5 Month Old Pooped While Giving Her a Bath

Happened to me several times. Assuming you didn't leave a five-month old unattended in the tub I doubt you would have overlooked her drinking poopy water. One nice thing about poop is that it arrives nicely stuck together and doesn't dissolve rapidly. I wouldn't worry.

Mom of two sons, 17 and 19. The one who pooped in the tub the most is now a strapping Recon Marine.

She'll be fine. This happened to us too and we did the same thing you did (I also had to sterilize all the bath toys). If she was going to get sick, she'd be sick by now. Don't worry!

This happened with my son, and I would say if it's been a couple of days then she's probably okay. Just make sure you clean the tub throughly with some kind of disenfectant.

Keep an eye out for upset tummy, and call doctor is you're really worried.

Okay, you moms out there that "don't want to seem rude", this forum is for asking advice to get honest answers. So quit your bashing and if you've got no real advice to give then don't waste everyone's time with your holier-than-thou attitude.

Anyway, If you see any change in your daughter, call the Dr. Otherwise, she'll be fine.

If she hasn't gotten sick yet, she most likely won't. Just make sure to be aware if anything changes, eyes get gummy, more spit up than normal for her, that sort of thing. She should be fine
R.

I can't believe some of these mothers! My Lord! Kids eat poop all the time! Geez!
I am sure your child is fine. I am also sure you didnt leave her alone in the tub.
Man, quit criticizing the mom!

If she hasn't had a reaction by now I'd forget it! However, I'm not trying to be a party pooper, but this is only the beginning. After 4 kids we've seen it all, and they all manage to survive with no adverse effects.

I must say that given your comment on not knowing how long the bath water may have been dirty indicates to me that you left her "alone" for a time in the tub. That's a no, no at that age. Caution is always in order.

Best wishes on things to come.

Your daughter is fine. She just had a little something 'extra' during that bath time.

I feel I must defend you from the moms that are scolding you and giving you guilt trips about keeping an eye on your child. We all know being a mom is a tough job. Having more than one child makes it tougher. I'm sure you were watching her during her bath- otherwise, you wouldn't have noticed the water inadvertently entering her mouth and wouldn't be asking your question here in this forum.

As a working microbiologist, there is bacteria everywhere- good bacteria and bad bacteria. There was already lots of bacteria sitting in the tub before it was filled with water, on your shampoo bottles, soap, toothbrushes, you name it. There is also bacteria in the tap water we all use on a daily basis. So, we cannot wrap our kids in bubbles to make sure we keep an eye on them because everyone with an immune system is exposed to bacteria. If you eat yogurt, you are eating bacteria.

Fecal material has all the nutrients that opportunistic pathogens need to grow and flourish. If fecal material sits around long enough, then it will be harmful when eaten.

Hi R.,
Okay, so everyone has a poopy story in their memory books. Poop happens. Quite honestly, if it happened a couple of days ago and she's not gotten sick, then she's fine. If anything, she would have vomited or gotten diarrhea.

When my son was a about a year old, he pulled off his diaper and ate some poo. I called the doctor, saying, "HELP! My son ate his poo!" They told me not to worry, that it happens, and he'd be just fine. And he was.
Now he's six, and he still laughs hysterically when I tell him the story - especially the part about shouting "My son ate poo!"

Take care,
M.

Hello R.. Did you leave your baby unattended for any period of time? If not, then I don't know how anything, water, or otherwise, would be able to get into her mouth, unless you deliberately poured water or other matter down her throat,but I'm sure she is fine. My dad's favorite story is when I was about 2 years old, I went into the cat box and helped myself to some "kitty roca". YUCK!!!!! Believe me, I'm fine. LOL

I'm not any expert, but I'm pretty sure she would be sick by now if she had sipped any. When unwanted bacteria gets into the digestive tract, there is a quick reaction. Don't worry!

This has happened to me with my daughter several times. You did the right thing and took her out as soon as you noticed. I'd sterilize any toys by boiling them in a large pan with water and wash with dish soap after that. Make sure to wash anything else that was in contact with the water. I haven't heard anyone else mention this, but it actually happened to me by myself while I was bathing with my daughter when she just under a year old. We were on vacation and I was by myself in our hotel room at the time so you can imagine how freaked out I was and what I did. Just wanted to share to make you feel a little better about it and know that you are not alone.

when you are giving your baby a bath, you are not looking at the bottom side, you are looking into those smiling eyes. bath time was my favorite time with my kids, because they would laugh and smile and when I would wash their hair, they had this expressoin on their face that said, don't stop. then when you got to the arms and chest, there was the tickle monster and they would just squeel. so I can understand that you did not see the poop floating at the other end of the tub. the question to the group shows that you are a good mom and worried it might have harmed her. Relax, everything is ok

Hello R..... rest assured TOTALLY NORMAL!!! What happens is the warm water helps a baby relax and poo.

As long as you take the baby out as soon as you notice it - which you did- there should be no problem. Also poos tend to be quite formed so it is not as if the water will suddenly become totally infected - unless it was diarroehea which you would obviously notice right away because it would change the whole color of the water.

My daughter has suffered from constipation and warm baths have been a great aid. And it is often after her bath that she finds it easiest to go.

If you remain concerned just speak to your doctor but please know you did not do anything wrong!

Best of luck,

R. - If you haven't already you might want to call your pediatrician for your own peace of mine. My son had taken off his dirty diaper while "napping" and painted his crib. When I called to dr's office they said not to worry as people don't usually become sick from contact with their own fluids/solids. They told me to keep an eye on him and watch if he becomes sick but that this stuff happens! Good luck.

I wouldn't worry. It's not likely she ingested a lot of it and if she did, it's her own bacteria that her body has already handled. If she seems well, I'm sure she is. BTW this has happened with my kids plenty of times and they're healthy boys.

I hate to say this, but I kind of agree with Jamie. At this age, you cannot afford to take your eyes off baby even for one second while she's in the bath. And even if the water wasn't "poopy", baby still should never sip bath water - it is full of bacteria and soap which could cause diarrhea or something worse. I know it can be hard to watch baby every second when you have another toddler running around - but you have to find a way to make it work so you can pay closer attention to your baby who is in the bath.

Don't worry. Babies poop in the bathwater sometimes. She'll be fine.

Hi R.,

Kids do this from time-to-time. Nothing to freak out about. My son did it a couple of times--we just took him out of the tub, cleaned the tub, and re-washed him. He never got sick.

:-) D.

My nephew actually (during a really hot summer) got put down in a diaper only and when my sister went in to check on him there was poop EVERYWHERE all over him (mouth included), the bed, the wall, etc. She was terrified and called the pediatrician. He said that he was safe since it was his own poop. If had been a siblings that it might make him sick.

So, my guess is that you're fine! :) Good luck!

Ok I know a lot of people might want to bash you for not knowing how long the water was poopy or if your daughter sipped the water but... I get it. Try to keep a closer eye on her in the tub. There probably won't be a problem if you haven't noticed any changes in her health or behavior. If there are any minor changes call your doctor and see if you should go in.

It will happen quite a few more times, don't worry about it.

Good advice, esp. Jasmine's explaination. This happened to one of my kids too. My extra advice - don't tell this story any more. The other sibling(s) will use this to make fun of her someday. And if she turns out to be a sensitive child it will really bother her. Also this family story could leave the family and follow her to school one day. Yikes! Relax you've earned some mom stripes for your worry and concern.

Sorry I have to laugh at this, she will be ok, its her own poop, believe it or not some kids eat there own poop... ew I know but it happens, she will be ok ...