I have also heard that Italian people use bidets for many other things, eg wiping up little kids after eating, washing delicates, washing sandy feet, etc. In this way I think of it more like an extra tub.
This is a really good point, Brenna. Thank you for bringing this up! It is like an extra mini-tub for many purposes and I’m grateful you listed those other cool uses that are real-life examples!
This is splendid. I also have come to love the bidet and this house in Germany came with one, which is highly unusual.
Americans find the bidet an amusing place to wash their underwear or sweaters ( evidenced by me in our BnB and also I think something that Frances Mayes referenced in UTTS?).
I'm convinced, though, Italian bums are cleaner than American bums!
haha! Yes, Italian bums are cleaner than American bums. How wonderul that your German house came with one! You are hilarious! My boyfriend sometimes washes clothes in the bidet too. I find it awesome to sit on a closed toilet, prop my feet up on the edge of the bidet, and clip my toenails right into it! So convenient!
Love this! The bidet was the best part of potty training for me! Plus my family starts using the bidet earlier during the newborn stage which is great for saving money on wipes and I personally think it's more efficient! My son never really got diaper rash. We also did cloth diapers so it was helpful for cleaning those up too! I love the bidet haha I think every household should get one. 😊
I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said - and using less wipes and toilet paper is better for the environment!! Bidets for everyone! Let's make bumper stickers! hee hee
OMG I loved this!!! I grew up with a bidet in our house and now we don’t have one and I sorely miss it. I still try to enforce “bidets” in the bath - squat and clean up, but that only really works at night in lieu of a bath.
Grazie Emma!!! I originally had a section about traveling in Estero in places without bidets, what to do, etc My son and I talk strategy! 😂 but it was getting too long so that will be upcoming 😉
I just LOVE reading what people who weren't born in Italy write about bidets!! Seriously it's such a conversation topic for us. Each time I go back the first question is always 'ma come fai senza bidè?' ahhaha! Honestly I miss it dearly. For kids, it's also the 'lavamani dei piccoli' aka it acts as a sort of little sink they can reach. That's how my nephew learned to wash his hands autonomously before meals.
You MUST watch the sketch about the bidet by Eleazaro Rossi if you haven't! Now sure I can post links here but PLEASE open youtube and search 'Eleazaro Rossi il vero utilizzo del bidet' xD
Valentina! It’s my favorite thing to hear about real Italians’ experiences and thoughts! Grazie! ❤️ My boyfriend also recommended a sketch by Checco Zalone so we will watch them both!! I almost wrote about ‘what we do in Estero’ but I thought it might be too much for the non bidet users 😂 but as you said, it is something to TALK about because it’s a big deal! Lavamani dei piccoli. 🥰
Well a bidet has many cool uses...first of all because I don't want to shower at every change of tampon, but like someone else said here it's also super useful for shaving your legs quickly!
Also I hope you bump into as many bidet-themed Italian memes as the internet can throw your way! Ha
Wish your Substack had been around when we were raising our children in the Trentino back in the 1980’s-90’s. But of course you would have been a child then too…
My husband is Egyptian-Italian which are two cultures united by a love of the bidet! He’s installed one in every home we’ve lived in and although I found it odd at first (typical American) now I can’t live without it! Never thought about the process of teaching a kid to use it, thanks for this very informative piece!
Hi Anna, Thank you for your awesome note that brought a smile to my face! 'Two cultures united by a love of the bidet!' This has been my experience too. I've become 'bidet-dependant'. ha! Looking forward to your posts on Hungry with Ideas and so glad we found each other here! x
Btw both of my bathrooms have bidets here and I had no idea it was law! My initial reaction was that from a design perspective it would have been better to have a tub instead of a shower stall + bidet. 😂😂 I hate these tiny shower stalls as I love my shower rituals. Maybe I will start shaving my legs on the bidet.
I have also heard that Italian people use bidets for many other things, eg wiping up little kids after eating, washing delicates, washing sandy feet, etc. In this way I think of it more like an extra tub.
This is a really good point, Brenna. Thank you for bringing this up! It is like an extra mini-tub for many purposes and I’m grateful you listed those other cool uses that are real-life examples!
