PT ? - wiping issue

So our twins have been PT since the summer/fall, but they still have issues with wiping after going poop (sorry TMI). They usually yell for us to help them wipe, which we do to prevent issues with their clothing and possible rashes (my nephew actually had his butt checks get stuck together when my sister failed to check & had to have the doctor help). I am just wondering when we can expect them to totally wipe on their own and if there is something we can do to help the process along. They will be going to preschool in the fall and I know they need to be fully PT, so I am starting to think about this a bit more. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

A test someone suggested to me is, have them reach their right arm over the top of their head, and touch their left ear. If they can touch it, their arms are long enough to reach to wipe. If they can't, then they won't be able to wipe effectively. It seems to be true for my kids. My oldest two were well into their 4's before they could wipe good. How long is their school day? My kids went for 3 hrs every morning at 4 yrs old, they rarely rarely pooped at school, only peed, and saved the poop for at home. So I wasn't as concerned about them wiping so good yet.

 

My kids aren't PT yet, but I remember reading in a PT book I was looking at recently that most kids can't wipe all by themselves until more like age 4....so maybe they just aren't ready for it yet??

 

Oh gosh.. are my kids playing me.. they're 6 and have issues getting clean. Off to have a chat...

 

My BF told me that her oldest boy (who is now 10) needed help to wipe until he was 7. My two just turned 4 in December and we are working on it. I always go behind them, some days they do a good job and other days aren't so good.

 

Mine learned when they were 4, at camp. Their counselor taught them to wrap the toilet paper around their hand and then use their hand as a "scoop" to wipe. It really worked.

 

Mine are almost 5 and just recently have gotten the hang of it. They just always made a bigger mess until the last couple of months.

 

I had to teach my oldest to do it before he started JK this fall. He turned 4 two days before he started school so it was still a challenge for him. Even now he usually waits until he gets home to do #2...I don't think he's gone at school at all even though we leave the house at 7:30 and he doesn't get back to the house until almost 3pm. He usually goes right to the bathroom when he gets home. I had tried some of the moist flushable wipes but his skin is so sensitive that they were causing itchy and rashes so we had to scrap that idea but it could help you. I always make sure to wash him very thoroughly back there when he's in the tub .

 

I read on here a while back to put some Vaseline on their bottoms in the morning and it will make wiping easier and keep their bottoms from getting irritated if they don't get themselves clean enough. I still wipe after #2 as itchy booties are the worst, but the Vaseline is a great idea when they're at school longer.

 

I will say it seems that they kids know to "hold it" as school and not have a bm! for my ds he will attempt to wipe, and I just say let me check... it's a work in process.

for my dd... she even has issues wiping for pees... and her bottom always smells of urine... but that doesn't irritate it, but if she's had some more "runny" days, and she's had a bm somewhere where they haven't wiped her then she will get a rash - and that's horrible. I will put vaseline on her bottom, or rather she even asks for it, saying her bottom hurts... I hadn't thought to put it on in prevention, good idea. but still mainly both kids will hold it until they are home.