Serious question time. At what age does potty training end?
Oh sure, you may have a kid who pees and poops in the potty all on their own at 2 or 3, but, ahem, you still aren’t really done.
Why?
Because you still have to wipe their tooshies.
And I am SO over this.
For a while Bug was trying to do it on his own, but the skid marks on his underwear were going to send me over the edge, so we went back to mommy and daddy doing it.
It kills me. He goes into the bathroom, shuts the door for privacy and when he’s finished, he yells “I’M DONE MOM!” at the top of his lungs.
Every time I open the door to help him, I’m greeted with his little booty in the air, arms and head on the floor, downward facing dog style. It’s so thoughtful as I have direct access to the area I need to wipe, but seriously kid? It’s just not necessary nor is it welcome. (Nice visual eh? Don’t worry. I’ll spare you the photo.)
The thing that cracks me up is he is totally oblivious. I think he’d play in that position or read a book/watch a video for a few hours, all while very exposed.
So I’m asking a VERY serious question here folks. When can kids adequately wipe their own hineys?
Please say 4. Please say 4. Please say 4.
My kindergartener still yells, “Mom, help!” from the bathroom, and I am greeted with that EXACT SAME visual when I walk in. I keep trying to force the issue, but either she doesn’t get it or just doesn’t have the dexterity to get the job done, I don’t know. But I’m over it too.
Crazy you posted on this today because my moms-of-multiples forum was discussing the same issue. I don’t think I’ve wiped a butt since 3 and have had few skid mark issues. But one of my girls wasn’t night trained until 6.
Based on what my friends were saying, it’s looking like 5 or 6 for boys.
I think he should be able to do it soon. Just be sure to discuss appropriate techniques to be sure he is clean. G does two wipes and then the 3rd is just to check if it’s clean. I can’t remember the last time I wiped his bottom. He does however like it when I hang out in the bathroom with him. I think he’d stay for hours if I let him!
Oh yes, I know that visual well. I do daycare and have been wiping butts for 15 years. Between diapers and butts, I don’t think a week has gone by that I haven’t done it. Hate to say it but 4 years olds often still need help. It really depends. I guess I”m more concerned that they are clean, I personally would rather do it than clean gross underwear. Hang in there!!
My girls potty train earlier, I am talking 17 months and I had little to do with it, they both self initiated it. No they were not twins either, 3 years apart. In anycase we had the same issues with my oldest. It was funny at age 2 her teacher at school taught her how to wipe and then at age 3 she started not wiping as well. Evidently her teachers in her new classroom were unaware that she wiped and were just doing it for her, so she let them! I talked about looking until “brown bear” leaves. So wipe, look at the toilet paper, is brown bear still there? If so keep wiping. Close to age 4 she got it. I think it was really more of a not wanting to take the time thing. We told her that at age 4 you were not allowed to have anyone help you wipe.
Now my youngest will not turn two until Thanksgiving and I am not even going to approach that with her even though she sometimes wants to do it, no way. She is a handful and I can only imagine what would happen!