You know the signs. Your baby's in the tub, and she gets a little red-faced or has a quiet moment of concentration. Maybe some bubbles appear from down below. Is it gas, or something solid? Before you know it, a surprise parcel has arrived. But your bath isn't a toilet, and baby feces contains germs that you need to clean off your baby and the tub.
The Challenge
Baby blowouts in the tub are a kind of parental rite of passage, and most moms and dads have a tale to tell about bathtime accidents. If you're lucky, you aren't with your child enjoying some quality time soaking together when it happens, but even if you're mercifully outside the immediate poop zone, cleaning baby and the bath can be a challenge. We hope that your partner is at home to hear your shrieks and come to help, lifting your child from your arms so you can deal with the mess. The less fortunate have to cope with a pooey baby and bath before they can rinse themselves clean.
Be Prepared
When it comes to dealing with baby blowouts in the tub, preparation is everything. The more savvy among us, like Carla at Bubblelush, are well prepared for bath time mishaps of the code brown variety. She keeps a plastic cup in the bathroom for quick scooping out of runaway lumps before depositing them in the toilet.
For Clint Edwards, whose babies seem to think his tub is a second potty, no matter how much practice he has at dealing with the brown torpedoes, poop still gets spread over the baby, bath, bath toys and himself. Clint and other parents whose babies regularly poop in the tub should prepare a baby blowout kit, including a cup for scooping, an old towel, baby wipes, cleaning cloths and bathroom sanitizer.
Cleaning Up
Baby blowouts veteran, Convertible Girl, offers wise advice on what to do when your offspring provides bathwater with all the toppings. She recommends plenty of swearing, as well as immediately removing the toddler or baby from the tub, wrapping her in a towel and cleaning her with baby wipes to remove all poop residue. Before cleaning the tub, put the baby somewhere safe, such as in a playpen, to bed if it's nap time, or in a baby chair. Drain the tub and use toilet paper to scoop out the poop, and wash the tub and bath toys with an antibacterial cleaner.
Check the Label
Remember to read the label of bathroom cleaning agents that disinfect surfaces contaminated with feces. According to the Operational Services Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, some cleaning agents must remain on the surface for a set period of time before rinsing to effectively kill germs.
When your baby poops on you or fills the bathtub with small brown gifts, but your heart still melts at her smile, you know you're doing a good job.
For answers to your questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
