Who doesn’t love bath time? It’s a time for both parent and baby to relax. But what happens if that relaxation results in a bowel movement and your kid poops in the tub?
Yes, it sounds so gross, but your son or daughter will likely poop in the bath tub at some point. While poop in the bath water isn’t sanitary (the bacteria could get in their eyes and cause an infection like pink eye), as long as the parent gets them out and rinses them off, there is no reason to make a big deal of it. Nevertheless, it’s very important to properly clean baby’s bathtub.
Sorry parents but poop (in the tub or in a diaper) is a reality of life during your baby’s first year of life (or, until they are potty trained).
You can do this, and don’t be ashamed to use disposable gloves, if that helps you deal with the poo.
Remember, stay calm and bathe on!
This article is not a substitute for medical advice or consultation.
Pee & Poop In The Bathtub – Should You Be Worried?
Let’s talk about the ‘nasties’ that can happen when a baby does a movement in the tub – I’m talking bacteria and germs.
Pee
When it comes to pee, I figure it’s so diluted with the rest of the bath water that it’s unlikely to cause a problem for your little one. Pee is sterile and you may not be able to see that they’ve peed in the water if they are well-hydrated.
If you’re concerned about an older baby or toddler peeing in the bathtub, have them sit on their little potty before bath time.
However, stay calm, a little pee likely won’t hurt.
Poop
Now, poo does present a different problem, as fecal matter contains pathogens and bacteria.
Anyone, including an infant, can get sick from touching poop. This includes intestinal infections and parasites (which could lead to vomiting or diarrhea) or eye infections from bacteria1.
Since babies put everything in their mouths, it’s essential to get them out of the bathtub immediately when you see poop. This is true of both solid poops and really messy diarrhea.
While you shouldn’t stress out about babies pooping while bathing, you definitely have to clean it to prevent infection and kill germs. Not only for your infant, but for everyone in your home.
Baby Poops In The Bath As A Habit
Now, there are the one-off incidents when your baby is relaxed and it just comes out (hey! a warm water bath is a common recommendation for dealing with constipation).
But, some babies regularly poop in the tub. The warm water, the calm, relaxing environment and the child ‘lets loose’ so to speak. You certainly don’t want pooping in the tub to become a habit.
Read on for my tips and tricks to teach your child to use the toilet instead of pooping in the bath tub.
How To Clean Poop From The Bathtub
Okay, so baby pooped in the bath – now what?
There are two ‘poop situations’ to consider with bathing an infant: poos in a small baby bath or poops in your large bathtub (probably that the entire family uses)2.
Poop In A Baby Bath
A baby bath is easier to clean, because you can pick it up and dump it into the toilet (careful! You don’t want it to splash).
1. Take baby out of the tub
Give them a quick rinse with warm water (holding them in the shower works, too), then wrap them up in a towel, but don’t dress them: they’re bathing again for round two.
2. Pour the water down your toilet
That’s easy-peasy – the plumbing system of your toilet is designed for this.
3. Scrub down your baby bath
Use disinfectant or white vinegar. If it’s a plastic tub, avoid harsh chemicals like bleach.
4. If it was a messy one, give it quick rinse to get all the bits out
Then spray and scrub the baby tub down.
5. Give the tub another thorough rinse
There’s no need to allow time to air dry.
6. Start bath time again
Your child needs another wash since they soiled the previous bath water.
Poop In A Big Bathtub
If your baby poops in a bigger bath, this does require a little more attention. You cannot pick up an adult tub and pour the contents int the toilet, so you have to take precautions to ensure your baby’s poop doesn’t result in blockage to the drain.
1. First of all, take baby out of the tub and rinse him or her off
This could mean:
- Give them a proper sponge bath with soap and water,
- Warm shower if they are able to stand, or
- Second bath (this all depends on your home’s bathroom setup).
Now, with baby clean and safe, get back to the tub/bathroom to finish the cleaning process:
2. Collect the poop
- Solid poops
Arguably the ‘easier’ poop to clean from a tub, since you can collect the floating poos with a disposable cup, or a gloved hand.
Holding poo is no parent’s dream, but its quick an easy to drop in the toilet and flush away.
- Loose stools
I’m talking diarrhea here – a murky, stinky mess that shouldn’t go down your drain (your tub’s pipes aren’t designed for that).
Place something over the drain to help filter out the brown mess. It could be a bit of mesh, a little toy net or even a thin wash cloth. This will allow the water to drain out, but hold back the loose poo.
Afterwards, remember to wash the cloth or net with soap and water and leave to air-dry.
- Scoop up poo
Use a disposable cup, strong paper towels or the absorbent pad of a reusable diaper for that.
You can either dump the fecal matter directly into the toilet, or rinse off with water into the toilet bowl. Flush it down.
3. Rinse the tub with water
4. Clean interior with disinfectant
This could be white vinegar, a name-brand product or even bleach. If you use bleach, remember to only work with cold water (never hot!).
5. Give the tub a final rinse
Baby Poops In The Bathtub – How To Deal With This Habit?
What if your kid poops in the bathtub for or five times a week? If your baby poops in the bath as a habit, this is a different issue.
Consider moving bath time back by 30 – 40 minutes, after they have passed their regular bowel movement.
You could also sit them on a baby potty for 2-3 minutes before starting the bath. This helps them associate using the toilet for poops, not the tub. If they are learning this, then take heart – it’s a sign they are ready to start early potty training!
Finally, look at your baby’s feeding schedule and pay attention to when they usually have a poo. Plan baby’s bath around their diaper schedule to give you an easier time.
If your baby’s clothes (or yours) got soiled with they poo too, check out this article and find out how to get rid of poop stains for clothing.
Final Word
Remember, pooping in the bathtub is no cause for alarm, but cleaning is required to keep babies (and everyone else in your home) healthy.
You can avoid your child making a habit of pooping in the bath by having them sit on the potty for a few minutes before you begin your bathing routine.
The purpose of this article is informative. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice or medical care. Remember: safety first! Consult your doctor/pediatrician in case of any doubts. The author of this article does not accept any responsibility for any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, from any information or advice contained here.
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
https://greenactivefamily.com/
Hello Moms! I am Zooey. I am a wife and a mother of three amazing kids: almost 5-year-old Haley and 2-year-old twins Jesse and Matthew. I am a jogger, cooker and blogger.If you have a question or a comment, do not hesitate to write to me! 🙂