Umm, this is soo weird. What does this mean? **UPDATE pg 1

[vettechick99]

DD15m went back to the sitter today after 2 months at home with me on my summer vacation. When I dropped her off at this lady's house, I noticed a very strong smell of mothballs. Overwhelming as soon as you walk into the house. I even kinda smelled like it when I left.

I go pick her up after she spent about 2 hours there and the smell was still there. Didn't think about it again til I just changed her dirty diaper (I got her at 11am and now it's 6pm) and get this - her poop smells like mothballs! It was so bad, it stunk up the whole room and I had to flush the poop down the toilet.

What does this mean?

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Um....the lady has a moth infestation???

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I'd get on the phone with the sitter ASAP and ask about the mothball smell. It sounds like either the diaper was exposed to mothballs or your child ingested some. Mothballs are toxic...I'd call your doctor and run it by him/her too.

 

[Buckalew11]

I second Mare!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Oh how scary!! Then...def call the sitter! And...call an advice nurse just in case

 

[chell]

Please let us know what the nurse says. I know those things have a very strong smell and gets into everything but that was more than you would think.

 

[vettechick99]

The diaper was mine - I've changed her several times since she's been home. So the smell definitely came from inside her. She's acting normal for the most part. She's throwing some minor tantrums, but with teething, different morning routine, and being 15m, it could just as likely be those things. I will definitely call!

 

[denisenh]

Could your DD have put a moth ball in her diaper, using it like a pocket?

 

[Pikester]

You can get mothball poisoning even from the vapors. Please pass that info on to your sitter.

http://www.ehow.com/how_155782_identify-signs-mothball.html

 

[ChrizJen]

It could be that she has a critter problem. We had squirrels in our attic, and we have fixed it (for now, at least) by covering up the hole where they were getting in. But the previous owner obviously had the same problem, and she chose to "take care of it" by placing mothballs all over the attic. (It's a myth, by the way, that moth balls deter squirrels!) When the weather is warm, my house STILL sometimes smells like mothballs.

But I would definitely call your babysitter and just ask. Because moth balls are highly toxic, and if the baby got ahold of them, you need to have her checked.

 

[vettechick99]

Could your DD have put a moth ball in her diaper, using it like a pocket?

She could have, but this is a diaper that I put on her right before her afternoon nap. Wish that was it though!

Called and had to leave a message for the sitter - and the on-call doc should get back to me soon. Hopefully she just inhaled a lot and didn't eat any. I mean, either is bad but eating seems worse!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I hope you'll get back to us, because this is on my mind!

I'd be very leary of leaving her at the sitter's again until it was cleared up.

 

[akhenaten]

I hope you'll get back to us, because this is on my mind!

I'd be very leary of leaving her at the sitter's again until it was cleared up.

me too....

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

From Pikester's link above:

Instructions

Step 1
Try to determine whether a person or pet has been in contact with mothballs. If you suspect that a child or pet has eaten mothballs, do not wait for symptoms. Seek medical help immediately.

Step 2
Watch for signs of eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, respiratory problems, vertigo, confusion, headache, nausea, vomiting and/or fatigue.

Step 3
Look for convulsions within an hour of when mothballs are ingested.

Step 4
Investigate any liver or kidney problems, or be suspicious if hemolytic anemia develops.

Step 5
Call the national Poison Control Center, 1-800-222-1222, or a local center, if you suspect mothball poisoning.

Step 6
Keep in mind that long-term exposure to mothball vapors can cause adverse effects. If an elderly person or her house reeks of mothballs, warn her of the risks of mothball poisoning.

 

[vettechick99]

Got an update! Nurse called and she said that as long as she's acting fine and doesn't have any changes in her BMs or health, she's probably fine. Just give her some pedialyte to clear out her system. She said she thought DD just inhaled it over a period of time (or ate food that was permeated by the smell) and it's not a big deal. She is going to ask the Dr tomorrow his thoughts on it.

Sitter called just a moment ago and said the mothballs are outside, under her front porch. She's trying to deter some dogs that like to hang out there. Apparently someone told her it works, but she says its not and she's waiting on it to disintegrate. I informed her the smell was not only outside but inside the house, which I dont think she realized since she lives there and is used to it (ugh, I hate that smell!). She did say there was no way DD could have eaten one, thank goodness.

So the nurse said to take her back tomorrow and report if anything seems fishy (or mothy! ). Tomorrow she'll be there from 8-3 so we'll see what happens. But hopefully the smell will wear off because I don't want her exposed to that for 7 hours a day.

 

[bumbershoot]

The mothball smell is really freaky, and I hope you get it figured out soon, to make sure she is healthy!

Wanted to comment on this...

It was so bad, it stunk up the whole room and I had to flush the poop down the toilet.

As the Pampers website says...

Waste removal

As the Pampers bag recommends, you'll want to dump bowel movements in the toilet. Then just roll the diaper into its backsheet, using the tape or fasteners to keep it closed, and dispose of it in the trash.

Good for you for putting poop into the sewage system, where is belongs, instead of into landfills!!!!!!!!!!

 

[akhenaten]

Got an update! Nurse called and she said that as long as she's acting fine and doesn't have any changes in her BMs or health, she's probably fine. Just give her some pedialyte to clear out her system. She said she thought DD just inhaled it over a period of time (or ate food that was permeated by the smell) and it's not a big deal. She is going to ask the Dr tomorrow his thoughts on it.

Sitter called just a moment ago and said the mothballs are outside, under her front porch. She's trying to deter some dogs that like to hang out there. Apparently someone told her it works, but she says its not and she's waiting on it to disintegrate. I informed her the smell was not only outside but inside the house, which I dont think she realized since she lives there and is used to it (ugh, I hate that smell!). She did say there was no way DD could have eaten one, thank goodness.

So the nurse said to take her back tomorrow and report if anything seems fishy (or mothy! ). Tomorrow she'll be there from 8-3 so we'll see what happens. But hopefully the smell will wear off because I don't want her exposed to that for 7 hours a day.

at least you know she could not have eaten any...

I would be hesitant to leave dd there if it still smells as strongly... does she have AC?? a fan that could bring in fresh air from the back , away from the mothballs??
You may still want to call poison control... how much specific knowledge about this substance can that nurse have??

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I would be hesitant to leave dd there if it still smells as strongly... does she have AC?? a fan that could bring in fresh air from the back , away from the mothballs??
You may still want to cll poison control... how much specific knowledge about this substance can that nurse have??

And I agree with you.

 

[dumboiu]

You may still want to call poison control... how much specific knowledge about this substance can that nurse have??

ITA

 

[jack hannah bananah]

The mothball smell is really freaky, and I hope you get it figured out soon, to make sure she is healthy!

Wanted to comment on this...



As the Pampers website says...



Good for you for putting poop into the sewage system, where is belongs, instead of into landfills!!!!!!!!!!

Just curious -- what is the difference between putting it in the sewage system and putting it in a landfill? It will breakdown rather quickly either way - won't it?