Bath Water

1. Wipe or rinse out the mouth.
2. Give a serving size of fresh water to drink.
3. Call 1-800-222-1222 for additional instructions.

Babies and toddlers love to play during bath time. At some point, all children will ingest bath water by sucking on a wet washcloth or drinking from a bathtub toy or cup. Bath water has soap and shampoo residue, along with dirt, oils, germs, and dead skin cells from the washed skin. Because of the large amount of water in the tub, all of these substances are very dilute and will not harm your child. The chances of having any symptoms are very low, but if a large amount is swallowed, there may be minor stomach upset, with possible vomiting often related to the shampoo and soap in the water.

If you find your child has swallowed dirty bath water, do not panic. Take the washcloth or toy away from them, and give them some fresh water to drink. If problems start or you have questions, call the Missouri Poison Center right away at 1-800-222-1222. The poison center is open all day, every day for poisoning emergencies and questions.

If you would like to learn more about how to protect yourself and your loved ones from possible poison exposures, visit our First Aid for Poisoning page. Learn more about the four different routes of posing that can occur and how to react to each. We have first-aid videos in the event of swelling, skin contact, eye exposure, or inhalation.

**Note: Don’t forget, every case is different. To make sure you are getting the best information for your individual situation, click below to call or chat. It is fast, free, and confidential.