Embarrassed to ask about bottom wiping...

[sambababy]

DD turned 2 last month. We bought a potty after she became interested after seeing her cousin use one, who is 4 months older. She's been asking to use it more and more and often does a wee on it, although we're not actively potty training yet and her nappies are still really wet.

My embarrassing problem is that I think I wipe my own bum 'wrongly' . I don't wipe back to front, but if I've only done a wee I just dab the front. I presume I was taught this by my mum way back when! But I see that DD wants to copy what I do and I know I don't do it right. When I try to reach from behind it just feels so awkward, and I have long arms! although that's what I'm doing with her. How can I change the habit of a lifetime? I need to teach DH how to wipe her too. Am I making this far more complicated than it is?

[dementedpixie]

When I pee I wipe from the perineum forwards and when I poo I wipe from the perineum to the back. It's how I've always done it.

[sambababy]

Have you got DC demented? I'm worried if my DD copies my actions she'll get infections from doing it wrong, even though I never did. I'm presuming here that the 'right' way is always to wipe front to back.

[BestZebbie]

..what is this about reaching round? (As far as I know!) you don't need to put your hand through your own legs from behind and then wipe as you draw it back again, to wipe - you can start at the front and push the tissue backwards. so, what you already do for a wee, but then with a flourish, as it were...

[sambababy]

Haha best see I am totally lost! It's not the sort of thing you ever discuss with anyone, how you wipe your bum

[dementedpixie]

Yes I have a dd and a ds. I think dd does the same as me. I always told her that you don't wipe poo from the back to the front but not sure what she does for pee

[Macdaddylonglegs]

I agree with Best. You don't have to reach from behind, just make sure that the tissue only moves from front to back. Touching the perineum and wiping forwards could lead to spreading of germs and urinary infections.

[sambababy]

Thank you ladies, that sounds much less awkward to me haha. So basically I can teach her what I do but just explain not to wipe forwards.

[LucyBabs]

Our rules only wipe front to back never back to front
for wee only wipe the front no need to wipe the back

[sambababy]

Good rules Lucy I shall steal those!