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When is it time to let your kid start wiping independently?

Categories: Toddlers, Development

Okay, so maybe that's not the best question to broadcast in bold type across the Internet, but it is something I'm currently debating. Bean has been potty trained since he was about 24 months old, and he's been accident free at night for the past month or two... but he doesn't strike me as being ready, yet, to wipe independently.

Although he'd like to think he is.

If I'm not swift enough, I'll catch him stuffing a half a yard of toilet paper down behind him. He does a fair job of actually wiping himself--but his aim isn't superb, and let's just say there is a circumference clearly marked after he's through--on the toilet seat, etc. Yuck.

But at some point, I'm guessing he's gonna have to try and fail, and try and fail again in order to eventually succeed and become independent with this task. He's 34 months old. When is it reasonable to let him attempt this whole process by himself?

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