Ratgeber

Hygiene Training in Daycare: What Is Required and How to Go Digital

April 30, 2026

9 min

Hygiene in daycare settings is not optional. It is required by law and protects children, staff, and families alike. But many childcare workers and managers ask the same questions: What exactly is mandatory? How often does training need to happen? And can it all be done digitally?

This article answers those questions step by step. It is written for educators, childcare assistants, team leaders, and anyone who is new to working in a daycare setting.

If you want to get started right away with practical knowledge, Diingu offers a free course on this exact topic: Infection Control and Hygiene in Everyday Daycare. It covers how to implement infection control in a child-friendly and safe way.

The Legal Framework: What the Law Requires

In Germany, the central law governing hygiene in daycare settings is the Infektionsschutzgesetz (IfSG), which translates as the Infection Protection Act. This federal law sets out how infectious diseases must be prevented and managed. Several sections are especially relevant for daycare providers.

Section 36 IfSG: A Hygiene Plan Is Mandatory

Every daycare facility must maintain an institutional hygiene plan (a written document describing how the facility manages infection risks) [1]. This plan must cover areas such as:

Rules for handwashing
Cleaning schedules for surfaces, toys, and facilities
Procedures for managing sick children or staff
Reporting obligations to the local public health authority

The hygiene plan must be kept up to date. It is not a document you create once and then forget about.

Section 34 IfSG: Mandatory Briefing for Staff and Parents

Section 34 IfSG regulates activity bans (situations where a person must not work in or attend the daycare due to a contagious illness) [5]. It also requires a formal briefing obligation, meaning all staff must be informed about these rules.

This briefing must take place:

Before starting work at the facility
Then repeated every two years

Section 43 IfSG: Additional Rules for Kitchen Staff

Anyone who handles food in the daycare, for example in the kitchen or when serving meals, is subject to an additional briefing requirement under Section 43 IfSG [5]. This briefing must also be repeated at regular intervals.

Two Separate Training Obligations

Many people are not aware that daycare facilities actually face two distinct hygiene training obligations [4]:

Internal hygiene training: Conducted regularly within the facility, based on the institutional hygiene plan.
Infection protection briefing under Section 34 IfSG: A legally required briefing that must be repeated every two years.

Both obligations must be fulfilled and documented.

State-Level Regulations Also Apply

The IfSG applies across Germany. However, each federal state (Bundesland) can introduce additional regulations [6]. Bavaria, for example, has its own guidelines issued by the Bavarian State Ministry of Health [3]. It is worth checking the hygiene regulations specific to your state.

What Should a Hygiene Training Cover?

A hygiene briefing in a daycare setting should address several key areas. Here are the most important ones.

Hand Hygiene: The Foundation of Infection Control

Handwashing is the single most effective measure for preventing the spread of infectious diseases [1]. Training should explain:

When hands must be washed (for example, after changing nappies, before meals, after using the toilet)
How to wash hands correctly (at least 20 to 30 seconds, covering all surfaces)
When hand disinfection (using a product that kills germs) is necessary

Children should also be taught proper handwashing in a fun and age-appropriate way [2].

Infectious Diseases in the Daycare Setting

Children bring many pathogens into the daycare environment. That is normal. But staff need to know how to respond [5]. Key topics include:

Common illnesses such as norovirus, scarlet fever, chickenpox, and hand-foot-and-mouth disease
Incubation periods (the time between exposure to a pathogen and the appearance of symptoms)
Re-admission rules (when a child or staff member may return to the daycare after illness)
Managing outbreak situations (when multiple people fall ill at the same time)

The Diingu course Infection Control and Hygiene in Everyday Daycare covers exactly these topics. It is especially well suited for daycare assistants and new staff members.

