Public Restrooms and the Water in Toilets

LOL Sorry I hate to laugh and I know it's not funny but it is a little funny. How do you know this girl and her grandmother. If they are friends, I would just say something straight out and maybe suggest getting the kid some wetwipes to use. Another thing is, the water is pretty clean and if it's not irritating her little butt it's probably fine. Public toilets are dirty, yes but is everything else. Did you know that ice machines in restraunts have more bacteria in them then toilets do? Unless it is really posing a problem I wouldn't not worry about it. Hope this helps a little.

Oh my heavens!! I read recently that no matter how often you clean your own toilet that there are still millions of bacteria and that you should even keep your toothbrushes at least six feet from a flushing toilet. There is no telling what bacteria and disease for that matter could be living in a public toilet even if it is cleaned everyday!! My little boy is 5 and we still use wet wipes, because they're little bottoms are hard to get clean. If he goes somewhere where we have to use toilet paper, then we just use a wet wipe when we get home. Maybe you could look up some info, and email it to her!! God help that poor child and i am sure it is driving you insane. And, what kind of school does't have their kids wash their hands before lunch? You know this may sound disgusting, but she would be better off eating with her own germs from her own bottom than those out of a toilet bowel!!
Have a great day and god bless!!

First of all, talk to Grandma & tell her what you think of this little trick. Then tell her NOT to do it again. I feel the same way you do about dirty toilet bowls. Teach your daughter that dry toilet paper will do the trick & then to wash her hands with warm soapy water. Tell Grandma that if she continues this practice that you will stop her from having contact with your kids. This woman has some serious issues with BM & is passing it on to your kids. Yuck!!!! Remind Grandma how bad human waste is & how much bacteria is in it. She must have lived in a cave to do this. Sorry if this sounds a little firm but I'm a Grandma & this is just a stupid thing to do & teach kids.

first of all tell her the public toilets are not cleaned like your toilet at home so the water is not as clean as the water at home and there are little wipes you can buy that you can carry with you so she can use that instead they are wraped separtlly good luck

Gosh, working in food most of my life, and having four girls, I can not imagine telling any of them to do that. Do you know, is it a cultural thing? I'm pretty ignorant on if this would be common in any culture. Did the little girl tell you her grandmother told her to do this, or do you have personal knowledge that the grandmother told her?Having had many children of my own,and dealing with other peoples kids, they sometimes will say someone told them to do something to avoid uncomfortable circumstances. If she (the child)saw you get upset about this, it may have been less embarressing for her, to tell you someone else told her to do this.In any account, you should talk to the grandmother about it, or the mother, if she is available. I don't know how often you see these people, but maybe look up articles on the internet about public restrooms and give it to her the next time you see her. That way you have something to back up what you are saying!Good luck!Give grandma a chance,but I would report the school, and certainly wouldn't send my children there.

I'm pretty fastidious about mine and my girls' cleanliness and I must say, that's pretty gut-renchingly repulsive. If she needs extra "cleaning" after a movement, then a portable packet of bio-degradeable wet wipes can - and should - be provided.
As for the children not washing their hands before eating at day-care or school, I think that could possibly count as a federal offense (if not, then it should) and be reported to DHS. Awareness needs to be raised with the grandparent and schools alike that practices such as these are what creates our current e. coli and hepatits epidemics. I think shock therapy is in order - google all the horrors to share with the more stubborn. Good luck.

Agreed! I read that response to someone else's question and was as horrified as you. I told my husband about it, who is a doctor, and he agreed it was not a good practice. Not to mention, when she is old enough to do this in front of her friends they will know something is wrong & she will be embarrassed. Not good! Please don't do this!!!

