Kids’ toilet disasters are the number one topic of conversation for six in 10 parents.
A poll of 1,000 mums and dads of children aged up to four found 31 per cent regularly swap stories about potty-training mishaps, while 29 per cent share ‘poo disasters’.
These disasters can bring up a range of emotions for parents from stress (27 per cent), anxiety (17 per cent) and feeling upset (15 per cent).
To get through, 41 per cent of parents turn to humour to cope with the messier side of parenting and 32 per cent admit texts to their partner are often filled with baby poo updates.
These texts regularly include emergency outfit changes (32 per cent), funny stories about the disaster (31 per cent), thoughts on the smell (27 per cent) or its colour (22 per cent).
Annabel Eden, brand acceleration manager at WaterWipes, which commissioned the research following the launch of its new range of wipes which are now two times stronger, said: “Parenting is full of surprises, especially when it comes to little ones and their toilet habits.
“Much like anyone tackling a big job, you need products you can truly trust to help get you through the tough times, especially when dealing with a baby or toddler poo emergency.
“From needing a pile of wipes because they can't do the job, or that horrible feeling of your finger going through a wipe that’s not got the strength needed, there’s a surprising amount that can go wrong.”
The study also found 73 per cent of those who’ve had a nappy nightmare have been ‘fearful’ of it happening when out in public.
Product mishaps are also a cause of stress, with nearly two fifths of parents feeling stressed when wipes aren't strong enough so it takes a long time to clean up (37 per cent) or wipes ripping due to lack of strength (35 per cent).
More than a third (35 per cent) of people who have had a poo disaster have had to perform an emergency nappy change in a car park.
And 32 per cent have faced the situation all parents dread – reaching into the nappy bag at a critical moment to realise there were no wipes to be found.
As many as four in 10 parents have had to rely on napkins from a café after running out of wipes, 24 per cent a piece of their own clothing – and one in 10 have had to use their own hands.
More than a tenth (11 per cent) have to deal with an issue along these lines once a week, while nine per cent go through it multiple times in a seven-day period.
With the most embarrassing places being at a restaurant or café (24 per cent), a family gathering (23 per cent), a wedding or formal event (16 per cent) or even the supermarket aisle (15 per cent).
But 85 per cent said laughing about the emergency helped give them the strength to get through it and 71 per cent turn to social media to watch funny content from parenting influencers, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
Annabel Eden for WaterWipes, which is using humour to give parents a dose of extra strength to tackle the toughest of messes by working with comedians and creating a hub of tips [https://www.waterwipes.com/uk/en/news-and-media/were-here-to-give-you-strength-to-survive-parenting], added: “Every parent knows the pain of a poo disaster when out and about.
"Yet we often still feel embarrassed or shamed when it happens to us, despite nearly everyone having gone through it themselves.
“Parents should try not to be hard on themselves when dealing with a poo disaster from a little one as it’s totally natural but forewarned is forearmed, and having the right supplies, and a little laughter, can give you the strength to get through.”
PARENTING CREATOR, AUTHOR AND PODCAST HOST LOUISE BOYCE AKA @MAMASTILLGOTIT_ SHARES TOP TIPS ON SURVIVING PARENTING:
1. Always carry baby wipes. You think you only need them for nappies. Wrong. They’re for spills, sick, sticky fingers, and once… my husband’s white trainers.
2. Lower the bar. Dinner doesn’t have to be homemade, organic, and shaped like a woodland creature. Sometimes beige food is a balanced diet. Fish fingers, nuggets, waffles = food groups.
3. School WhatsApp groups. Mute. Them. All. Save your strength for real emergencies, not debates over “World Book Day” costumes.
4. “Bribery” is just a strong word for “creative parenting.” Never underestimate its power. “Yes, you can have an ice cream if you just please get in the car.”
5. Car snacks = survival snacks. Nothing tests your strength like finding a squashed raisin in the car seat and debating whether to eat it.
6. Don’t fight the mess. Your house isn’t a show home, it’s an active crime scene. Accept it.
7. Choose your battles. Shoes on the wrong feet? Character pants over trousers? Going to shops dressed as Spider-Man? If it gets you out the door, it’s a win.
8. Sleep is a rumour. You’ll survive on coffee, sarcasm, and the occasional nap in the car outside the supermarket.
9. Laugh at the chaos. Wee in the bath? Poo up the back? Sick in your hair? Grab your WaterWipes, clean up and write it off as “content.” Remember: if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry (and then laugh about crying).
10. Remember…you’ve still got it. Even when you smell faintly of puke, have yoghurt in your hair, and are Googling “is glitter toxic if inhaled?” Parental strength comes in many forms, and sometimes, it’s just showing up.