This is splendid. I also have come to love the bidet and this house in Germany came with one, which is highly unusual.
Americans find the bidet an amusing place to wash their underwear or sweaters ( evidenced by me in our BnB and also I think something that Frances Mayes referenced in UTTS?).
I'm convinced, though, Italian bums are cleaner than American bums!
I love the teaching etiquette!
haha! Yes, Italian bums are cleaner than American bums. How wonderul that your German house came with one! You are hilarious! My boyfriend sometimes washes clothes in the bidet too. I find it awesome to sit on a closed toilet, prop my feet up on the edge of the bidet, and clip my toenails right into it! So convenient!
I agree with the toenail move!
It makes me very happy that they don’t fly around and just fall right in. ha!
Love this! The bidet was the best part of potty training for me! Plus my family starts using the bidet earlier during the newborn stage which is great for saving money on wipes and I personally think it's more efficient! My son never really got diaper rash. We also did cloth diapers so it was helpful for cleaning those up too! I love the bidet haha I think every household should get one. 😊
I agree wholeheartedly with everything you said - and using less wipes and toilet paper is better for the environment!! Bidets for everyone! Let's make bumper stickers! hee hee
OMG I loved this!!! I grew up with a bidet in our house and now we don’t have one and I sorely miss it. I still try to enforce “bidets” in the bath - squat and clean up, but that only really works at night in lieu of a bath.
Grazie Emma!!! I originally had a section about traveling in Estero in places without bidets, what to do, etc My son and I talk strategy! 😂 but it was getting too long so that will be upcoming 😉
OMG this sounds like a comedy bit!!!
you're hilarious! it is funny though. It's freaking wild
I just LOVE reading what people who weren't born in Italy write about bidets!! Seriously it's such a conversation topic for us. Each time I go back the first question is always 'ma come fai senza bidè?' ahhaha! Honestly I miss it dearly. For kids, it's also the 'lavamani dei piccoli' aka it acts as a sort of little sink they can reach. That's how my nephew learned to wash his hands autonomously before meals.
You MUST watch the sketch about the bidet by Eleazaro Rossi if you haven't! Now sure I can post links here but PLEASE open youtube and search 'Eleazaro Rossi il vero utilizzo del bidet' xD
Valentina! It’s my favorite thing to hear about real Italians’ experiences and thoughts! Grazie! ❤️ My boyfriend also recommended a sketch by Checco Zalone so we will watch them both!! I almost wrote about ‘what we do in Estero’ but I thought it might be too much for the non bidet users 😂 but as you said, it is something to TALK about because it’s a big deal! Lavamani dei piccoli. 🥰
Well a bidet has many cool uses...first of all because I don't want to shower at every change of tampon, but like someone else said here it's also super useful for shaving your legs quickly!
Also I hope you bump into as many bidet-themed Italian memes as the internet can throw your way! Ha
Valentina!!! We just watched it. I AM CRYING LAUGHING!!!! And then his dad’s reaction…ahhhhh!! 🤣🤣🤣
Wish your Substack had been around when we were raising our children in the Trentino back in the 1980’s-90’s. But of course you would have been a child then too…
Thank you Barbara! That is a lovely thing to say though ❤️
My husband is Egyptian-Italian which are two cultures united by a love of the bidet! He’s installed one in every home we’ve lived in and although I found it odd at first (typical American) now I can’t live without it! Never thought about the process of teaching a kid to use it, thanks for this very informative piece!
Hi Anna, Thank you for your awesome note that brought a smile to my face! 'Two cultures united by a love of the bidet!' This has been my experience too. I've become 'bidet-dependant'. ha! Looking forward to your posts on Hungry with Ideas and so glad we found each other here! x
Thank you, Lolly! Looking forward to reading more of raising bambino as well :)
Btw both of my bathrooms have bidets here and I had no idea it was law! My initial reaction was that from a design perspective it would have been better to have a tub instead of a shower stall + bidet. 😂😂 I hate these tiny shower stalls as I love my shower rituals. Maybe I will start shaving my legs on the bidet.
I think shaving your legs in the bidet is GENIUS!!! I am going to try this! I’ll let you know…