I don't know that you can get a disease from dipping into the toilet water. But I do agree that any chemicals added to the tank water could irritate your daughter's skin. Even if the school doesn't add chemicals, many public toilets do - if this becomes a habit for your daughter eventually she will come across a toilet with strong chemicals in the water (perhaps this arguement with work better with gma)

As to the hands. She should wash her hands after using toilet. It is not uncommon for school kids not to wash thier hands before eating. It is usually just not feasible. My daughter's school has 120 kids per grade. Each grade has 2 boy sinks and 2 girl sinks in the restrooms. You can imaging the chaos if they sent everyone ot wash before lunch. They should be providing germ-x for the kids. This is an easy habit for the class to get in. The teacher stands at the door and squirts each kid in line as they pass by. In our school, parents often donate the large bottles of germ-x as the school does not provide them. Some teachers ask for them as part of school supplies, so they get 20 bottles at the beginning of the year. (yes, I get it that germ-x hands aren't as good as "clean" hands, but it is better than nothing.)

This grandmother needs some education. E coli lurks in toilets and this little girl is at risk for contracting who knows what. I would talk to the gma and if that doesn't work, call CPS or talk to the teacher at her daycare. This is NOT acceptable at all! Please step in on behalf of the little girl. Also, I would have the staff at daycare talk to the gma. This disturbed me so much! Let me know how it goes. I AM EDITING MY RESPONSE FOR ALL THE DONNA'S OUT THERE WHO THINK I AM THE REASON CPS GETS TOO MANY CALLS AND OVERLOADS THE SYSTEM: I HAVE NEVER CALLED CPS ON ANYONE IN MY LIFE, THANK YOU. CPS IS IN PLACE TO PROTECT CHILDREN! IT ISN'T JUST FOR PHYSICAL ABUSE, BUT PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE AS WELL. THIS GRANDMA NEEDS TO PROTECT HER CHILD. NEEDLESSLY PUTTING HER CHILD AT RISK FOR MAJOR INFECTIONS/PROBLEMS/ILLNESSES/MENTAL TRAUMA POINTS TO OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE HOME. CPS COULD TEACH THIS PERSON HOW TO KEEP CHILDREN FREE FROM HARM. I DIDN'T SAY THAT CPS NEEDS TO TAKE THE CHILDREN AWAY, I ADVISED THIS PERSON TO CALL THEM. SHE CAN GET ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION. SO, NO, I AM NOT THE REASON THAT CPS IS FLOODED WITH "FAKE" CALLS. THANK YOU, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, MIND YOUR BUSINESS.

I'll add my reply to hopefully the dozens. This is a very dangerous thing for a person to do!

Not only the germs, but the cleaners, exactly. And not only are those cleaners going onto her skin (and the skin absorbs up to 80% of whatever is put onto it), but the skin of the anus, which is extremely absorbent (if any enters the rectum, it gets even worse).

Oh, and finally, if this girl does not dry off *completely* after using wet TP on her bottom, she risks a fungal infection, complicated by any remaining e coli from her BM (or any in the water, which is less of a concern, actually) and permitting possible migration of e coli to her vagina (depending on how wet she gets and how much gets splashed around), risking vaginitis and a UTI.

You might offer this grandmother to give to the girl, instead, a little package of disposable wipes to use. I highly recommend Seventh Generation or other natural brand, because the chemicals used in conventional sposie wipes are pretty awful, themselves (see http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/wordsearch.php?query=dis... for more information).

Good luck with this.

L.

Your biggest concern would be from a fungal infection they take months to clear up and considering the area if it is left unchecked could enter her reproductive system and cause very serious problems.
Often these kinds of extreme bizare behaviors that ignore well known risks are signs of mental illness you should contact Child Protective Services, as well as the child's school. There are probably other things going on that need to be adressed. This can be done anonymously and done repeatedly in nesscary. When ever you can correct the behavior and explain why it is not o.k. Your message will be reinforced by the things she learns in school and other families homes. If you see that she is itchy she already have an infection and you should call 911. They have to respond. They will send social services and the family will get the help they need.

OH MY GOSH ... I'm sure you will get gasping from moms reading your entry. I would say she could definitely pick up more bacteria from dipping in to the toilet bowl to "clean!" her bottom than just wiping well. You don't mention the child's age (not like it matters in this case though!!) but most likely she is fine with her regular wiping but if something further is required, they make disposable wipes that might be able to go in her purse or pocket with her to the restroom. SURELY the school has a sink and allows the children to wash their hands but if not, then a personal size container of hand sanitizer would be much better hygiene. It just seems like there are others options much better than what they are going.

