Does Your Toilet Have Trouble Handling Your Toddler's Bms? What Can You Do?

If you've found yourself stymied by toddler waste that can't be flushed, you may wonder whether you have any options (short of a higher-fiber diet) to reduce the amount of toilet plunging you need to do. While you may wonder whether your toddler's digestive habits are cause for concern, these disproportionately large bowel movements can actually be a sign of a healthy child; unfortunately, they're not so good for your toilet and plumbing. Read on to learn more about protecting your toilet (and your home's plumbing) from larger-than-life bowel movements. 

Never Flush Toilet Paper

Even if you have sewer access instead of a private septic tank, flushing toilet paper can pose a problem for your pipes. In addition, children tend to overestimate the amount of toilet paper they need; often, toilet clogs result less from the bodily waste being flushed and more from the wads of soggy toilet tissue. By teaching your children to discard their used toilet paper in the trash can, you'll be able to reduce your risk of clogs and maximize the amount of time between septic tank cleanings. 

It's also important not to flush "flushable" wipes; although these wipes are made of eco-friendly materials and are designed to be broken down over time (unlike most types of baby wipes), they're still hard on a home's plumbing and septic system. If these wipes don't make it all the way to your main wastewater pipe during the initial flush, they can act as a net inside your toilet, preventing future waste from making it all the way through the pipes.

Flush Early and Often

Another way to cut back on potential toilet clogs is to encourage your child to flush the toilet as soon as he or she starts using the bathroom rather than waiting until the process is finished. By flushing early and often, your child can avoid creating a mass of fecal matter that forms a tough blockage in the S-shaped part of your toilet. 

For toddlers who tend to leave the flushing to another family member or who are frightened by the loud noise it makes, turning this aspect of bathroom usage into a fun game can help. By challenging your child to count the number of flushes (or to reach a certain number before finishing), you'll be able to reduce the risk of toilet clogs while encouraging your child in the potty training process. 

For more information, contact a service like http://www.rkknightplumbing.com.