Is any treatment needed if a baby swallows urine?

Question

Hello doctor,

When I changed his diaper, my boy passed urine on his face, and he drank it. I am very confused about what I need to do now and what medicine I need.

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

This situation is understandably upsetting, but it is not dangerous. Accidental swallowing of a small amount of the baby’s own urine during a diaper change is harmless and does not require any medicine or treatment. Urine is usually sterile at the time it is passed.

Gently clean the baby’s face and mouth with clean water, and then continue with normal feeding. Observe your baby over the next 24 hours. If you notice fever, vomiting, poor feeding, unusual irritability, or lethargy (which is very unlikely), please seek medical advice. Otherwise, you may be fully reassured.

No need for further investigations. To prevent this in the future, you can take a few simple precautions during diaper changes. Always keep a diaper or a clean cloth covering the genital area while changing it, especially in baby boys.

Change diapers in a slightly angled position so the face is away from the lower body. Keep wipes and a fresh diaper ready beforehand to minimize exposure time. Changing the diaper soon after feeding and in a calm environment can also reduce sudden urination.

I hope this helps.

Kindly follow up if you have more concerns.

Thank you.