What is the best thing to do after ingesting fecal matter?

There’s nothing to do that I know of. Don’t panic, kids do it all the time.

My second born once did the same thing. Since it was her own the medical advice we got was that nothing was likely to happen. She was, and still is, fine and now has two little shit eaters of her own. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

Oh. When I read the title I thought you were talking about yourself. Whew lol

My parents tell me I ate dog food, spiders (dead and alive) and perfume when I was a baby, and I’m still alive. Don’t panic.

My parents have told everyone and their mother about how I did that when I was a little kid….if my experience is like your child’s he should be ok – his junior high years might be a little awkward…

gandhi ate/drank his own excrement during his hunger strikes. he got assassinated, but that was for other reasons.

I too thought you were talking about yourself, and my first impression was “brush your teeth, man.”

I’d say don’t panic….worst concern is probably e. coli, not sure if you can get that from eating your own fresh excrement…ask the doctor, probably not a big deal.

I’m just worried he’ll get really sick then I’ll feel like the worst mommy ever… he might throw that in my face when he’s all grown up…he’s only ten months old. I feel so bad.

ahhhh, here comes shilolo to the rescue!!!

Wait til he paints the walls next to his crib with the stuff…..

It’s part of the fun of parenthood…we all have those moments. My 1 year old at the time experienced the joys of Meow Mix due to my turning my back for a few minutes. She turned out all right (hopefully :-)

Hey, I’m a doctor (an Infectious Diseases doctor, no less)... No kidding. Nothing will happen to your son. He will be fine. Many of the bacteria in his stool are the same that are in his mouth. So, I can assure you that he will be completely “immune” to the bacteria in the stool. (Not that one is immune to them per se, but that is a topic for another time). For confirmation, here is a similar question from another concerned parent answered by a pediatrician.

You are doing a great job. Kids eat all sorts of gnarly things (I have a 2 year old myself). In my opinion, it is good for them. It strengthens their immune system. So, rest easy.

Another reason I’m glad I don’t have kids. Yuck!

(Ha ha, that’s was I was thinking)

There will be things he eats, or puts in his mouth that you will never know about, too. One of mine ate cat food, one ate horse supplement (he walked down the stalls, put one teaspoon into each grain bin, and when he got to the end, he gave himself the last spoon full) Luckily, the “Source” people just laughed- said most of their employees took some every day on purpose, they just didn’t advertise that. whew! , And my mother tells me I ate a potato bug, the minute she told me not to. Newfluthermember, you have great fun waiting for you in the next few years!

My little girl was never as “accident prone” as this little boy. She only fell once from my bed…he’s fallen less than 10 times from my bed, his walker, his swing, my brother’s bed, my mom’s bed(in the time lapse of 3–4 months). I’m not a careless mother believe me but this little boy just finds a way to get into trouble on his own.

@Mtl zack- True, Gandhi did drink his own urine, but I doubt if he ever ate his own (or anybody else’s) excrement. You are going to have to show me a link that supports that claim.

thanks everybody for your response/ support…

start building a time machine

sounds like you may need to just leave him on the floor!

In his mouth no big deal…rubbed in eyes..bigger deal.

Our son was just 4 mos old when our Nephew (old enough to know better) played with his own poo. My sis-in-la had set it up for us to babysit later that night, but didn’t tell us about the poo incident until we arried. Two of her kids already had pink eye from it. So did our son the next morning.

We spent $75 at the weekend clinic our Drs. office has. Then $20 on the eye drops. All so the relatives could have a free sitter.

“Live & learn..then become addicted to purell and hand wipes” My mommy mantra after that one!

Just don’t let him eat paint chips..especially lead ones.

My son used his feces to finger-paint a large wall; whether he had a taste or not, I’ll never know. And prepare yourself; all that testosterone manifests itself in many ways – all guaranteed to terrify a mother of a toddler.

What is the best thing to do after ingesting fecal matter?

Say “Honey, as usual, dinner was terrific!!!”

@Spatzielover. With respect to Purrell and hand wipes, I have to respectfully disagree. It is possible to be too clean. Many immunologists (including myself) favor the hygiene hypothesis, namely, that exposure to multiple organisms and allergens early in life strengthens the immune system and reduces the incidence of allergic reactions. While my wife and I try to instill good habits in our son (like washing hands before dinner), we don’t go overboard and bleach-bomb the house or wipe him down at the first sign of dirt. He’s a kid who needs to experience the world, both good, and “bad”.

And think of all the Indians who drink, bathe and excrete in the Ganges. They do pretty well; it is just the tourists who have different immune systems. (Shilolo; Perhaps I am wrong and millions of Indians die of dysentry each year; although I think poverty and starvation are more of an issue.)

When I had a house on Lake Placid, we (and dozens of our off-road neighbors) put a pump 40’ down in the lake floor and drank the water from it, unfiltered. Several guests occasionally got gippy-tum. And we did have the water tested every year.

My father, who grew up long before there was a polio vaccine, always said it was the kids with overprotective mothers who got polio. The ones who were never allowed to play in the mud, or go bare footed, etc.

@shi The relatives house has MANY kids…no hand washing (often No soap in the bathroom or a tiny bar that is black w/dirt), no cleaning and LOTS of booger eating. We NOW go well prepared and bring our own hand soap in my purse.

I agree about a healthy immune system…But their home might need a nuclear bomb to thoroughly indicate the bacteria strains residing in it.

From being a Home Health nurse for the last 17 yrs, I have found that people are mostly immune to their own dirt- (their own house), but those people coming in, or those they go to visit, are at risk. In your own home you are more vulnerable to people who come in bringing things you haven’t built up any immunities for.
Shilolo, I think “people” dirt (bacteria and virus) is a lot different than “outdoor/yard” dirt.

@AC: he definitely drank his own urine, but i cant find a link to the consumption of fecal matter. maybe that was just an urban myth.

Oh little boys are wild. Especially when they start walking. My little boy fell off the bed just last night, (he’s 15 months) and he doesn’t even cry any more. He found some dog poop once at my friends and I freaked out. I don’t think he ate it but he was about to. He’s a crazy, crazy little man. That’s what makes little boys fun though. I’ve gotten some pretty nice arms since he’s gotten over 20 lbs. Boys are definitely more wild than girls.

Oh, and get ready for him to discover THE TOILET!! dun dun dun