Ideas in Finishing Potty Training

We had this issue for a while recently not only with the five year old but my seven year old as well! frustrating to find the underwear again and again. We encouraged and sent them back more often than not as we saw them leaving the bathroom. Then nightly we had baths, showing them the dirty underwear and telling them that it woudl cause them to itch and get rashes. Every time we saw them "fix" their underwear during the day we reminded them if they whiped EVERYTIME that itchy wouldn't happen. Also at night when the underwear was dirty talked about germs and compared it to sticky dog pop we find when we go walking in the park. It took a few months, but we (as parents) suddenly realized it had worked for both children. Good luck

Hi, my son is also 4, he does a good job with the Kandoo wipes. However, I have been trying to get him to use toilet paper, and he is resistant to that, which can be a problem at school. Although, my son usually holds it in until he gets home. I can tell you that I have ahd this problem with my middle dtr, first at age 7 and then again at age 9. I usually find out through the laundry or the complaints of an itchy butt. My oldest dtr never had this problem, but I have been told it is a phase that kids will go through at different times in ther life. We usually make jokes about being stinky and itchy and it makes them laugh, but they get the point too. No one wants to be known as the itchy and stinky butt kid. Good luck!

P., I wouldn't reward him for something that you simply expect him to do as a part of normal life and is mandatory. This sets up a bad habit. He probably is wiping himself, but a lot of kids are not thorough. Make sure he knows just one quick wipe does not do it, that he needs to wipe til the paper is clean. I think a lot of current parents of younger kids use those flushable wet wipes, and they seem to feel these do a better job. I am all for bathroom independence and once my kids learned to use the toilet, I did not accompany or do wiping for them
Good luck!

Hey P.,

I have a 3 year old who does very well, even sleeps thru the night without a diaper now,

2nd to LAST stage is the wiping.

I use kandoo or cottonelle wipes

there is no way to master cleaning your bum GOOD.

What you do is monitor him and listen for his bathroom usage.
when he goes to the potty have him call you in afterwards,
and then help him roll the paper and put it in his hand,.
help him reach back and wipe then get a little more and reach back and wipe.
teach him how the paper should look when his bum is clean.,
he has to see the actual poo on the paper, and then finally NO poop, which indicates a clean bum.

it will take a few weeks,

after he gets it, teach him hand washing techniques. and independent teeth brushing

You always have to monitor them, LOL
or you get clogged toilets and water everywhere.

I would say at 5 or 6 they finally perfect these areas.

but it takes time.for everyone.slowly specially for kids who are in a hurry to have fun LOL

Good luck the hard part is over now

Have you tried Kandoo wipes or something similar? My kids always liked wipes of any kind. I have to constantly remind
my 5 year old and when I check up on him if he didn't wipe I make him come back to the bathroom and make him do it.

HTH!

Hi P.,

My fifth child is also 4. She does go independently and I also told her to tell me when she is done so that I can make sure she is clean or else she will get sore in that area. She does wipe but misses and if she doesn't call me I know when she goes and I turn her back around and we take care of business and I show her to wipe till it is clean using toilet paper. I use a wipe when more is needed only, it is easier on the skin.

Hope this helps,
R.