Personal hygiene: cleaning genitals and toileting Wash your child's vulva gently in the bath or shower. Wash from front to back to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections. The vagina cleans itself – don't put anything in it. Wash your child's penis and scrotum the way you wash other body parts.
When it comes to teaching personal hygiene, instruct your daughter to always wipe her vagina from the front to the back to avoid infection. Provide her with a gentle cleanser, like our feminine wash, to clean her vagina and instill that she should always use her hands, not a wash cloth that can harbor bacteria.
Normal sexual behaviors in toddlers and preschoolers
Normative (normal), common "sexual" behavior in 2- to 6-year-olds may include: Touching/rubbing genitals in public or private. Looking at or touching a peer's or sibling's genitals. Showing genitals to peers.
The vagina is designed to be moist, so discharge at every age is normal. Typically you will see only small amounts in infants and young children, and it is usually clear, white, or slightly yellow and odorless. Persistent vaginal discharge in children can be a sign of infection.
After Age 1 Year - How to Clean:
As the foreskin becomes able to retract on its own, cleanse beneath it. This helps to prevent infections. Exception: your child's doctor has told you not to retract the foreskin until child is older. Wash the exposed part of the glans gently with warm water.
Self-stimulation occurs as a result of the normal exploration of their bodies and discovering that some things feel nice, so they repeat them. Simple as that. There is no issue. Girls touch and rub their genitals as much as boys do.
About a year after breast buds appear girls will notice a white, cream colored or yellow substance on their underwear. This substance is called vaginal discharge and most often appears six months to one year before menstruation begins.
Newborn girls will often still have vernix (the white sticky coating on the skin) still in the vulva between the labia. Do not try to scrub this coating out; it will gradually dry up and come off when you wipe with diaper changes. Newborn girls may have a slight vaginal discharge, which may be tinged with blood.
Some people will notice this about 6–12 months before their first period (16). The liquid is normal vaginal discharge. It will likely be a thin, whitish liquid, and won't have much of a smell.
Remind children that certain body parts have special rules, that no one else should be touching their genitals (with a couple of specific exceptions) and that they shouldn't be touching anyone else's genitals.
Don't forbid, shame, scold or rebuke your child. Not only might your negative response make the behavior more tempting, it'll also send the message that she should be ashamed of her body and feelings associated with it. So try not to make any fuss. In fact, if you're at home, ignore the behavior.
Children are curious. They are not only curious about their own bodies, but also about other people's bodies. Children's curiosity may even lead to touching each other's private parts or “playing doctor.”
Hold your baby's legs apart and wipe between the labia, starting at the front and gently wiping backwards. Use a clean part of the cloth or a new cotton ball if you need to wipe again. Dry your baby's genital area by gently patting with a soft towel.
The most common symptom of diaper rash is red, tender-looking skin in the diaper area (buttocks, thighs, and genitals). It could be a few spots, or the rash could cover much of the diaper area. Babies with diaper rash often fuss or cry when the area is touched or cleaned.
The University of Iowa's vulvar skin care guidelines suggests that it is best to refrain from using any type of “feminine hygiene sprays, perfumes, adult, or baby wipes.” They also suggest that women use only white, unscented toilet paper and stay away from those containing aloe.
A group of fungi called Candida normally live in the skin and diaper area. When they grow in excess, however, it can cause a painful diaper rash called candidiasis, or a yeast infection. The rash may look red and inflamed, and it may include white, fluid filled blisters or swollen spots with a white, scaly outer layer.
Most of the time, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid (sort of like mucus) that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
Possible reasons for delayed periods include being underweight, doing lots of exercise (including dance, gymnastics and athletics), stress and a hormone imbalance. See a GP if your periods have not started by age 15 (or 13 if you do not have any other signs of puberty).
Tell them, “If you want/need to talk about private parts, talk to Mommy or Daddy privately or within our house but not in public.” It's not only important to explain to kids that their parts are private, but that others' parts are private as well. We respect others by allowing them to keep their parts private.
Gradually, the foreskin will begin to separate. As this occurs you may notice a white, cheesy material, called smegma, released between the layers of skin. You also may see 'white pearls' develop under the fused layers of the foreskin and the glans. These are not signs of an infection or a cyst.
Infection – the most common include posthitis and balanitis. Posthitis is infection of the foreskin, usually caused by fungus thriving in the hot and moist conditions. Balanitis is infection of the foreskin and glans, and is usually caused by poor hygiene. Smegma encourages the growth of infection-causing germs.