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Loving the Unclean
Big O recently turned 8, but I'm trying to figure out how to potty train her.
Yes, she uses the toilet just fine, but for the life of me I can't figure out why she can't remember how to freakin' WIPE HER BUTT! It's really gross when it comes to laundry day, like today, when I'm putting clothes into the washer and pulling pants and shirts right side out and find myself holding some undies with smears of poop. Not just skid marks, mind you, but it's obvious she didn't wipe at all, possibly more than once. Sometimes she'll come and sit near me and I have to send her upstairs to wipe and change her pants because the smell of poop, pee, and other female things is just too strong.
We've got flushable toddler wipes in every bathroom. I ask her, when I hear the flush, if she wiped. We'd talked to her about the MAJOR discomforts of skin infections and yeast infections. I've even posted little signs near the doorknobs on the inside of the bathroom door saying "Did you remember to wipe?" She's a scatterbrain just like me, and I'm sure this contributes to it. I forbid books in the bathroom for this reason, but she still finds things to look at or do while on the toilet, so by the time she's done all thoughts of wiping have gone out the window.
I need some sage advice on how to keep my big lil' girl clean and hygenic. I'm out of ideas.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Joe Mama on -
what about making her do her own laundry for a week? 8 isn't too young to learn how to use a washing machine and it fits the "natural consequences" rule for me...then give her a break until the next time you find a bad batch of undies.
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Permalink Reply by Jersey on -
Sorry, I don't have any advice of my own for your problem. But I wanted to chime in and say that I really like Joe Mama's suggestion of having her do the laundry when you can see the "evidence".
Just wondering, does she sit on the toilet afterwards for too long? My 9 year old will sit there forever, and then when he goes to wipe he can't do a good job because it's all dry. I know you said sometimes she totally forgets, but maybe sometimes when she does try she just isn't able to do a good job because she sat for too long? I'm always yelling at him through the bathroom door to hurry up. What do they do in there??? It's a constant battle in our house.
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Permalink Reply by Herasmus B. Dragon on
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Jersey, that's a good point about letting it get dried. I have no idea what she does in there because she shrieks if you try to open the door or if you even dare to knock. She doesn't have books, I know that much. This evening after her shower I talked with her about it, reminded her how gross it was for me to find myself touching her poop. She goes at school, so she's not spending forever in the can then, so maybe it's the institutional TP? It's not like she has a purse I can stick some wipes into.
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Permalink Reply by Mamawho on
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GirlWho does this every once in a while. Last night, while she was changing into her pjs, she wouldn't turn around to walk away - she backed away. I knew she was up to something. Yep, poopy butt. I'm not much into shaming, but I do remind her that even if she can't smell it, everyone else can. That freaks her out.
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Permalink Reply by wookie on -
Is a morning or evening quick shower out of the question? It might at least help with the skin/yeast infections. Is she recitent to wipe there because it hurts, perchance? Is there an underlying chronic UTI that might be contributing to overall tenderness.
I know that my nose picker dropped off her mining considerably when I sent her to the bathroom to wash her hands with soap every time I saw that finger up there. I'm not sure what the equivalent is for this.
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