Help, my toddler touched a dead mouse?!
Question: Help, my toddler touched a dead mouse?
I need some advice.
This afternoon my toddler wanted to play in her sandpit because it's good weather. I knew there might be bugs in it because it's been covered over all winter, so I lifted off the lid to check it out. It had filled up with water because of the rain and snow. I could see dead leaves floating on the top and the sand and some of her toys still in the bottom. I didn't think about the fact that it was standing water and might harbour germs.... I just wasn't thinking, I'm pregnant, but I don't think I can blame it on mummy-brain, it was just me being dumb!
I was watching her splashing in the water with her spade and lifting out some of the sand. Then she picked up one of the dead leaves and I said "what's that?" She looked at me in a panic and dropped it, and I was suspicious, so I looked closer. It was actually a dead mouse!!!!
I took her straight inside and washed her hands with anti-bacterial soap and she's now having a bath. I've put her clothes into the wash.
I know she didn't put it near her mouth, or her hands near her mouth, but I'm still a bit freaked out.
I have several questions:
1. How will I know if she's getting sick because of playing in standing water, or with a dead mouse?
2. What should I do, to dispose of the water and mouse in her sandpit
3. How can I make sure her toys and sandpit are clean for playing in this spring/summer?
Help please?!
Answers:
Sounds like the mouse drowned - so poison was unlikely to be involved. The mouse wasn't decomposing either, so it was a recent death as well.
Your daughter didn't put her hands in her mouth, she didn't ingest enough to make her sick (there is a chance she inhaled a trace amount from splashing, but it won't be enough to make her sick)
You did the right thing, once you noticed, washed her hands with anti-bacterial soap, popped her in the bath and washed her clothes.
If she is getting sick, she will have a stomach ache and probably vomiting as well. It is highly unlikely that she will get sick through.
Drain the water out at the bottom of the garden and either bury the mouse or put it in with your waste rubbish. Empty the sandpit and toss away the sand.
Lay all the toys and sandpit on the grass and fill the sandpit with warm water and washing up liquid (antibacterial) and then use the sandpit to wash the toys (get your daughter involved)
Let it all dry out, and put the cover over the empty sandpit. leave it until the weather starts improving and then replace the sand.
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as she had washed her hands, it is unlikely that anything will happen to her, so don't worry about her getting ill. To get rid of the water, tipping it at the bottom of the garden should get it well out of the way, and to clean them simply use hot, soapy water.
Well, yet another member of the 'Dettol-race' being raised here folks. God help the poor thing fight off future infections when her immunity is zero.
I am afraid this is basically paranoia, there is no appreciable risk at all and you need to do nothing.
GP for more years than I care to remember
it will sound weird, but you are ok if you are freaked out.
wait for few days to see if your child shows any unusual symptom, or u might consider a normal checkup with a paediatrics (child specialist).
clean out the water by throwing it in the drain (if you can, considering you are pregnant)
mouse should be thrown away in the daily/weekly garbage disposal.
as for toys, i say that's a losing battle. they will get dirty.
don't protect your kid too much. it may harm her immunity development. just a normal childhood with regulation would be the best for her and you.
have fun !!
I know it may have come as a bit of a shock, but I do think you are over reacting!! Yes... get her hands washed, but it is very unlikely that she will get sick with the water or mouse. as long as she didn't put it or her hands anywhere near her mouth, she will be fine.
You could dig a hole and put the sand in there, and cleas the toys with hot soapy water. If you really want to clean them with a kitchen antibacterial spray.