There’s nothing like that feeling of finally cracking potty training with your child. Oh the freedom! But then you realise there’s another hurdle on the horizon... the very messy matter of bum-wiping.

So, when should you be helping your child master this crucial skill? And more importantly, how?

The reality is that children won’t be ready to wipe their own bottoms until their arms are long enough – and even then, you’ll probably still need to help them work on their technique for some time.

According to potty training consultant Allison Jandu, their arms might not be long enough to reach around for proper wiping technique until they are 3.5 or 4 years old.

She added that girls “typically master wiping faster” than boys because they wipe for both wees and poos, so they have more opportunities to practise.

How to know if your child is ready to wipe themselves

If you’re not sure if your child is ready, the children’s bowel and bladder charity

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