Need Advice for My 3 1/2 Year Old Daughter

Absolutely you should still wipe for her. I wiped for both of my kids until they were 5. I just made sure they knew how to wipe themselves before they started kindergarten. My son, who just turned 6 a couple of weeks ago just now started getting to the point where he didn't have to have me check him. Each kid's different, my daughter picked up on the proper way to do it right away and was doing it by herself about 2 weeks after she turned 5.

I have sons but I did want to share that we had to help the oldest wipe until he was at least five (youngest is still in diapers). If I remember correctly, we still checked him and would have to help from time to time up through kindergarten.
This was something my husband and I discussed at length because it's one of those things that we'd never read in any baby books or heard any other parents talk about. We did talk about it with his doctor and she also echoed that it does take that long to learn to wipe and do it well. Especially "back there". ;)

My 6 year old still has a problem with wiping completely clean ... especially outside the home.
However, at home we have flushable wet wipes which makes it much easier. You can also teach her to wet the toilet paper, slightly, if she's in a bathroom with a sink.
Make sure you get the wet wipes that actually dissolve in the sewer/septic system after flushing, otherwise they'll clog the toilet. Cottonelle recently started selling this kind.
Good luck.

Hi J.,
My daughter is 3 1/2 as well, so I know what you are going through. As another mom suggested, we, too, keep cottonelle wet wipes in every bathroom. When she has a bowel movement, she will stand up to wipe, putting one foot on her step stool and using a wet wipe. It is much easier for her to reach that way. I do still wipe her afterward just to make sure that she is clean, but she usually does a good job with this method.

Good luck!

I let Abbie "try" to do it by herself just to get in the habit. Truth is, she didn't really get consistent and good at it until 2-3 years later. She was able to do some on her own, but even some of those "sticky" ones, she needed help on. Sometimes they increase the mess, by wiping it on butt cheeks, etc. It IS a process! Be patient.

Yes.....her growth and arm length WILL help in the processs!

My daughter is 4 1/2 and I still wipe her when she goes #2. I've tried teaching her but she doesn't do it correctly. The only problem is that the preschool she goes to won't wipe her, so she sometimes gets red there from not wiping correctly. My advice would be to see if your daughter is comfortable and able to wipe herself when she goes #2. I think as long as they can do it themselves when they go to kindergarten, you're ok. This is a good question!