At what age would you expect a child to wipe their own bottom? Should nursery help with this?

[blueskythinker]

My DD 3.4 has just started nursery school. She would be one of the youngest in the class, having an early June birthday.

She is very competent at using the toilet, apart from wiping her bottom. At home, she just gives me a shout, and I wipe it for her. I have tried to encourage her to do it herself, but she isn't interested.

I noticed last week after coming home from nursery, that her bottom hadn't been wiped after a poo. I asked her do the teachers help her to wipe her bottom and she said no.

Before I discuss it with the teacher, I wanted to gauge what 'normal' was. Are all other children this age wiping their own bottom's successfully? Would you expect teachers / TAs in nursery school to help children with this?

[Seona1973]

I only started making dd do it herself just before she started school (so at about 4 1/2). Before that it was easier to do it myself plus she had a fear of the poo getting on her hands. Now she has a go with toilet roll and finishes off with a toilet wipe (like kandoo but cheaper!!). She still calls me in to check her bum is clean and most of the time it is. It took a stand off to actually get her to wipe herself the first few times and I had to leave her sitting on the toilet until she finally decided to have a go.

[Twiglett]

again ROFL at too short arms .. it's BOLLOCKS however you cut it

but as I also said it's your decision as a parent whether to allow it or not

[singersgirl]

Have you personally measured the arms of every 3 year old? How do you know it's bollocks? It might be, but how do YOU know?

There are people on here saying that they have checked with their children and their children can't reach round, but only through. Why do you think they are lying?

I could say with equal validity (ie my opinion) that it's bollocks that some children can't ride a bike at 3 - it's just up to the parents whether they allow them to get away with it or not.

[Twiglett]

LOL

[Seona1973]

Is this what they all need??!!

[Smithagain]

LOL Seona!

[blueskythinker]

Well I asked the teacher today what other children were doing in terms of bottom wiping, and she laughed and said that most of them needed help. Some try themselves, and then the staff check afterwards.

She said it was no problem at all for them to help my DD.

[mytetherisending]

PMSL at seona!

[mytetherisending]

On a serious note though, girls should always wipe backwards from behind to prevent urinary tract infections. Boys can go between their legs so in theory would be able to do it sooner.
The analogy is me being fat during pregnancy. I couldn't get my arms round the back to wipe easily. Toddlers tend to have more chub around their middles/bums which gets in the way. Probably a skinnier toddler would find it easier.

[HLF]

That’s a really mean message I don’t think it sounds like you’re cut out to be a nanny