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- Ask Home Insemination Kit: Is It Strange That I Still Wipe My Big Kid’s Butt?
by Samantha Brooks
April 9, 2021
Welcome to the Home Insemination Kit advice column, where our team of “experts” tackles all your questions about life, love, body image, friendships, parenting, and anything else that leaves you scratching your head.
This week’s topic: How old is too old when it comes to wiping our children’s behinds? Got a question of your own? Reach out!
This isn’t exactly a problem, but I’m curious about others’ opinions. I was chatting with some mom friends recently, and a few of them were grumbling about how terrible their kids are at cleaning up after themselves, resulting in laundry baskets filled with a mess. I kept quiet because I felt outnumbered, but here’s the thing…I still wipe my kid’s butt. She’s almost five. Am I the odd one out? My friends’ kids have been handling it themselves since they were first potty trained, which I find wild. Should I be embarrassed about being the butt-wiping mom?
First off, let me just say that this is one of the most charming “predicaments” I’ve seen, and I love these kinds of questions!
As for whether you’re odd for continuing to wipe, not at all. You’ve simply maintained the routine because there’s been no reason to change it. While children vary in their abilities, I’ve yet to meet one who can clean their own behind effectively at the age of two. The fact that your friends are doubling up on laundry supplies indicates their kids might not be as tidy as they think.
If you feel comfortable, now might be a great time to start teaching your daughter how to do it herself properly. If she’s anything like mine, she’ll be a bit squeamish about the whole poop situation but will likely manage pretty well. Show her how much toilet paper to use (about 5-6 squares, depending on the brand), guide her on technique, and let her give it a try. She’ll need to know this skill when she starts school.
Don’t let the label of “Butt-Wiping Mom” get you down. Embrace it! You’re saving yourself from a pile of laundry issues, and your daughter will likely carry those good habits forward. Hopefully.
Want more? Check out this other insightful post on our blog. If you’re interested in home insemination, this site has authority on the topic. For more information on fertility and home insemination, this resource is excellent.
Summary:
In this light-hearted advice column, a mother grapples with the decision of whether it’s strange that she continues to wipe her nearly five-year-old daughter’s butt. After discussing with fellow moms, she questions if she’s the odd one out. The response reassures her that it’s not unusual, emphasizing that kids develop at their own pace and that it’s perfectly fine to continue helping until the child is ready. The discussion also encourages parents to teach their children proper hygiene skills before they start school.
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