The Impurity of baby Urine and Vomit

بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

Having a newborn baby is a great blessing from Allah (ʿazza wa jall). It is one of life’s greatest joys and brings with it many pleasures as well as challenges. One of the challenges for Muslim parents/guardians is maintaining purity during this period where baby urine and vomit can seemingly get everywhere!

Is baby urine/vomit impure? Does it need to be washed from the body and clothing? What amount is excusable? Is there a difference between boys and girls? Is there a difference between breastfed, formula-fed and weaned babies?

Baby Urine

Urine is counted as major impurity in Islam and this applies to all men, women, children and babies, boy and girl, with no differentiation. Therefore, if baby urine was to get onto the body or clothing it would be necessary to wash it off. One would not be able to pray salah until it is washed. There is a small amount that is excusable which is approximately the size of a 50p/25¢ coin. Avoiding even this amount is the recommended practice, but it is useful to know especially for parents.

What is meant by 'washing' is washing in such a way that water flows from the body or is wrung out from the clothing — merely wiping with a towel or wet wipe would not be sufficient. If the impurity is perceivable, one must wash until the impurity is no longer visible. If the impurity is not perceivable as is often the case with baby urine due to the lightness of the colour, one must wash the clothing until one feels that the impurity has gone — washing and wringing strongly three times is a good standard to use. Any lingering stains that remain after thoroughly washing are not taken to be impure.

There are a few tips the author would like to share from experience especially for parents of little boys (!):

• when changing the nappy place a cotton pad, tissue or wipe (ideally a warm wipe!) on the male organ to contain the flow of any urine if he decides to urinate during the nappy change.

• after opening the nappy, wait a short while before removing it fully as cold air might cause the baby to urinate suddenly.

• always change on a wipeable changing mat to avoid bedding etc. from getting impure.

• always point the male organ downwards when fastening the nappy to avoid leaking. If the nappy leaks onto the baby’s body/clothes and the urine gets into contact with your clothes when you pick him up, your clothes are now impure due to the transfer of wet impurity if it can be perceived on your clothes.

• change a baby’s nappy regularly and do not allow them to remain in a wet or dirty nappy for long periods of time as this is more likely to result in leaking and it is distressing for the baby to be in contact with impurity.

• when a baby boy is being potty/toilet trained, seat them in such a position where the flow of urine would go downwards rather than outwards (you may have to position the male organ/hold it down).

• when looking to buy a toilet training seat, look for one with a splash guard.

• if you are bathing a baby in a small baby bath/tub and they urinate, that water is now all impure and should be discarded before cleaning and rinsing the baby again.

• laminate flooring is your friend when it comes to babies as urine can be wiped clean from them. Carpets cannot usually be picked up and washed or put in the washing machine, therefore they must be wiped with a wet cloth enough times for a person to feel that the urine has been lifted out.

Baby Vomit

Full mouth vomit is counted a major impurity in Islam and this is the same for all adults and children. It does not matter whether the child is on solids or what type of milk they are drinking. What is meant by full mouth vomiting is vomit that cannot be contained easily in the mouth — the person who is vomiting cannot control its expulsion.

Both reflux vomit and projectile vomiting come up from the stomach and are uncontrollable so will be counted as impure and require washing out from clothing/  body. As for spit-up where the baby drools recently drunk milk out from the mouth before it has passed down the throat, this will not be impure.

If baby vomit gets onto the body or clothing, it must be washed, not just wiped, in the manner mentioned above in the urine section. An amount less than approximately a 50p/25¢ coin is excusable (not blameworthy) when a person needs to pray (if there is vomit on multiple areas of the body or clothes, they are all added together), but of course it is better to remove the impurity where possible.

Staying clean from baby urine and vomit is not always an easy task but remember that these are short phases that will pass inshāʾAllāh, always be grateful to Allah (ʿazza wa jall) for guiding us to a religion that places so much emphasis on physical purity, and find solace in the fact that your efforts and struggles in this regard are not wasted for Allah Taʿālā will reward you for maintaining ṭahārah (purity) and instilling it in your children.

“Surely Allah loves those who are most repenting and loves those who maintain purity.” (Qurʾān 2: 222)

WORKS CITED:

الهداية شرح بداية المبتدئ للمرغناني

حاشية رد المحتار لابن عابدين الشامي

مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الايضاح للشرنبلالي

Written by: Muftiya Safiyya Maryam, Darul Ilm Birmingham.

Approved by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah