Wiping - 2 1/2 Year Old

Updated on June 19, 2010
H.A. asks from San Francisco, CA
7 answers

Hi there,

Our little girl is 2 years, 9 months. She's been completely potty trained for about 6 months. We've always helped her wipe, until this week when she has started to want to do it herself. I'm all for independence, but she's come home from daycare with soiled panties, where they let her go to the bathroom by herself. I've seen her try to wipe her behind by herself, but her little arms don't seem to be long enough when she's standing. And she's not getting the "front to back" thing when wiping from the front, while sitting.

Any suggestions? Techniques? Websites that have suggestions?

Thank you!

H.

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More Answers

L.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

My daughter used to come and show me her bottom to make sure it was clean....

My brother who has no kids and does not deal with little girls.... came running to the bottom of the steps one day when he heard her yelling at the top of her lungs, only to find her bent over with her cheeks spread asking him "am I clean?" maybe it won't help you, but I thought it was funny enough a story to share and let you know that this is a normal thing.

Enjoy!

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

My daughter will be 3 in August and except for the wanting to wipe herself (poo), she is trained and has been for about six months. What I'd suggest is let her wipe herself and then you do a quick swipe with a wet wipe or flushable wet wipe. Take some to daycare and ask that they do the same thing. Or let her use the flushable wipes. Have her wipe her peepee first then from around back wipe 'backwards' on her bottom. Also, try to get her used to wiping in the back when she's sitting instead of standing.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My son is 7 and only recently have I stopped "batting cleanup" for him! :-)

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J.P.

answers from Austin on

My little girl is almost 2.5, independent, and she "wipes" herself, but I always use a wet wipe after =)

Like McMama said, have the daycare do the same. I've been told that children don't fully know how to wipe until they are almost 5 years (especially for BM) - of course different for each child.

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J.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Hi,
I teach young children and have seen this problem B4 w/ young 2 and early 3 yr olds. It is not uncommon when they are potty trained at a young age. I would get her some flushable wet-wipes (for bottoms, like Cottonelle brand ) to use at home. Talk with teachers at the daycare confidentially about your daughter's problem and explain your wanting to help her reslove this. Ask too if they will allow her to have her own pkg of flushable wipes to keep in the bathroom there to use until she learns how to clean herself completley then her bk switch to tp. Be sure you have showed her how to use them properly &, remind her too to only use 1-2 so they dont clog the toilet. Explain to her that she needs to wipe her bottom until the tp is clean. This usually helps. Good luck mom.

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N.O.

answers from Phoenix on

I have this same problem with my daughter who is going to be 4 this month. I have tried letting her wipe with the moist wipes and then checking her after which works great at home but at daycare it is another story. She does not want to take the time and she does not always get the help she needs to make sure she is properly wiped. I am going to keep an eye on the responses you get!

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A.H.

answers from Washington DC on

Nope sorry no , only thing that helps is a grown up helping to wipe till the arms grow. How about letting her wipe first and you get whatever is left? And when picking her up from the daycare a quick rest room stop to see if she needs to cleaned a little better.

Good luck.

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