What parents can do to help prevent nursery school germs

Starting nursery is your child’s first time being around a larger group of other children and on a regular basis. They’ll be able to learn new skills, make new friends and gradually build their confidence as they play and interact with others. It feels amazing to see their personality come alive! However, it’s also one of the first times they’ll be exposed to lots of new germs.

Colds and other common illnesses tend to become more frequent when children start nursery and, while as a parent this can feel frustrating and worrying, it’s also a normal part of their childhood. As their immune systems develop, they’re naturally exposed to a wider range of bacteria and viruses.

There are simple habits you can implement at home to help reduce the spread of germs. While it’s impossible to prevent every illness, building good hygiene routines can make a real difference for the whole family.

Handwashing routine

Handwashing is one of the most simple but effective ways to reduce the spread of germs. Helping children develop this habit before they start nursery means they’re more likely to continue it throughout the day when they’re away from home.

Encourage your child to wash their hands with soap and warm water before they eat, after using the toilet, after playing outside and after sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose.

Try making handwashing part of their daily routine rather than something they only do when they’re visibly dirty. Singing a favourite song or using colourful soap can also make it more enjoyable for younger children.

Coughing and sneezing etiquette

Young children often cough or sneeze without thinking about where the germs go, so it’s helpful to introduce good habits early. Encouraging coughing and sneezing etiquette can help reduce the spread of coughs and colds both at nursery and home.

Some habits you can enforce are:

• Coughing or sneezing into a tissue whenever possible
• If a tissue isn’t available, cough or sneeze into their elbow rather than their hands
• Throw used tissues away immediately
• Wash their hands afterwards to help remove any remaining germs

Sharing rules

Sharing is an important social skill that children begin learning before and during nursery. However, it’s equally important for them to understand that some things shouldn’t always be shared.

Talk to your little one about things they should avoid sharing, such as food and drink, water bottles, cutlery and dummies or teething toys.

It can also be useful to teach sensible boundaries around close contact. As children will naturally play together, helping them understand personal space and practicing good hygiene after play can support healthier habits without discouraging social interaction.

Clean floors

Floors can be a breeding ground for dirt and germs that are bought inside after being outside, especially after a busy day at nursery. Creating a few simple routines can help stop germs travelling.

Get your little one to remove their shoes when they enter the house, to avoid treading more dirt around your space. It’s also a good idea to change your child’s nursery clothes when they get home, especially if they’ve been outside all day. This is also particularly relevant if you have younger babies who spend time crawling or playing on the floor.

Keep your home clean

While children will naturally pick up germs at nursery, maintaining a clean home environment will reduce how easily those germs spread around the family.

Try to focus on cleaning high-touch areas that are used every day. This includes kitchen worktops, dining tables, highchairs, door handles, light switches, toys and play surfaces and changing mats.

Milton Antibacterial Surface Spray and Surface Wipes make it quick and easy to disinfect the surfaces your family touches most. Whether you’re wiping down toys after nursery, cleaning the kitchen before preparing food or disinfecting changing areas, regular cleaning can become part of a simple daily routine rather than a big task.

Starting nursery often means a few extra coughs and sniffles, but simple daily routines can make a meaningful difference. Milton has been supporting families with trusted sterilising and hygiene solutions for generations, helping parents build simple, practical routines that keep homes cleaner and little ones protected as they explore, learn and grow.