Little Girls and Hygiene

Updated on January 27, 2017
N.G. asks from Arlington, TX
8 answers

I can't tell you how many times I've lectured my two daughters, ages 7 and 4, on keeping our girly parts clean, especially making sure they wipe enough after they pee (or making sure they wipe at all!). My seven-year-old appears to be better about it than my four-year-old but I have caught both of them not wiping themselves, or not wiping enough. The other day, my four-year-old said she had to go potty, so she went, and she returned unrealistically fast. I asked her, "Did you pee?!" She said, "yes", I said, "Did you wipe?" and she said, "Oh. I forgot," and ran back to the bathroom. This happens all the time. Sometimes, when I don't catch them in the act, I might catch a urine smell when they are undressing for bath time, and that's a dead giveaway. My seven-year-old has very sensitive skin and when she's not practicing good hygiene often enough, she gets rashes on her girly parts. Ugh! It's so frustrating! I've tried talking to them, and I keep the door open when I pee so they see me wiping, every time. I put moist wipees by the toilet for them to use. I've tried supervising but I can't be right there ALL the time- they just go pee whenever they need to. How do I get them to take hygiene more seriously? Is this normal?

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C.L.

answers from Great Falls on

For the 4 yo at least, i would say it is normal. They are too busy playing and doing other things to remember to wipe! Lol Just keep reminding her and she'll get it im sure. The 7 year old though is another story. I think if you keep telling her that if she doesnt keep it clean, bad things can happen like rashes, gross smells, and tell her its just kind of gross in general. I mean I dont think any kid wants to be smelling like urine at school or with her friends. lol idk Mine isnt that age yet so i dont have too much experience with that excect with my little sisters, now 6 and 9! lol yea we have a weird family...

2 moms found this helpful

M.P.

answers from Provo on

Have you reminded your older girl what happens if she doesn't wipe? Sounds cruel, but maybe she needs a physical reminder of how bad it hurts.
Your younger one is normal. My nephews have to be reminded to do everything and they are 4 and 5 (they live with me, so that's how I know) Just keep reminding her and she'll hopefully eventually get it.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

Its pretty much normal. My 2 youngest 10 and 6. my 10 yr old is pretty good about is, now if I can only teach her to flush when shes done.

My 6 yr is horrible about it. She never wipes, or flushes. I understand the smell comment as its the same in my house at bathtime. They will grow out of it I think it at about 8 or so when my oldest got the hang of it.

Only suggestion I have is take bathes every night and maybe get some babywipes and every day when your daughter that has sensitive skin gets home from school, make her go wash her privates with it. That way its not on her till bath time. Good luck and really they will get a hang of it.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

I had to put a sign on our bathroom door at the old house that said "Julia! Wash your hands!" Aubrey wipes ok, but backwards. Nat doesn't flush or wipe, so I've been reminding her to do both, plus wash her hands.
Julia's hands still always stink and so does Aubrey's booty. I make sure that I wipe down the bathroom every day and give them both a bath/shower.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Boston on

This was happening at my home with my 7 year old. I finally told her whenever she went to the bathroom and I was anywhere around I would wipe her behind for her!. That seemed to do the trick. I have not had remind her since then and she no longer "forgets" to wip herself.

1 mom found this helpful

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

I actually still wipe my daughter at least twice a day with a wet wipe - to make sure anything she left is cleaned off. Other times, I remind her when I see her run to the toilet to wipe. I emphasize front front to back - from vulva to butt crack. It's very important for girls to learn this important detail as early as possible.

I tell her that the germs on her vulva is ok to get on her heinie hole, but her hienie hole germs cannot get on her vulva.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have a 6 year old and an almost 3 year old and I think this is normal... I think they are often in a rush to get back to whatever they were doing so they don't have "time" to wipe. My 3 year old rarely wipes unless I catch her going pee and remind her, or she just barely pats down there (which I guess is better than nothing but still obviously not ideal). I am constantly b*tching at her to wipe and showing her how to do it correctly. My 6 year old just started wiping properly because she can't stand how it feels when any wetness is left over down there (thank god).

1 mom found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from New York on

It should never be wiped. Only wipe after defecating, not urinating. I never wipe the latter.

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