I Need Help with Trying to Get My Daughter to Wipe

Updated on January 07, 2007
T.S. asks from Valley Springs, AR
14 answers

I have a 3 yr old daughter that everytime she goes to the bathroom she doesn't wipe. Does anyone know how I can get her to wipe? I have tryed everything I can think of.

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K.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Piggybacking on what Stacey said, I had the plumbers out due to "flushable" wipes. They pulled tons of them out, and it was rather costly. They told me to never let my daughter flush them again. Just a word of advice.

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J.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I talk to my daughter about how her skin will itch and hurt if she doesn't wipe well. Instead of pestering her with, "did you wipe?" I ask the more positive question, "is your skin happy?". Just turning the reminder into a praise helped us a lot.

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M.F.

answers from Springfield on

I am guessing you have tried all the nifty kandoo products and wipies for big kids...my daughter has been easier, she tries, but I have to finish. But my boys on the other hand were 5 years old still screaming come wipe my butt! For my daughter though, I keep a jar of skittles on my bathroom counter. She knows if she is dry and pees...she gets 2...if she poops...she gets 5...if she tries to wipe it herself, she gets 8. She is only 2, but she knows that the more she does, the better she is rewarded. They arent going to do much of anything that they know you will do for them...lol. But if they know that there is a reward in the end, they will try! Lots of encouragement and rewards go a long way! I am guessing that she is wearing big girl panties, and probably pretty ones...try telling her that if she cant keep her bottom clean she has to go back to the big bulky training pants instead of the pretty ruffly little girl panties. Or if she doesnt wear the pretty kind, try offering those as a reward for doing it herself.
Just a few ideas, I am sure you will get lots of them! Good luck!

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S.P.

answers from Kansas City on

Hey Girl-
Just a thought have you tried having her use wet wipes. I know it isn't cheap but it may help her feel clean. My oldest still uses them at 10 (don't tell him I told).
Good Luck,
S.

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S.O.

answers from Kansas City on

Just want to throw this out there to all...Using the flush able wipes. 2 friends living in NEWLY build homes had problems with these wipes and had to call plumbers after many failed trys at clearing the problem themselves. After several 100$'s in repair costs, the plumbers told them both, (different plumbers), NOT to flush these types of wipes. They now keep a trash can with bag next to the toilet. Yes, it has to be changed often, but its better than costly plumbing bills.

Just wanted to pass it along...
Good luck!
S.

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D.T.

answers from Tulsa on

just keep asking her. It's a habit and most habits have to be performed 21 times in a row sucessfully before they stick.

Maybe you could transition her to flushable wipes?

Or make her a packet of tp with a piece of candy under so she knows to at least reach for the tp.

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W.B.

answers from Kansas City on

hi my name is W. and i am a mother of four and a home child care provider. first thing talk to her like you would talk to your adult friends then explain the steps she needs to follow and the reasons why, followed by a reward. we use dum dums (the little suckers). i look at them as little adults that are in training to become bigger ones later on. i teach responsibility like putting your fork/spoon in the sink, plate in the sink or in the trash things like that and this one.
W.

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K.T.

answers from St. Louis on

Why not try some sort of sticker chart. We got one in the mail (I think with a Kandoo ad) and my daughter loved taking charge and filling up those circles.

Include these categories: Goes potty, wipes, flushes, washes hands.

Also, be careful with non-flushable wipes. You may end up having to call Roto Rooter when your sewer backs-up (especially if you live in an established neighborhood with mature trees). ***Blushing*** been there, done that!

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R.V.

answers from St. Louis on

I am a stay at home mom and I do in home childcare. I was helping out a friend of my family, by watching her 5 year old boy, who still did not wipe his own bottom. One day he ran in the house, to the bathroom, then back out side, then back in and straight to the potty, his mom swore he wouldn't poop unless she was with him, because she was the only one who he let wipe his butt, I asked him, whats up (talk to her like an adult to start out) he said nothing and was in a panic. I brought him to the bathroom and told him I needed to tell him something important that he might not know... Right off, I told him, I thought he was soooo cool for using the bathroom, and that showed me he was really big, then I asked him if he needed to poop, he said yes, but he was scared that I would think he was "biscusting" because he couldn't wipe his butt, I told him I was going to sit outside the door while he pooped and talk to him about something really important. While he pooped I talked to him like a big boy, I told him when you get to a certain age it is not right for other people to see your p****** p**** unless he was hurt there, so because he wasn't hurt, it wasn't right for me to look or touch his bottom, he got nervous but he was already pooping, then I told him, I knew he could do it and there were just a few tricks to help him out and asked him to tell me when he was done, I promised if he needed my help I would help, as long as he promised to do his best. When he was done I told him, if you don't get the poop off of your butt, it will itch, sting and maybe even hurt, then I told him the trick was to use these "special wipes" they were walmart brand Kandoo's, the trick was to wipe, then look, if there was no poop on the "special wipes" he was done. If there was still poop, he needed to get a new piece and keep wiping until there was no poop on the T.P., the second trick I told him was to flush after every 3 peices, this would prevent the toilet paper from getting stuck in the toilet, so he wouldn't be imbarrased at someone elses house and break the potty. He went through 10 peices... but he did it, and he was so proud and surprised, he asked me not to tell his mom, because he wanted to. She was so happy and so was he, she has never had to wipe his butt since, I think he just needed to confidence to do it and me treating him like a grown up and explianing what will happen if it is done wrong and the simple ways to prevent it gave him the courage. He trusted me just like your little girl trusts you, give her the tools she needs and she will succeed! Good luck

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J.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Does she not wipe at all? Because, my daughter wouldn't wipe when she pooped, but after buying the disposable wipes (and the Disney princess container they came in) she took control and wanted to do it herself.
Good luck,
J.

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B.S.

answers from Topeka on

I agree with everyone else about the flushable wipes. I always go into the bathroom with my daughter to make sure she wipes and does it correctly and then when she poops I let her wipe but I always check and wipe again if it needs it. My daughters private got really red and hurt and I think it was because she wasn't wiping or wiping correctly so that is when I started going and watching, plus they still need help with the steps, my daughter will always forget one step in the process and she is 4, but with school and me both working with her she has finally gotten to the point that I don't feel I have to be in there all of the time. Just be patient, buy some wipes and go from there.

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S.C.

answers from Topeka on

Ok what you need to do is buy some of those Can Do! wipes that have the little frog on them and tell her that these are her very own wipes. They are wet, they pop up out of the container and the flush!! It's easy for me to say b/c I have a boy :)
Hope this helps!

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J.T.

answers from Topeka on

what worked for me was the flushable wipes for kids. like the kandoo wipes or something like that. Just make sure she wipes front to back and not back to front. good luck with it.

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T.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Hey I had the same problem with my 3 year old. We use wipes as well but I just put cheaper baby wipes in the Kandoo container. I explained to her that its very important that she keep her vagina clean so that it doesnt get itchy or sore. Wiping front to back is still a challenge for her but she manages.

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