For parents w/ potty trained kids

[Momo]

OK so I recently read an article that said parents should be prepared to assist their children in cleaning, after going to the bathroom possibly up until about age 5, the age most children can do it well.
So did you just let little "johnny& Suzie" clean themselves @ a certain age, and use spray-n-wash on any "track marks" in the undies? How long did you help them out? I told my friend that I really prefer to make sure they are clean, for health and hygienic reasons. I reminded her that little ones often will scratch at their bums if it isn't cleaned / wiped well after having a BM... and then who knows what that hand is touching/ eating . Anyway tell me what you all did or are doing...I sure don't want to be cleaning a 6 yr old's bum, like my best friend's SIL is still doing!!

[Phoebe]

My kids are very independent and like to do things themselves. Our 5 year old is pretty much on her own now, but I occassionally intervene with a BM. Our 3 yr old gets help after a BM. We try to stay regular with baths since they want to wipe on their own.

ETA: I do check in with both to make sure wiped and washed their hands after they use the restroom.

I agree with what Jlynnb said.

You can get those flushable wet wipes and that helps too.

[Momo]

Oh trust me I am a helper for both DS & DD1. We use the moist, flushable wipes. I was just curious as to what age did they start to do a good job, and you didn't feel the need to help out or check any longer.

[Cumberland]

Glad you asked, I was wondering this too.

[Phoebe]

My 5 year old still doesn't always do a good job. Beyond that I don't know.

My 6 1/2 year old usually does a good job but needs an occasional reminder.

Mine seem to be quite thourough ... although our toilet paper consumption has gone WAY up. They like to use one square at a time.

On the upside, it seems to distract them for quite awhile. :!

[alison]

DCJenn, my inlaws have these stickers!

http://cgi.ebay.de/IM-SITZEN-PINKELN-4e ... otohosting

(I posted this in the wrong pee thread, sorry!)

[Momo]

Alison , it's still potty talk, so hey you're not too off!

[alison]

Thanks!

I hate skid marks, is what one of the cartoon men says!

Ummm, we are 9.5 and 10.5 and still working on it sometimes....DS2 is pretty clean, DS1 has yet to digest hygiene as a concept!

[mommax3]

The youngest (5) still needs occasional help, but (actually I just now asked DH about this) I don't remember having helped him recently. We help him with either a bath or shower every morning, and I haven't noticed any skid marks recently, so maybe he has made some progress. I would say that mine were independent in this area by the time they went to school. (Peeing on the floor was still happening at that point, though. )

Sally

[Sheherezade]

No help at all here since about 4 with DS and 3 with DD.

Just lucky I guess. I didn't even know I'd dodged a parenting bullet.