps but the setup is a low table with a bowl and pitcher.

[crunchy_mommy]

Originally Posted by lovepickles 

We are less concerned with bringing DD to the sink, but rather bringing the sink to DD. We are using a version of the Montessori Handwashing demo seen here:
 

http://www.infomontessori.com/practical-life/care-of-the-person-washing-hands.htm

It is a little crazy to see so many steps but the setup is a low table with a bowl and pitcher.

OK that is definitely the most descriptive set of instructions I've ever seen for anything... Who knew hand washing could be so complicated?!?!