Cleaning and Disinfection

Not every surface needs to be disinfected. But some do. Training should clarify the difference [6]:

Cleaning: Removing visible dirt (for example with water and soap)
Disinfection: Killing pathogens using specialist products
Sterilisation: Eliminating all microorganisms completely (rarely necessary in daycare settings)

Areas that require particular attention include:

Nappy-changing areas
Toilets and washbasins
Toys that many children touch
Door handles and other frequently touched surfaces

Food Hygiene

Daycares with their own kitchen or food service face additional requirements [2]. Staff should be familiar with the HACCP concept (a food safety system that identifies and prevents hazards). Key points include:

Cold chain monitoring (ensuring food is always stored at the correct temperature)
Allergen labelling (indicating ingredients that may cause allergic reactions)
Hygienic preparation and serving of meals

For those interested in healthy eating habits and mealtime routines in the daycare, Diingu also offers the course Eating Culture and Healthy Routines in Everyday Daycare.

Who Needs to Be Trained?

Hygiene training is not just for educators. It applies to everyone working in the daycare [4][5]:

Group	Obligation	Legal Basis
Educators and pedagogical staff	Yes, annually	Section 36 IfSG and hygiene plan
Daycare assistants and inclusion support staff	Yes	Section 36 IfSG
Kitchen staff and food handlers	Yes, every 2 years	Section 43 IfSG
New employees	Before starting work	Section 34 IfSG
Parents involved in daycare activities	Recommended	Section 34 IfSG

One group that is sometimes overlooked: daycare assistants (staff who support individual children with additional needs). They are subject to exactly the same obligations as all other team members.

How Does Digital Hygiene Training Work?

In the past, hygiene training almost always took place in person. That has changed. Digital training is now legally recognised and offers many practical advantages.

Benefits of Digital Training

Flexibility: Staff can complete training at a time that suits them, including from home.
Documentation: Digital systems automatically record who completed which training and when.
Up-to-date content: Materials can be quickly updated when laws or guidelines change.
Reminders: Good platforms send automatic notifications when a repeat training is due.

What Must Digital Training Deliver?

For digital training to be legally recognised, it must meet certain requirements [7]:

Content must comply with the provisions of the IfSG
A knowledge check (a short test at the end) is strongly recommended
The date of completion and the validity period must be documented
Repeat training must be trackable within the system

Digital certificates of participation can be presented as proof during inspections. They fulfil the documentation obligation under Sections 23 and 36 of the IfSG [7].

Combining Digital Theory with Practical Application

An important point: digital training does not replace hands-on practice. The recommended approach is a combination:

Digital theory: Learn the basics, legal requirements, and rules online
Practical exercises: Practise handwashing technique and disinfection procedures as a team
Regular refreshers: Repeat at least once a year

Practical Tips for Introducing Digital Training

Include all staff: Part-time workers and new colleagues too
Schedule dedicated time: For example, during team meetings or as self-study
Store certificates centrally: Keep all records in one accessible place
Use reminder systems: Set calendar alerts or use automated notifications
Allow time for questions: After the digital session, create space for discussion

Hygiene training is mandatory for all staff in daycare settings
The legal basis is the Infection Protection Act (IfSG), particularly Sections 34, 36, and 43
There are two separate training obligations: internal hygiene training and the infection protection briefing under Section 34 IfSG
The Section 34 IfSG briefing must be repeated every two years
Documentation is essential: without a record, the training is legally considered not to have occurred
Digital training is legally recognised and offers significant practical benefits
A combination of digital theory and practical exercises is the recommended approach

Diingu offers several free courses that are directly relevant to this topic:

Infection Control and Hygiene in Everyday Daycare: The primary course on this topic. Covers infection control and hygiene in a practical, child-friendly way.
Eating Culture and Healthy Routines in Everyday Daycare: Ideal for anyone involved in food handling or mealtime routines.
Legal Foundations of Daycare Assistance: For those who want to understand the legal background more deeply.
Foundations of Daycare Assistance: A great starting point for anyone new to working in a daycare setting.

All courses are interactive, flexible, and designed to be accessible for beginners and career changers alike.