Toddler squirms when wiping private parts during nappy change

[Ally638]

Hi sorry I don’t really know who else to ask, maybe it’s a doctor question! my 21 month old daughter really doesn’t like me going anywhere near her vagina to wipe / clean after a pooey nappy. She has really soft poos and often poo is smushed in there so it needs a wipe but she squirms and grips the changing mat as soon as I start to go near there and will sometimes say sore. It started during a bad case of nappy rash so that’s why I thought she was saying sore but that’s totally cleared up now and she’s still behaving this way and sometimes saying sore, only when I’m wiping the vagina area, not her bum. I’m being super gentle but she really resists. It’s making me worried. What could be going on here? Is it just a weird sensation? The wipes are cold and wet? Could it be an infection? I’ve tried to have a look and nothing looks red or inflamed or anything like that, but even to have a look she really doesn’t like it. Has anyone had a similar experience? Is this a doctor matter? Thanks mums x

Have you tried not using wipes but water? There might be something in the wipes which causes an irritation.

Likely just because it was sore and now she's anticipating it and doesn't like it.

Try giving her a rinse in the shower for a few days instead of using wipes and maybe she will forget about it.

How old is she?

Could you try a wipe with warm water instead to see if that’s better? Make sure you pat dry afterwards and leave to air dry a bit when possible. Are you wiping her properly after wet nappies?

I think you’re right that ‘sore’ could mean ‘strong/unpleasant sensation’ with the cold wipe.

Thanks will try using water / warm water instead of the wipes (she hates the shower), although they are water wipes so would have thought they would be ok, but it’s something to try! :-) I never pat dry so will start doing that too. For a wet nappy I do wipe but only a cursory wipe over that area rather than a more thorough clean like for a poo nappy. Only because I know how much she hates it!

We used to dunk ours in the bathroom sink with the water running, in those circumstances!

I would offer potty, clean up is much easier.

At 21 months you could start her on the potty/toilet - especially for poos - and that will get rid of the problem.