At what age did your kid...

[Charade]

wipe their own butt?

My dfi's girlfriend's two sons (age 5 and 10) IMO took a really long time to wipe their own butts. The 10 year old didn't do it on his own until he was 9!! His Mom did it! Also, he won't go #2 at a public bathroom. He has to do it at home. Which of course leads to the inevitable. Constipation. They were down this weekend and I got the boys for Sat and Sun ("guy" stuff) and was informed later that if the younger boy need to go #2, he doesn't wipe his own butt. I said, well then he'd end up with diaper rash because I wasn't about to do it.

 

[ntburns22]

My DD and DS both started to try when they were potty training. I would say DD could do it totally herself before she was 4. She was PT just before 3. DS3 is finally getting the hang of it.

 

[TheGoofster]

both of my kids were bout 4 when they could go potty all by themselves.

 

[daisyduck123]

DD was 3.

DS was 4.


9 years old??? No way.
Even a 5 year old should....esp. if he's school age.

 

[Charade]

My DD and DS both started to try when they were potty training. I would say DD could do it totally herself before she was 4. She was PT just before 3. DS3 is finally getting the hang of it.

At 9, he should have been really be able to his own. I thought that was kinda strange. The 5 year old should be able to as well.

 

[disneydiva06]

My ds is 6, and he's had no problem wiping himself since he was 3.

 

[Beth76]

My 5yo can do it, but he doesn't always do a very good job.

 

[tycopj]

DS was 3, maybe not great at it, but he did it. We had a couple of clogged toilets from him using a roll of paper , but he did it. NO WAY would I wipe for a 9 year old. What does the child do at school, at friends, or away from mom?

 

[taximomfor4]

MY 8yo dd has some fine motor skills issues, so this is not the typical I know ... she was 6, almost 7. We instituted a 3-toilet-paper rule (to prevent toilet clogging). She wiped with tp 3 times, and if the 3rd was not enough, called us to help.

My son ALWAYS holds it till he is home, except for when we are away for several days, of course. He wiped on his own at about 5 (same 3-try rule, so that is when he stopped calling us in there).

My youngest is 4 1/2 now, and tries 3 times. She will NOT call us in to help her, but is also doing a not-so-good job. We keep a box of baby wipes in the closet for her, and if she feels uncomfortable she gets a wipe to clean up with.

I had a babysitting job when I was in middle school. The Kindergartner I watched couldn't wipe himself, either.

I think these kids CAN do it, they just might not be coordinated enough to do it without making a mess. JMO. YMMV.

Beth

 

[1Prince2Princesses]

My son was about 5 when he stopped getting itchies from not doing it well enough. On the other hand, my daughter, who is 2 1/2, always wants to do it herself.

 

[poohandwendy]

Around 3.

9? They really should be able to take care of that before they enter school, unless there is a disability or something.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

I was 8 before I wiped a number 2

I guess thats not normal eh?

 

[CEDmom]

My DD was around 4 I guess. She's 7 now and I still buy her the flushable wet wipes. Makes things so much easier. Maybe you could suggest those.

 

[DisneyfeverTN]

I think my kids were able to do it by themselves at 4 yrs old. I always kept some wet wipes in the bathroom too. I'll bet the 5 yr old will do it himself if you let him.
If the 10 yr old won't go in a public bathroom, it sounds like some kind of phobia. Is he afraid to go into the restroom, or to actually use the toilet? He might feel more comfortable with a man taking him in, as opposed to going in by himself. I would talk to him and try to find out why he is scared. Maybe you can help him work through his fears. Poor little guy. BTW, 9 is WAY too old to be wiping a child's bottom, which I'm sure you know.

 

[Liberty Belle]

My ds (4 in November) tries to do it, but he just can't well enough. I'd prefer to do it for now.

I can't remember when my oldest started. He was by the time he started kindergarten 3 months after turning 5.

 

[kimmar067]

wipe their own butt?.....

.... ...thought it was something ELSE....[...better git mah mind outta the gutter....]

 

[marciemi]

I don't think it's a phobia - I know a lot of people who will NEVER use public restrooms unless absolutely necessary. My oldest son has gone to camp for a week and not gone #2 the whole time (or showered or brushed his teeth and flew home on an airplane on a hundred degree day after playing a full soccer game and STILL wearing his cleats, shinguard, and socks, but I digress!). Even my dad (who's 70+) won't use a public restroom pretty much ever. A hotel room yes, but otherwise he'll wait. Incidentally, I'm pretty sure none of my kids were older than 4 or so the last time I wiped anybody!

 

[Charade]

and I still buy her the flushable wet wipes. Makes things so much easier. Maybe you could suggest those.

They don't go anywhere without them. They brought their own box even though we usually have them here. The last time the 9 yo was here he clogged the toilet with too many wipes. I said this time, wipe flush, wipe flush and I don't care how many times it takes.

 

[dreamcometrue]

mine were about 3 when they started wiping their own behinds! After that, I bought those wet wipes to make sure it was all taken care of! Age 9?? That's WAY too old to still be wiping your kids butt, IMO!

 

[LadyBears]

My DD was 3 or 4.

9!!!! Unless the kid is handcapable in some way or is really sick with some kind of stomach flu, IMO that is WAY to old to not be doing it on his own!