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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To hide the toilet roll?

50 replies

toothfairy73 · 15/03/2020 16:59

My 7 year old DD is going through toilet paper like she is the Andrex puppy. We are on our 3rd roll today. She knows there is a shortage. She has seen the empty shelves (I could lay/stand on here mummy!). Yet, she is just wasting it... really long strips of it thrown in the bin, using it to wipe her eyes.

I don't know what to do. We are going to run out, and not be able to get any more. Anyone else got this going on? I've threatened that I will give her a roll and when it's gone she will have to use her hand...

OP posts:

Original poster

toothfairy73 · 15/03/2020 17:51

The other issue is she is 7 so I don't stand over her while she is on the toilet; so those saying just take it away from her it isn't that easy.

OP posts:

TeacupDrama · 15/03/2020 17:54

have you any cotton hankies they would be fine for wiping eyes if necessary
my DD is 10 I have just said the rule is 2 sheets for pee and 3 for a poo be careful
if she has just pulled a long piece off just roll it back up and remove it
unless she has SEN a 7 year old can understand these are the rules end of she understands school rules re hand washing he can understand Mum rules re toilet paper

TeacupDrama · 15/03/2020 17:55

just remove it from the bathroom completely when she says she needs to go you give her 2 pieces

ThanosSavedMe · 15/03/2020 18:16

Whilst I would hide the loo roll and give it to her when she needs it, I think you also need to have a calm reassuring conversation with her about cv.

Let her that you are all doing what you can do to prevent becoming infected. You have enough supplies in the house for the next few weeks if everyone is sensible and doesn’t go crazy.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very worried about the future and what’s going to happen but I have to remain calm in front of the kids, as they take their cues from us.

Winterwoollies · 15/03/2020 18:18

Teach her. Take control of it. Don’t let her waste anything FFS, that’s just entitled behaviour. But it’s up to you to do that and if hiding it and getting her to request it when she needs it is the way to do it, then so be it.

AnaphylacticAnnabelle · 15/03/2020 18:32

She's clearly worked out how to wind you up!

Once my 7 year old has worked out what gets me hot under the collar, they won't let it go 😀

makingmammaries · 16/03/2020 08:39

In the USSR there were toilet attendants who would hand you one measly sheet as you entered, if you were lucky.

You could separate off some strips, hang them up with a clothespeg, and hide the roll.

Butterwhy · 16/03/2020 08:42

3rd roll today, woah yes definitely ration her! Put it somewhere she won't know where it is, the downside is she might need help managing with fewer pieces, but it will be worth it. As for tissues for her nose, that's possibly trickier seen as though she is anxious about hygiene, bless her :( it's such a hard balance with children isn't it to make sure they know enough to keep safe but don't panic. Can you maybe pop some tissues in some sort of box and make it clear they are for the whole day and will only be topped up overnight? Hope you manage to find something that works.

picklemewalnuts · 16/03/2020 08:50

Can you introduce handkerchiefs and family cloths?

She's obviously very anxious and needs some support. Handkerchiefs to wipe her eyes, squares of old T-shirt to wipe after a wee. Just ass to your usual wash (you can have a tub of water and vinegar in the bathroom for the used wipes, if you are fussy.

twoshedsjackson · 16/03/2020 09:18

Not entirely serious, but had you considered supplying Izal or the like? With the added advantage that "Now wash your hands" was printed on every sheet! I remember it well from my youth, and it did not encourage extravagant use. The memory of the pungent disinfectant smell lingers in my memory. (Although I was a bit irritated at losing my tracing paper supply when DM made the switch).
One thing we found that dampened the ardour in school was to get dispensers that gave out interleaved sheets. If she's truly determined, she can still get a lot out, but loses that wild exhileration of unrolling a whole roll.
I do hope you don't get to the stage of newspaper squares...…...

ConstanceSalinger · 16/03/2020 10:42

How much exposure to adult news has she had to be this anxious about it? Yes schools are encouraging better hand washing than perhaps normal practice but how much of your own anxiety have you passed on. My 6 year old knows exactly what I have told him, wash your hands and that's it!

angelikacpickles · 16/03/2020 11:03

Why is she wiping her eyes? Does she have allergies?

MarieQueenofScots · 16/03/2020 11:04

She is obviously anxious and needs some help.

Simple things - have you bought boxes of tissues for her to use for eye wiping/nose blowing? Buy some packs of hankerchiefs for her to use.

Limensoda · 16/03/2020 11:13

There's no need to get cross.(why would you?!) Your daughter is anxious and needs reassurance and educating about germs in a way that doesn't alarm her.

Isthistrueor · 16/03/2020 11:14

If you’re desperate you can order it on amazon for normal prices.

Not true, Amazon prime are even delivering a lot later than usual and their bog roll is mostly out of stock until April. People are mental.

Definitely hide it, ration it.

TheSandgroper · 16/03/2020 11:26

I’m inclined to think that kindness is the way forward here. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole concept of what is going on is just too big for her little brain when coupled with her normal daily concerns for you.

I think go to the toilet with her so you can gently monitor her (while removing the toilet paper, too ), wash your hands with her and see if you can reset her brain to a more proportionate response.

And, with pp’s, I like the suggestion of hankies.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 16/03/2020 11:35

Leave one strip of 4 bits in the loo where she can reach, she will have to call you got more.

DysonFury · 16/03/2020 12:41

Ration it, 2 slices for a wee, 4 slices for a poo.

Beamur · 16/03/2020 13:26

I think you need to handle the anxiety side of this a bit more carefully. Don't punish her now, but make some other ways available.
The suggestion to give her some washable hankies for wiping eyes/nose is good.

CtrlAltDelight · 16/03/2020 13:48

My DH is a sod for having a metre of loo roll to blow his nose. I introduced hankies!

You can get reusable pads (usually for makeup removal) - you store them in a little tub of water (and a couple of drops of gentle essential oils if you like) and chuck them in the washing machine with your towels. Probably kinder on her eyes than tissue if they're irritated anyway.

You can also get reusable baby wipes. Same sort of thing, they come in a plastic box and you fill it up with clean water. We used to use them for DD's nappy wees and reserve the disposables for more emergency scenarios!

Thelnebriati · 16/03/2020 14:21

YANBU. Just do it and dont stress it.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 16/03/2020 15:29

A situation like this at that age triggered my sister extreme OCD thats still controlling her whole life 25 years later, how you deal with this could be a big deal.

Beamur · 16/03/2020 16:48

I have a child with anxiety and germ phobia. Weirdly she's coping very well with the hysteria around CV - she finally has a purpose for the handwashing and for once we're not trying to check it!

SunshineDays2019 · 16/03/2020 16:59

Slices?

Original poster

toothfairy73 · 22/03/2020 00:56

Things have calmed down a bit. I have taken the other toilet rolls off our holder (it holds 4) and just have one out. For some reason this has calmed her down. I also bought some tissues so she could wipe her eyes,

This honestly did come from what was said at school. She came home one day obsessively washing her hands and it got progressively worse.

We have switched to a eczema friendly hand wash too which has helped her hands and putting cream on at night when she is asleep to stop the chapping.

We are currently self isolating and she seems much calmer

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