Hand hygiene in daycare: What caregivers should pay attention to

In daycares and nurseries, the responsibility for clean hands among babies and young children lies with the caregivers. Thorough hand hygiene helps prevent infections, ensuring healthy children and a strong, resilient team!
 

Contents

1. Hand hygiene in nurseries and daycare. Why it is especially important for the youngest
2. Babies and young children in daycare: Typical behavior and hygiene risks
3. Hand hygiene for babies and young children: What caregivers need to pay attention to
4. Hand hygiene in nurseries and daycare: Differences across age groups
5. Hygiene standards and protective measures in care settings: Hand hygiene in daycare and nursery
6. Hand hygiene in childcare. Health protection through responsibility and leading by example
    

Hand hygiene in nurseries and daycare. Why it is especially important for the youngest

Most parents will be familiar with this scenario: just as their child is finally recovering, they bring home the next “daycare germ.” But it’s not only children and parents who are affected by the high transmission rate of illnesses among children. Daycare staff are also more frequently ill than average. Data from a 2022 survey covering nurseries across England, Scotland, and Wales showed an average staff absence rate of about 16-17%, which is significantly higher than the general sickness absence rate in the UK labor market.

In nurseries and daycare centres, all adults have the responsibility of ensuring the best possible hygiene standards. Babies and young children (0–3 years) do not yet have a fully developed immune system, while having a tendency to explore their environment with their senses and put a lot of objects into their mouths.

Thorough hand hygiene in daily daycare routines protects not only the youngest children but also supports the entire facility. It is one of the simplest and most effective measures to interrupt chains of infection early. The best part: with clean hands, there is more time for all the fun, lively, and joyful daycare adventures!