Um...um...um, I do wish you were joking. Yeah, that's gross and one of the most ignorant and dangerous things I've heard. And I really have to agree with "gut wrentchingly disgusting".

I'd tell the grandmother that personally if I had the choice of having a few of my own stray germs or a virtual swimming pool of uncounted other people's germs hangin' around in my undies for the rest of the day, I'd definitely go for MINE.

It truly scares me that someone has taught a child to do this. They either need flushable wipes by the potty or hand wipes before lunch. UUGGGGHHHHHH!!!

Edit:
Oh, wow..I just read the rest of the posts indicating it was advice on here...send the grandma an email directly...wow

OK, there's something wrong with this picture. I totally agree with you. Maybe you can suggest to the grandmother that the little girl be allowed to take flushable wipes to school. What really upsets me is the thought of hundreds of kids not washing their hands before lunch. The little girl is in the bathroom-has she not been taught to wash her hands after using it? On top of toilet water issues, she has probably been handling stuff that 20+ other kids have handled. Maybe some germ x to go along with the flushable wipes? It also sounds like an issue that needs to be confronted on the school level. Will your children be attending the same school? Most teachers that I know encourage handwashing and keep hand sanitizer in their classroom. Maybe you could convince the grandmother to attend an open house or even schedule a meeting with the teacher to check things out for herself.

R.

I hate to tell you, but the water in the public toilets is probably the cleanest thing in the bathroom stall. Maybe you could invest in some wet wipes if this seems to be an ongoing issue with cleanliness. I mean she can wash her hands afterwards so that wouldn't be that big of an issue. Personally, I wouldn't dip TP into my toilet and wipe my bum...

I think this is pretty nasty myself and while I understand the reasoning I don't understand the method. How about buying the little girl a cutesy little purse and put some of those Cottonelle Wet Wipes in there for her to use to wash her bottom afterwards, along with some lip gloss, hand sanitizer and other little girl likings? Maybe that will be a subtle way to do it. Little girls do like thier own toiletries and such.

First, I can't believe anyone would encourage the use of toilet water to clean themselves. That is definetly nasty. Send baby wipes with your daughter to school. Ask the teacher to find a spot in the bathroom for her to keep them, and teach your daughter to use wipes, instead of toilet paper whenever she has a bowel movement. Second, if she is needing to use a wet wipe, your daughter may have a constipation problem. I say this as both my daughters have problems. The sticky bowels, skidmarks in the panties is a sign of this. If you can fix it, then she won't have as many problems wiping, hence not needing water from the toilet.
Second, I would seriously question the teacher as to why she doesn't have the children wash their hands before lunch. All children should be made to wash with soap and water, not germex, after using the bathroom and before lunch. Germex has a very high alchol content, and when used by young children, then putting their hands in their mouths can cause blood alcohol poisoning.

Good luck, and I hope some of this may help.

That is disgusting but my first question was "What kind of school does she go to that they don't allow and especially REQUIRE that everyone wash their hands before eating?? That is disgusting!

They make individually wrapped flushable wipes now. She could keep one in her pocket. I found some with the travel size stuff like shampoo and stuff at Bed Bath and Beyond, but I am sure tey have them other places as well. I think they are Cottonell brand.

I am HORRIFIED. I saw a post on here the other day from a grandmother describing that dip and clean method and I couldn't believe it! Tell your child to NEVER do that, that is so gross, public toilet or not! But especially with a public toilet, who knows what is lurking in there, besides harsh chemicals from the cleaners, who knows what kind of diseases might be in there! Hepatitis from feces, etc. If they for some reason must use something wet to wipe with, use wipes! Otherwise, just have them use regular dry toilet paper like everyone else! Please tell the grandmother that this is unsanitary, unacceptable, and dangerous and to STOP telling YOUR kids that! And show her the responses you get on here as back up.