to confront my friend about blocking my toilet?

[Onetwothreebanana]

Had a friend round on Sunday who has a baby. She changed her nappy while she was here. I didn't watch her do it so not sure how / where she disposed of the dirty nappy but assumed she had put it in the bin.

Now my toilet appears to be blocked. There is something in it that won't flush down, looks like it could be remains of a nappy / baby wipes or something. I can't think what else it could be as apart from said friend I am the only person who has been in the house since Sunday and the only thing I ever flush down the toilet is toilet paper. So now I have to put my rubber gloves on and unblock the toilet

As I don't have kids myself, please could someone tell me whether flushing nappy/baby wipes down the toilet is a normal thing? If not, should I politely ask my friend whether she did so, and politely ask her not to do it again? I don't want to make her feel uncomfortable visiting me with her baby as I love to see them, but I don't really enjoy unblocking my toilet!

Maybe she has a super-loo that can cope with stuff being flushed down but I live in a very old cottage with an old plumbing system which cannot cope with anything more than toilet paper going down.

Thanks.

[NorwaySpruce]

It's not a normal thing, no.

But I wouldn't say anything until you've done the unblocking and discovered that it was definitely a nappy/wipes.

Then next time your friend visits, mention the whereabouts of the bin.

[DoraGora]

Confronting people about things that are in the past often doesn't help. I suspect this is one of those occasions when it's too late. If you had bumped into her holding the nappy over the loo, things might be different. I'd investigate getting the toilet unblocked. And, I'd start by pouring unblocking chemicals down it and having a go with a plunger.

If all my DIY efforts failed, then I'd call a service, like Dynorod.

[Mammanat222]

Nope it's not the norm and I have never flushed a nappy or wipe down the loo in my life.

I carry nappy sacks or if not a carrier bag or if I had nothing [which never happens] I'd ask for a carrier bag.

Where did she change child?

[Fudgeface123]

Get one of the those humorous toilet signs, Amazon do them

[however]

I've flushed the odd wipe, but I'm sure they were labelled 'flushable' - it's been a while since I changed a nappy.

I'd just tell her next time she visited, rather than call her especially.

[Mousefinkle]

Find out what's blocked it just to be certain before accusing her of something she may not have done (could be too much loo roll at once? Or have you changed brand to a thicker type of loo roll, I know this blocked my nan's loo once!)

But if it is the most likely reason, that she's put a nappy or wipes down there then yes, I would mention it to her. If she comes again and goes to change the nappy just say "oh could you bag it up and put it in the bin please, wipes block my toilet!" In a friendly way. It's probably wipes, I don't think many people are stupid enough to try flushing a nappy down the toilet... or are they?

[wheresthelight]

Totally not normal and if at friend's houses Wheb dd needs changing I wither wrap it in a bag and shove it in the changing bag or ask where their outside bin is.

it is possible that she has but I would very much doubt it. as a pp said, unblock it and then decide as it could just be a back log of loo roll

[highlighta]

I have flushed wipes and it blocked the pipe. It isn't the norm to flush them, just was one of those days when brain didn't engage and flushed then realized. BUT you can buy flushable wipes....

I really don't think it will have been the nappy that was flushed, it is most likely the wipes.

[SlimJiminy]

oh could you bag it up and put it in the bin please, wipes block my toilet

this

When she is next changing a nappy at your place. I wouldn't "confront" her about it now it's happened. Just make sure it's avoided again next time.

[roofio87]

agree, next time she's over just say, 'oh I had a friend that blocked the toilet with a nappy, can you make sure you use the bin' she will probably know you mean her but be too embarrassed to say!!

[maddening]

It is more normal to put nappies in the outside bin at a friend's house - unless they then direct you to put it in an indoor bin (in a nappy bag) - the conversation usually goes "where is your outside bin?" A " round the back"/"don't worry put it in x bin".

[FragrantFlower]

Yes, you need to don the rubber gloves and maybe even tongs to retrieve the offending item for analytical purposes.

If it turns out to be baby wipes (surely nobody in their right mind would attempt to flush a nappy?!) then I would mention it in a light-hearted (subtext don't-do-it-again!) way.

You can bet she'll be mortified and stick to two squares of loo paper next time!

[RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime]

People do flush nappies and wipes - if they didn't there wouldn't be sighs everywhere telling them not to. A lot of people just don't think about things, or care maybe!

You could ask you friend if she flushed something as you're wondering if there's something blocking your pipes.

[RubbishRobotFromTheDawnOfTime]

*signs

[Lima1]

It is more normal to put nappies in the outside bin at a friend's house - unless they then direct you to put it in an indoor bin (in a nappy bag) - the conversation usually goes "where is your outside bin?" A " round the back"/"don't worry put it in x bin".


I dont know anyone who would flush a nappy down the toilet. If I change my baby in someone elses house, I put it in outside bin, same for others in my house. Smelling your own baby's dirty nappy may be bearable but another baby's is awful. Even in a nappy bag you would still smell it in the bin inside the house. Sometimes we will say to put it in the inside bin if its due to be emptied soon.

[calmexterior]

I wouldn't put a dirty nappy down a loo or in a bin of a friend that didn't have children, I'd take it away in a nappy bag. Definitely wouldn't confront the friend but next time she came I'd get her to change baby in a different room and say you don't mind nappy going in the bin...

[Onetwothreebanana]

Thanks all
She changed the nappy in the spare room, which is next door to the blocked toilet