Should a provider clean a 3 year old butt after bm?

Question

I work at a daycare for 9hr no benefits no sick time and the parents want me to clean 3 year olds butt I'm not comfortable with that if they are 2 under okay but 3 they should be doing it their self I have 3 children at 9 and up and not once have I had to get some one to clean their butts at 3 if that I would be suspicious please let me know if I'm over reacting should I be cleaning a 3 year old

Answer 1

i think you should, with my daughter, we had a big problem with day cares not wanting to assist with butt wiping.  many kids up to even 6 do not do it right! they are more interested in going back to playing. problem:

1. kids can still get diaper rash, my step daughter did at 5

2. stained underwear

3. it's itchy and uncomfortable when you do not wipe properly

4. they smell like poo

5. they can get a bacterial infection from fecal matter on the skin

we used to send my daughter to preschool with wet wipes, now they have huggies clean team.  they work well.  maybe you could carry these in school, or put the item on the parent's list of necessary supplies

also, to protect yourself maybe create a toilet form in which you ask parents of kids 3 and up if they need assistance wiping.  parents would indicate yes or no, sign it, and date it

Answer 2

I think that if the child needs assistance then you should help them without any questions or hard feelings.  There may be some who can do it themselves, but if the parents ask you to help them then that is what you should do.  Not all children this age do an effective job cleaning themselves and can get rashes if not wiped well.

Answer 3

When I taught this age group, I let the parents know that the best way for the kids to learn ANYTHING (including toileting rituals) was by DOING, therefore I would not be wiping after toileting.  Generally, this was well received, but not always ;-(

Answer 4

Hi

What I do...is...I have them practice their self help skills. I have them wipe 3 times with toilet paper..and I have them look at the toilet paper after they wipe each time. If it is still coming up with p**p on it..I give them 2 wet wipes..1 at a time. I talk them thru it...making sure that they get in the crotch area, etc. If that still comes up dirty...I will have another staff member stand in the doorway and watch what I do..so that the child can't say that I touched them inappropriately or anything.

*If it is really messy..I help them..But...I talk them thru it either way...

you might want to think about making a sticker chart or giving them some incentive to do it on their own. Just remind them how "BIG" they are when they do it on their own. Tell them that they must be proud of themselves..that usually works as well....Talk to the parents..tell them that they are 3 and that they should be practicing this at home as well..as part of the toilet training. Most parents will respond positively. It takes some work at the beginning..but within a week or 2 they will be doing it on their own.

Read some books around toileting...there are wonderful p**p videos and books out there.

Have special soap to let them wash their hands with (this worked for one of my late bloomer students who was 4 before she would). She called it the pink poopie soap..lol...I will never look at it in the same way..lol...

Good luck!

Answer 5

I had a similar problem when I worked in child care.  You have to tell the parents or your director that you are not comfortable doing this.  I read the answer above and understand that some kids don't do a very good job but having someone do it for them until they are five is isn't going to teach them good self help skills.  Instead it will teach them that someone else will do it for them if they scream "wipe my butt, teacher!" long enough.  

The child will begin to feel more independent and comfortable with this task if they consistently have to do it them self!  Good luck...

Answer 6

I think that the child should be able to wipe his or her own butt.  You may need to check to see that it is clean.  I worked in the 3 year old at a daycare, and the only time that we had to check was when we were still trying to potty train a child.  You may want to check with your employer and see what they say.  You wouldn't want to lose your job over a bunch of c**p before you can find a better job.  Good Luck!