Did my son just pee in my heating vent?
Tuesday October 6, 2015
One of the most interesting calls we received was to clean a carpet and heating vent for a pregnant woman and her young son.
With the recent family move and the impending addition to the family, the 5 year old son had begun, much to the mother's dismay, to use the heating vent and sometimes, the bedroom corner, as a toilet. She wasn't really aware of it until she noticed a smell that she hadn't noticed before. Then, she caught him in the act.
She was quite horrified to discover her son's behavior and called us to resolve the issue with the smell, and obviously, the unsanitary condition. Of course, we were able to help on both accounts, but I had never seen anything like that. I went home and did a little online snooping and found it wasn't unique. Stories of toddlers not using the appropriate bathroom techniques ranged from school restrooms, hardware stores and random home spaces, including using a heating vent.
In most cases, the behavior was tied to a recent change that the child didn't feel they could control, so they resorted to controlling what they felt they could- their own bodily functions. I decided to compile the best of what I learned in my snooping:
- Â Â Â Â Explain to the child that the toilet is the only appropriate place to go potty
- Â Â Â Â Â Clean the affected areas
-      Have the child safely clean the area (never let a child clean an area that could cause them sickness or endanger them. For example, bleach or Lysol ® should be used to kill any bacteria, and children should not have access to these products. Clean the area appropriately and have the child clean after you have eliminated the danger.)
- Â Â Â Â Â Consider a trip to the pediatrician. This can rule out any physical problem the child may be experiencing that could lead to peeing in the heating vent. They can also talk with you about any emotional or developmental issue that this could be revealing.
- Â Â Â Â Â Don't freak out. You are not alone and you have resources. Always reach out without shame. Parenting is hard and there is no handbook. It is ok to ask for help.
- Â Â Â Â Â Check in on your own behavior. Are you preoccupied with something that is "leaving your child out"? This can be simple reading time with your child, or a reassuring talk about how things have changed or will be changing. Sometimes as adults, when we deal with changes and stressors, we forget how these same things are managed by the little ones in our lives. Take a moment away from the stress and get on the (clean) carpet and play. It will help you both.
-      Return to rewarding behaviors that are what you are seeking. How did you potty train? Consider those methods again, such as the Cheerio in the toilet, the shiny sticker, the fun song.
It can be embarrassing to deal with a toddler who has used a heating vent as a toilet, but we can help.
Call 303-424-8811 and let's talk about those embarrassing situations and get the mess cleaned up.
christineh
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