My 10-year-old stepdaughter lives with her mother and visits us on the weekends. Her mother doesn't make her bathe every day - and sometimes she hasn't bathed or washed her hair for a week when she arrives at our house. What can I do to encourage good hygiene habits?
- Carla
It can be difficult when a child travels between two sets of parents with two different sets of expectations. Without criticizing her mother, you might want to gently point out to your stepdaughter that as she begins to enter puberty, she may need to bathe more. New puberty hormones will stimulate the sweat glands to become more active. Sweat is odorless - however, when it's broken down by the bacteria on our skin, it creates an odor that can be unpleasant. Bathing with antibacterial soap helps decrease the amount of bacteria.
For more information, check out this article.
Talking to Your Child About Puberty
Reviewed by: Barbara P. Homeier, MD
Date reviewed: September 2006
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