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Help - 4yo washing hands constantly!

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Mummyme32 · 28/06/2021 19:16

About two weeks ago my nearly 5yo started washing her hands very frequently. She says she needs the loo then washes hands with soap. Then she repeats this over and over every 5-10mins until she’s distracted enough with something else to stop.

I was worried she was weeing so often at first but I’m pretty certain it’s not because she needs to wee it’s because she just wants to wash her hands. She has no problems wetting herself or soreness or anything.

She seems really worried about the idea of having wee on her hands. She’s also stopped having her bedtime teddy she’s had since she was tiny - says it has wee on it and she doesn’t want it even after a washing machine cycle.

She’s going to school in September and there’s been a lot of talk about that lately so I’m wondering if it’s related and trying to teach her to wipe her own bum. But have asked if she’s worried about anything and she just says only about if her little brother gets her sweetie stash. 🙄

She’s had a couple of mornings where she’s done it a few times at nursery but it’s much worse at home. Or when we are out with her.
Occasionally she wakes in the night and wants to go to the loo and wash her hands but it’s worse in the day.

Has anyone else had anything like this?
Do you think we should just ignore it?
Should we stop her going to the loo/washing hands so often?
Do you think doc needs to check for urine infection or something?

I’m worried it’s becoming some kind of obsessive compulsion!

Previously she’s tried her best to avoid washing her hands after the toilet - especially if she’d only done a wee.

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