Moms Talk Q&A

Welcome to Moms Talk Q&A! This week's question:

Now that potty training is over, how do I get my child to wipe for themselves and what "age" should they know how by?

Jennifer Davis:

First depending upon the age of your child, I would maybe think about revisting this question until they are a bit older.  Even though some children are potty trained at 2, they may not be able to clean themselves thoroughly which could leave to rashes and poor hygeine.  I would definitely make sure before they start school that they are able to fully take care of themselves in the "bathroom" department.  One tip would be to buy the wet wipes, and let them start and you finish to see how well they are doing.   You may even want to let your child pick out the wipes that are geared towards children, make it a big deal just as you did with potty training and  use lots of praise. Hope this helps!

Angee Fielder:

Well there are a few factors involved. First, just realize that every child is different. While some kids may be potty trained at 2 others may take longer.  Another thing to think about is the techniques you used to potty train your child. Those will more than likely be the same techniques you will rely on to teach your child how to wipe. Some parents teach the potty training and wiping simultaneously. Nonetheless, be sure that your child understands the wiping process and then let them select the wipes that they want to use. Make it a positive situation and you will yield positive results.

Terri Peters:

I think that kids need help wiping themselves for quite some time.  If they don't wipe correctly, and clean themselves completely, their skin can get sore or irritated later on.  I also find that, if my three-year-old doesn't wipe correctly, he ends up dirtying his underwear, too, which is more laundry for me!  When my son poops on the potty, we ask him to call for Mommy or Daddy for help.  We let him wipe and we supervise, and if it seems like we need to give him some help with cleaning himself, we do.