A girl’s guide to bathing [infographic]

Believe it or not, girls don’t automatically know how to keep themselves clean

Author: By Maggie Roetker

Published: July 3, 2018 | Updated: October 8, 2020

Just like any other life lesson, kids need to be taught how to take care of themselves. If you’re raising a girl, she needs some guidance on proper hygiene and cleanliness, including washing, shaving and taking care of her body.

“Believe it or not, I have many girls come to see me who don’t have any idea of what it takes to keep themselves clean, especially in their genital area,” said S. Paige Hertweck, M.D., pediatric and adolescent gynecologist with Norton Children’s Gynecology. “It’s a good idea to make sure they understand the basics of hygiene before puberty starts. Once hormones are raging and menstruation starts, this becomes even more important.”

Here’s what your growing girl needs to know.

Girls and bathing infographic