We've got potty training down, except the wiping after a BM. I've been doing that, but it's time I stop. How did you teach wiping so the kid didn't end up with messy hands or a dirty bottom? I know it sounds silly, but I'm not even sure he can reach that far back, lol.
I've searched a bunch of sites, They have great info on training, but not on teaching wiping.
Help.
Ame

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 05:53 pm:

I have no advice. I still wipe DD but we do use the Kandoo wipes and they seem to help. She tries herself but I always do the last wipe.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 05:58 pm:

Thanks Melissa! At least now I don't feel so alone!
Ame

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 07:33 pm:

Flushable wipes are the way to go. I still double check both kids, but they try to do it themselves.

By Amecmom on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 07:41 pm:

Thanks, but the problem is that I am trying to ready him for early entrance to kindergarten. They won't have flushable wipes there or check him out.
Ame

By Momofmax on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 07:56 pm:

In the beginning I used to try to help him out as much as possible and teach as we went along. I encourage him to wipe twice. It's not foolproof but it helps. He still doesn't always do a complete job - I find that out at bath time when he undresses! I think they just get better as time goes by. You can use the wipes at home and encourage your child to use one when he gets home in the afternoon to freshen up.

By Andi on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 08:33 pm:

DS just started doing it on his own. I told him when he turns 5 I'm not doing it anymore. Well he turned 5 a few weeks ago and he does a great job. I just make sure he washes his hands really well!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 08:44 pm:

I don't remember. I think they just started doing it on their own. I did it a lot in the beginning, though. I think by 5, they did a reasonable job of wiping. Although, sometimes they didn't, which I would find when they were taking a bath, or when I was doing laundry.

By Crystal915 on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 09:31 pm:

You can buy travel packs of the flushable wipes, for him to take to school. Of course, if he gets in the habit of wiping well, and then just using the wipe to do a last check, he might not need them by school time.

By Kaye on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 08:13 am:

I'm with Andi. Teach him to wash his hands well and you will be fine. I quite honestly didn't ever wipe my kids, part of potty training was them doing it all. I did check for a bit. But they always manage. Sometimes they don't do a great job (still at 12..lol) but they figure it out.

By Imamommyx4 on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:11 pm:

I think just by doing for them, they learn. And it's hard for them at first but they get better at it. I did dd for awhile after she started potty training but it wasn't long before she started the "I can do it." So I'd just check her. And she's very tidy about being being dry so I don't worry about that much.

By Sunny on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:20 pm:

Do boys ever master the art of wiping themselves?

I don't remember "teaching" them to wipe, I just told them to wipe front to back, wet the toilet paper if they needed to and wash their hands when they're done. I know in the beginning they used too much toilet paper, but as they got older, the more efficient they became.

By Tink on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:34 pm:

I'm with Kaye and Sunny. I didn't ever "teach" them. I just did it for awhile during potty training and then let them do it themselves. I would check to make sure all was clean but I would guess within two months of potty training, they were doing it on their own.