As your DC get older and begin to close the bathroom door, how do you ensure they are still remembering their intimate clean routine? £250 spa voucher and a month supply of Andrex® to be won! NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

The team at Andrex would like to hear about the tips you use to ensure your children stick to their clean routine once the bathroom door begins to close.

Andrex® say “As you get older you start to become more self-conscious, different rules start to apply. From research 28% of parents reported that door closing happens at around 7+, with 14% reporting is happens as young as 4 years.”

So have a think about how your child has changed as they get older – at what point did you realise they took care of themselves in the loo and what tips do you use to ensure they are keeping their intimate areas clean?

We know of course, all children are different and that for some children these milestones are either not always achieved or are achieved at a later stage. All comments welcome, whatever your circumstances.

Add your comment to this thread and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £250 Spa voucher and a month supply of Andrex® toilet tissue. Please note comments may be used by MN and Andrex® on social media, on the Andrex® pages on MN or possibly elsewhere: anon of course – but please only add your comment if you’re happy for it to be used like this!

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

I don't think I can take part in this survey- I can't get past my revulsion at "intimate clean routine". Particularly now I discover that when I do, I come across "intimate areas".

OP refers to bathroom and hygiene, and also to loo and a big paper manufacturer.

Are you asking about wiping bottoms, or whole body hygiene?

Though I suppose for both it comes down to sniff test.

I'm none to happy at the phrase "intimate clean routine" either :(

However, the simple answer is that you can't and don't do anything. As with everything else, you trust that you have taught them well, and you deal with the consequences (illness, infection etc) should they arise at any point. Kids need to learn by their mistakes.

Andrex wet wipes by every loo - paper within reaching distance and a step in front of the sink. And screaming "have you wet wiped? Have you washed your hands" a lot.

My autocorrect didn't like what I meant to type, which was "bog paper"

You after first prize Byrdie?

I line them up once a week and inspect all intimate areas for cleanliness.

What a horrible phrase! If they're old enough to want privacy they're not going to want a parent checking their "intimate cleanliness".

So I have no tips I'm afraid. As long as they get a swish in the bath now and again, I have no need for fancy hygiene products, which is not what I suspect the makers of Andrex want to hear!

I just asked them if they'd wiped. Simple as that, and yes, that phrase is a bit minging.

Whoever wrote that OP? Please tell me it wasn't really MNHQ!
Look, if they're not wiping properly they'll have mucky pants. You'll know about it door open or closed. It's not rocket science.

I stand outside shouting "have you wiped your arse intimate areas, ds?

Does this mean that not even half if seven year olds shut the toilet door? Crikey.

I've cringed too hard at 'intimate clean routine' - say what you mean for goodness sake.

Mine's 12, and since I potty-trained him I've never asked about his "intimate clean routine", and am never likely to, unless I see skidmarks in the laundry - which I haven't so far. The first day I see skidmarks will also be the last, of course, as he will never hear the end of it otherwise.

"intimate clean routine"? Bleurgh.

They bathe.

We have normal recycled toilet paper, and using it is part of toilet training from the start. I disapprove of "flushable" wipes, v bad for the sewers and the environment. I agree with the Baroness that inadequate bottom-wiping is evident on pants without any need to invade anyone's privacy.

My (toilet-trained) DS2, who's 3, tends to shout a triumphant "I done a poo" from the bathroom. In one tone of voice, this means "so congratulate me and leave me to it", in another tone, it means "and I require bottom-wiping assistance". So that's the only tip I can think of, for the transitional stage before they can, ahem, "take care of themselves in the loo": work out which tone of voice means which.

I know they wipe. Because of all the disappearing loo roll. And I know they wash, because they don't smell. Their pants are skid mark free. What a good bunch of bums I have created!

Andrex you need to sort out your comms big style. "Intimate clean routine"?? Horrible.

WTAF is an intimate cleaning routine?

"Intimate clean routine", is this what the toilet roll aisle in the supermarket is going to be named now - just down from "feminine hygiene".

Intimate clean routine wtf?

I make sure we have the following

Bog roll - whatever is on special offer -surely no-one has lavatory paper loyalty?

Soap

Towels

It all seems to be working well so far.

I did take little packs of flushable wipes camping this year and they were a small joy for my piles of a morning,so thanks for that

And it really will only be a way of selling us an additional product -wet wipes- which we have managed without perfectly well for ages, and which will block the sewers, suffocate fish and just generally create environmental havoc in the name of solving a problem that we didn't realise we had until a marketing person thought of it.

Just imagine the supermarket aisles- "Intimate Clean Routine" "Feminine Hygiene" "Snacking" "Recipe Sauces".....: God, we're going to hell in a handcart.

surely no-one has lavatory paper loyalty?

I'm pretty loyal to recycled bog roll, mainly because I live in a building with an old plumbing system, and a plumber told me recycled was much much better, as it tends to have shorter fibres and so breaks up in the water much more easily, thus avoiding blockages.

I'm pretty loyal to recycled too- what with me sort of hoping that there'll be some planet left for my grandchildren......

Which is why I am also anti wet wipe. Sorry, Andrex, I know that's what you're pushing here.

Indeed, Hakluyt. It also seems a real waste to use new wood pulp paper to wipe your backside when there is so much recycled paper cheaply and easily available.

I tend to buy recycled, but I don't care which. For ages nouvelle was always on offer in the coop, but they never seem to gave it anymore.

I keep saying I am going to trial using washable wipes and an old nappy bucket, but have never quite bitten the bullet.

Oh dear "intimate clean routine" is terrible. As is flushing wipes down the toilet. Recycled toilet paper and baths is enough.