How to clean poo off 5 week old kittens?

They're eating solid food (mixed with KMR) and poo'ing up a storm. Their cleaning skills aren't keeping up, though.  Feet, bums, tummies - all get poo on them. Plain water isn't cutting it; is soap of any sort safe for them? I thought maybe the mama might step up, but she is so worn out from nursing the six babies. I give her a break whenever I can.

Also, I have one kitten who isn't as social as the others. She is the first to split off and go sleep by herself, she doesn't like to be held as much (the other kittens run to me and ask to be picked up) and I worry about her. Is this normal?

Thanks!

Mom doesnt washes their bums as much now when they get solid poo when they eats on their own.  She defintely isn no longer eating the wastes.

Yes, mild soap should be OK, with halfwarm water..

re theis less sociale kitten, there is a parallell theread on the same theme... By  Kara...

Good luck!

Where you are at with the kittens and their age, I refer to them as the grubby kittens at that point. It is the time space between mom no longer cleaning their poop and everything else, food etc. to about 7 weeks old when they start to groom themselves.

They will be dirty daily.

It is no problem at all to stick them in the sink and bathe, however you will be doing this alot!

I use baby wipes when possible, but if it gets too bad I just swoop them in the sink and sudsy, be sure to rinse well and get completely warm and dry of course

Update: Kittens are cleaning themselves fairly well now (they are almost 6 weeks old), and the less social kitten is starting to  ask to be picked up and held! They are changing so much and day to day now. The clingy ones become less clingy, the shyer kits come out of their shells. I was worried because the one I posted about seemed to sleep more, but she plays hard, now, too.

Thanks!