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Original poster

Does everyone wipe themselves front to back?

60 replies

chicaguapa · 22/02/2007 09:59

Bit of a icky subject but DD(5 yo) has a urine infection and GP is going to refer her for further tests ie ultrasound on kidneys etc.

Anyway mil says it's because DD wipes herself back to front. This is beginning to annoy me because my mum taught me to wipe BtF and DD just copies me. Although I know the advice these days is to wipe FtB but I can't change the way I was taught and I have NEVER had a urine infection in my life.

I wondered if I was really as scummy as my mil seems to be making me feel. BTW mil has two boys and no girls so has never had to teach anyone how to wipe themselves. I don't know how she does it herselves as we've not gone that far in the conversation.

OP posts:
DaveMcDaveODaveOfDavilleIdavo · 22/02/2007 10:40

I go side to side - am I weird?

morningpaper · 22/02/2007 10:41

hmm I think really I just dab at the front bits to dry 'em off and then give a good scrub at the rear end

hmm I am giving this TOO much thought

What do you teach your dds? Reaching from the back?

DaveBaggott · 22/02/2007 10:43

I didn't teach my kids anything just told them to wipe and left em to it!

I'm a back to front girl (knowing it's wrong but it's awkward the other way and I've never had a problem)

FirstAtForty · 22/02/2007 10:47

Just had an experimental wee and realised I do what BandofMothers just said.

God haven't given any consideration to having to give lessons in it though. Thankfully DD is only 7 months old so have a bit of time to think about it

tortoise · 22/02/2007 10:52

I started a thread like this a while ago. Lots of back to fronters then too.
I'm a back to front one too and both DD's are too.
Never had a problem with infections so far!

JillyBeansOnToastForDaveNW · 22/02/2007 10:52

I do the same as BandOfMothers too. Dab front, wipe back backwards. And I could reach even when my arse was alot bigger than itis now

Don't know how to teach it though

scatterbrain · 22/02/2007 10:54

Hmmm - have just tried to reach and it seems I can reach round the back ! Odd as I thought I couldn't !! Was beginning to think I must be deformed !

Next time I poo I will have a go at the front to back mullarkey !

Still - I've never had an an infection so I can't be doing it SO wrong !

NotQuiteCockney · 22/02/2007 11:00

OMG, please don't wipe back to front - it vastly increases your risk of UTIs and thrush. Seriously, you don't want any poo on your vulva. It's really not a good thing.

I wipe the front from the front and the back from the back.

tortoise · 22/02/2007 11:02

Maybe i should add that for a poo its front to back.

BandofMothers · 22/02/2007 11:18

Glad to be of some help. LOL

BandofMothers · 22/02/2007 11:19

You should be able to reach unless your bum's ENORMOUS.

Original poster
chicaguapa · 22/02/2007 12:30

Well it's good to know that my mum, my sister and me aren't the only ones in the world!

In Notes on a Scandal there's a shot of Cate Blanchett on the loo and she's reaching round behind herself to wipe.

I think as adults we know how to avoid cross contamination even when wiping BtF. It may be that girls need to know to do this effectively. Most of the time DD is too lazy to do it herself and I end up doing it, in which case I do it FtB as she's usually bend over with her bum in the air! .

OP posts:
SlightlyMadScientistExperiDave · 22/02/2007 13:53

BtF after a wee, but I don't go too far back IYSWIM as my bum is so big I don't think I could reach all teh way to the front from behind IYSWIM.

FtB for poos...

mateychops · 22/02/2007 13:56

Just too much information here.

Gingerbear · 22/02/2007 14:07

I use the bidet dahlings!

Gingerbear · 22/02/2007 14:08

Only on mumsnet would this question crop up and be answered!

MrsGoranVisnjic · 22/02/2007 14:36

Please .. how DOES one use a bidet

I've always wanted to know

Gingerbear · 22/02/2007 14:46

Dunno, I only use them on holiday for me smalls!

having googled - I found this handy guide

TenaLady · 22/02/2007 14:46

This is interesting B to F for me.

TenaLady · 22/02/2007 14:49

One of those things, like writing with your right hand really, cant ever get in the habit of doing it another way, doesnt feel natural.

IdrisTheDragon · 22/02/2007 14:50

I feel almost disappointed that I pooed earlier on and so won't be able to verify my wiping technique for a while .

SlightlyMadScientistExperiDave · 22/02/2007 16:02

You have to read that link abouthow to use a bidet. PMSL. Read all the way to the bottom...

paulaplumpbottom · 22/02/2007 16:19

I'm afraid that its correct that you should wipe front to back. You don't want to get all that bacteria near your tushy.

SlightlyMadScientistExperiDave · 22/02/2007 17:48

I think we all acknowledge that FtB is correct. We are just admitting that we don't actually do that ...

Oati · 22/02/2007 17:57

Having read that link. dare I admit that ds2 insisted in bathing in the bidet in our hotel room some years ago? Still he seems to have survived - builds immunity I say

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