Ideas needed for teaching Bum wiping.

[Piratejones]

Hello, I'm really in need of help with this, I feel the need to start teaching and encouraging independent wiping with my 7 year old, but i have no idea how.
His coordination isn't great, he just doesn't seem to have the dexterity do to a good job, flush-able wipes just make things worse and spread things about, but he rips through normal toilet paper.

Just so I'm not drip feeding, he has additional needs.

I have an 11 year old who's getting there and now pretty clean. To start with I did the first wipe (get 90% that way), he did the second, i did a third to check it was clean. We did that for about a year, so it wasn't a quick process.

It took time to help with his coordination but we did get there. We now have issues with not blocking the toilet with paper though as we double over paper then wipe till paper is clean. Sometimes that appears to involve best part of a roll.

I've moved areas and the area I'm now in have nurses that can advise in toileting issues for those with special needs. It might be worth finding out if you have any near you because they could help more directly.

Thank you Misformum i will certainly see if there is a service for advice.

Perhaps you could use reusable toilet wipes? They would have a bit more grip. I honestly don't work for them but check out cheekywipes.com

Thanks tied i will give them a look.

Brilliant ideas polter!
They are definitely worth trying.

I'm just doing it with my ds (10). He has problems with fine motor skills and the co ordination of wiping. Is tarted off with the big soft Huggies baby wipes. (Need to throw in bag tho not flush)

I now use the Aldo flush able toilet wipes which are more toilet paper sized. It is not a clean procedure but he's getting there!

We are still working on washing hands after too without being reminded!

I wonder I'm expecting him learn this skill to early, maybe it would be better to wait until he's closer to 10?

DN doesn't care either, it's mostly me who would like to push the last bit of independence, which i suppose is wrong.

For what it's worth i was about 8 and the realisation (prompted by my mum) that the thing i was currently obsessed with probably wipped their own bum made me put in some effort...

That won't work for use Jason, there is no one he s obsessed with and he would probably argue that there is no proof of wiping anyway.

occupational health can help - my son has additional needs and did a 5 day 'life skills' course with them - one thing covered was strategies for bum wiping - we even had a game to play at home...

I wouldn't worry yet, I'm still doing my NT 9 year olds Butt, I'm sure I'm far from the only one.

Not quite the same but I've started to make some progress with ds who would go.into tantrum mode if he was asked to try and wipe himself. He's four and has no additional needs so I know it's not the same challenge you are facing. I've started by wiping until he's clean myself, then I managed to convince him to have a go himself so he can start to learn the physical movement/dexterity involved. I've now moved on to not telling him whether he's already clean and asking him to check and tell me. It's slow progress but it's progress. And no poo covered tantrums which is a bonus!

I knew i had posted on a thread like this before. Thank you polter. My 9 year old has asked it wipe himself and i will use your idea to teach him.

I'm so glad I'm not alone!
DD 11 has SN including dyspraxia. She finds the whole coordination really hard. Ds 8 has no physical SN but does have fears of everything including getting has hands dirty, he's too scared to try. DD does try but I have to do it first to make sure it's clean
We'll get there one day - DH is the one who has the issues with me still doing it.

No you are not alone Shannara and it really doesn't matter they will do it in the end. I don't think 8 is that late for wiping anyway to be honest.