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When did your toddler start washing his/ her own hands?


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  • I found they often like to copy and randomly wash their hands when you do at age 2


  • Think mine were around 2yrs old when they started copying washing hands.


  • As long as the weather isn’t too cold most toddlers will love splashing their hands around in water.


  • Our son has just turned three and started washing his hands by himself a few weeks ago. He pumps the soap, turns the water on and off and dries his hands. They still need checking, but he enjoys the independence :)


  • Both my kids were around 2 when they started washing hands :) i did help alittlr though


  • my son was running his own shower at 2yo – he just did it, and told me cold first careful hot…


  • My second washed them a lot earlier than my first, I guess he had his big sister to copy!


  • at about 15 months,use a bowl on there level too, a song I learned as a child I sing and do actions too, this is the way we wash our hands on a cold and frosty morning, rubbing round nd round in and out, then we dunk them rinsing soap out. Children are fantastic mimic and singing god too hope you have fun and it helps you


  • They tend to copy you if they see you washing your own, anything from a bit over 2 in this household. However ours went through a stage of only washing the tip of his fingers and it wasn’t during the cold weather either. He has seen me shaking the excess water of my hands before I wipe them. A few days ago I discovered he gets down off his step and turns towards the towel before he shakes them, Now I know why we have water marks on that section of tiles all the time. If his step has been taken elsewhere he calls out that he can’t do it. I usually take the step in becuase sometimes he has already got wet fingers but can’t reach the soap because it has been moved. I found if too much liquid soap is used it clogs the top of the drainhole up. It is a new stunt with a lot of things at the moment. His joke is starting to wear thin as he is serious about it now.


  • They pick it up pretty quick if you are consistent. My foster son was about 2 when he was trying to wash his own. Others have been older.


  • Around 2, sooner I think. Can’t remember exactly!


  • My toddler started at around 20 months. We have a stool so he can access the sink but he needs help turning on the taps.


  • It depends quite a bit on ease and safety of access to sink. We had a toddler stool and liquid soap with a towel especially for them on the bench next to the basin. They were pretty good by around 18 months. They still need reminders and help from time to time too.

    If you have taps that requiring twisting, this is hard for young ones – so you will need to help them with the taps for a lot longer. Be patient – they all get there in the end.


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