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Original poster

At wit's end with poo in bath

64 replies

BathIssues · 26/03/2023 20:36

18 month old DS has gone from occasionally pooing in the bath to weekly to now pretty much every second day. It's driving me crazy.

Any tips on how to stop it happening (probably not possible) or practical advice for dealing with it?

I'm now good at noticing the signs so I can get them out quickly (especially eldest DS, innocent victim in all this!) But then I have to call DH to hold DS2 up while I wash and rinse him, which he hates and makes him scream.

Then I spend the little downtime I usually have in the evening cleaning and miltoning the tub and bath toys. Happy days!

Also concerned with how much is going down the drain, not only is it gross but isn't it going to cause a blockage or something at some point? I try to fish out what I can but sometimes it's not possible.

Oh the fun we have.

OP posts:
Xrays · 26/03/2023 20:39

Oh goodness this reminds me of when Ds was little and he pooped in the bath and it was red and turned the water red and dh and I were so worried and it turned out- after some detective work- he’d eaten half a red crayon. 🙄😆 I spent ages scrubbing the bath.

Do you think maybe they’re constipated? The warm water might be helping them to go perhaps?

isaidahiphophip · 26/03/2023 20:42

I used to have this problem. I had to stop bathing the 2 together.
I would just let him do it. Don't put any toys in, and a rinse around the bath after is enough to clean it.

Fluffodils · 26/03/2023 20:45

Timing. Work out when he normally poos. Do not bathe until after the poo.

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MaryJean87 · 26/03/2023 20:46

All kids do it from time to time. My youngest still does it occasionally, he's 5 but has a mild bowel condition so he can't help it, but they grow out of it eventually. Annoying as it is.

Original poster
BathIssues · 26/03/2023 20:48

Oh gosh @Xrays I'd have been so worried!

Not constipated and it doesn't matter if he's already been multiple times that day, he will still have one in the bath.

@isaidahiphophip yes I'm already seriously limiting the toys after I had to individually clean 20+ the first time it happened (eldest DS likes to tip them all in).

Eldest DS is being so good natured about it, bless him! I know I probably need to stop bathing them together but it's such a shame as bath time is when they get on best. They play nicely together and splash and giggle (they fight over toys the rest of the day, so it's a precious time!)

OP posts:
TrombonesAreNotBones · 26/03/2023 20:48

Ok you need two things.

1 a plastic sieve
2 a flexi bath like the Stokke one.

Put the flexi bath in the actual bath, bath baby. Older kid can be bathed in the actual bath at the same time, if you organise it carefully. Wield sieve as necessary. Repeat 'this too shall pass' as you neck wine afterwards.

Ignorify · 26/03/2023 20:51

Have potty next to bath. Put baby on potty the moment anything starts, to minimise
spread. After a week or so, try putting baby on potty before bath in the vain hope they might have a reflex poo, as they should now associate the potty with pooing.

This too shall pass.

TrombonesAreNotBones · 26/03/2023 20:52

Ignorify hi fives for this too shall pass Grin

Padstow58 · 26/03/2023 20:52

Could you put a swim nappy on him? Then after the poo, get him out, clean him up, and put him back in while the older one can stay in the bath?

DDivaStar · 26/03/2023 20:54

Could you try showering him instead ?

Trurostocky · 26/03/2023 20:56

This poo shall pass

LulooLemon · 26/03/2023 20:56

I wouldn't stress about it (I know, easier said than done!) with a child so young.

When I think of the issues I used to get worried about with my various DCs when they were pre-schoolers - late to walk, seemingly slow to learn to swim, slow to ride a bike, drawings didn't resemble what they were supposed to, saying silly things, picking nose, wetting pants, refusing to get dressed, refusing broccoli/milk whatever - my goodness, how much sleep did I lose over these and other worries.

OP, they grew out of all of them.

Get a box of disposable gloves and remove the offending poo from bath without comment. 🙂

InSpainTheRain · 26/03/2023 20:57

I would bath eldest DS first - whilst baby is on the potty for as long as it takes.

threeplusmum · 26/03/2023 20:57

Sorry but none of my Kids has ever done that. You need to nip it in the bud before it becomes normal to them.

fatisnotafeeling · 26/03/2023 20:59

My DS is almost 3 but used to do this all the time when in the bath.
We started showering him and now he has stopped doing it when he does have a bath.

shivawn · 26/03/2023 20:59

Oh dear, my 18 month old has never pooed in the bath thankfully as I normally get in with him!

I think the poster who suggested a swim nappy had a good idea, just take it off for a couple minutes to wash down there.

ChocHotolate · 26/03/2023 21:01

DS used to do this almost everyday. We kept a small fishing net next to the bath, made clean ups easier. He grew out of it eventually (the pooing in the bath, the net was still big enough)

Hatscats · 26/03/2023 21:03

Get them sitting on the potty before a bath.

Happyhappyday · 26/03/2023 21:06

Swim nappy is an excellent idea!

Original poster
BathIssues · 26/03/2023 21:08

I knew MN would have the answer! Love the potty idea, I will have it ready next to the bath from tomorrow and watch him like a hawk.

If this fails I might try the swim nappy to contain it slightly.

I wouldn't mind a poo I could just sieve out but most of the time it disintegrates and I can't sieve much out at all and we just end up with murky poo water that just has to go down the drain. It's not great.

Tonight DS managed to grab a solid bit and brandish it at me whilst squeezing it in his fingers. I think that was it, the final straw.

At least I have a plan for tomorrow. Oh, and my eldest didn't ever poo in the bath, not once!

OP posts:
Original poster
BathIssues · 26/03/2023 21:09

Tub is clean, off to have my wine now.

OP posts:
Ihavekids · 26/03/2023 21:11

Thanks for reminding me that I definitely do not want another child.

AhhSlippedOnMahBeansRitaaa · 26/03/2023 21:13

Trurostocky · 26/03/2023 20:56

This poo shall pass

Sorry but 😂😂😂

LucieLemon · 26/03/2023 21:16

threeplusmum · 26/03/2023 20:57

Sorry but none of my Kids has ever done that. You need to nip it in the bud before it becomes normal to them.

Yeah, there's a real chance he'll be 10 and running the bath just so he can poop!

Spkat · 26/03/2023 21:17

ChocHotolate · 26/03/2023 21:01

DS used to do this almost everyday. We kept a small fishing net next to the bath, made clean ups easier. He grew out of it eventually (the pooing in the bath, the net was still big enough)

You should have just sat him in the net!

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