Age for independent poop wiping for girls

[Anonymous]

Interested in responses from parents of girls only just because the stakes are higher with UTIs being much more of an issue.

At what age was your preschool girl totally independently wiping competently after pooping? Not learning to wipe, but you could trust her to wipe thoroughly, front to back etc? And what age did you start teaching?

[Anonymous]

We started actively teaching at 4, she’s now 4.5 and completely independent. We do (usually) “check” but I can’t remember the last time I actually needed to step in.

[Anonymous]

6 with no skids

[Anonymous]

My DDs were 3. DS is 6 and still sometimes needs help.

[Anonymous]

A little hard to remember. I was definitely still helping in preschool. I think potentially even in kindergarten, when at home? I remember there bring this time period where it felt like she should be independent but she was asking for help because she couldn't reach. I think that was during K.

I think it's more important to make sure she learns good hygiene habits than that she be totally independent. I used to be a camp counselor and learned that a surprising number of older kids have bad toileting habits because once they were toilet trained, their parents left them to their own devices. So like whatever they were doing at 2, that's what they kept doing forever. That's problematic, especially when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness.

[Anonymous]

I was going to post something like this.
DD is approaching 6 and still not independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A little hard to remember. I was definitely still helping in preschool. I think potentially even in kindergarten, when at home? I remember there bring this time period where it felt like she should be independent but she was asking for help because she couldn't reach. I think that was during K.

I think it's more important to make sure she learns good hygiene habits than that she be totally independent. I used to be a camp counselor and learned that a surprising number of older kids have bad toileting habits because once they were toilet trained, their parents left them to their own devices. So like whatever they were doing at 2, that's what they kept doing forever. That's problematic, especially when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness.

I have distinct memories of my younger brothers having skid marks on underwear

[Anonymous]

Around 5.5.

[Anonymous]

DD is 12 and has never really mastered it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A little hard to remember. I was definitely still helping in preschool. I think potentially even in kindergarten, when at home? I remember there bring this time period where it felt like she should be independent but she was asking for help because she couldn't reach. I think that was during K.

I think it's more important to make sure she learns good hygiene habits than that she be totally independent. I used to be a camp counselor and learned that a surprising number of older kids have bad toileting habits because once they were toilet trained, their parents left them to their own devices. So like whatever they were doing at 2, that's what they kept doing forever. That's problematic, especially when it comes to hygiene and cleanliness.

I have distinct memories of my younger brothers having skid marks on underwear

How bad, just slight marks or worse?

[Anonymous]

Ok so silly question maybe but do all preschool teachers wipe their kids butts? Through what “grade”? My 2 year old will go to preschool “potty trained” but no independent with wiping

[Anonymous]

Started teaching at 2. Mastered at 3. I don’t understand all these people with 6 year olds who can’t handle things themselves.

[Anonymous]

I think it just depends on the kid. Keep encouraging but verify.

Some poops are also just harder to wipe. A constipated kid might need some extra help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ok so silly question maybe but do all preschool teachers wipe their kids butts? Through what “grade”? My 2 year old will go to preschool “potty trained” but no independent with wiping

OP here. There’s no standard. My child’s preschool wipes all butts so that means wiping through age 5. But the preschool summer camp our child is going to this summer doesn’t wipe starting at 3. It varies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Started teaching at 2. Mastered at 3. I don’t understand all these people with 6 year olds who can’t handle things themselves.

OP here. We just haven’t bothered to teach yet because cleanliness and not getting infections are more important to me than independence in this area, I guess. We have taught independence in other areas (potty trained at 2 etc) but just kind of let this go so I’m wondering what others do and how urgent it is.