Urine on Couch

Just a thought, but what about pet cleaning products? There are products made for house training pets that might help...

As a sitter myself, let me start by saying - she should not have a $2300 couch around a group of babysitting kids, and expect something not to happen to it. Second, it would be too expensive to take to cove off, have it professionaly cleaned and then restuffed. maybe $150. But her couch will be good as new. Maybe offer to get you little one a nap mat so she doesn't have an accident on the couch again. Good luck.

Hi A., The child care provider is at fault do not feel quilty. The child should be wearing pull ups until completely potty trained.

In my book she has 2 choices-Have the couch professionally cleaned and this time scotch guarded or buy a new couch at her expense.

Children are children, We are the adults and should be as prepared as we can be for any situation. Good luck. B.

I agree with others here that there is no way an accident on your child's caregiver's couch should be a financial responsiblity to you. As someone who is making money watching children, she is responsible for insuring that not only is her home adequately maintained and safe for children but that her home is child-friendly. I'm appaled in her behavior toward you!

A.,

I would ask where she got the couch, and what the material is. Then call and ask the customer service department for their recommendations, and also the real price of the couch. We actually just bought a new couch this year, and I honestly only saw a few that were over the 1k mark, so I find her claim about the couch being $2,300 kind of funny. My husband had a leather couch before I met him, and that one wasn't near that much! I'd be concerned that she's trying to get more money out of you, or wonder if she's yelling at your daughter for her NORMAL accidents when you're not there, too. Good luck.

K.

Hi A.,
I am a SAHM who also babysits in my home. I couldn't tell you how many kids have had leaky diapers and were sitting on my couch. Heck, my own kids, as infants, went on my couch as I was changing them. My furniture is not in the best shape to say the least. Your sitter shouldn't have such an expensive couch where the kids are going to be. That's silly. Take the advice of the others and offer to have it cleaned for her, but don't let her make you feel guilty that your child had and accident. They happen.

Wow, that's a first. I first find it odd that she wasn't watching your child close enough (if her things are not kid friendly, why is she allowing her on the couch?)and that a $2300 couch wasn't guarded against things like this. Most expensive couches can be scotch guarded, or should be covered. I just find it really strange that she wouldn't be watching your child well enough to prevent this. If she is watching kids, then it's her responsibility, not yours. Accidents happen and she should be better prepared. I am not sure what the solution is, but I wouldn't offer to pay anything.

This is not your problem. You can tell her you feel awful bout the incident and maybe provide a pad/cover to put under your daughter the next time.I understand how you feel. When my son started school, he had a few accidents at night so, I found one at Wal-marts for $5(?) for my son to take to his grandma's. You may want to ask her why the couch keeps getting wet as well.
Good luck!

I have to comments regarding your sityution, the first is if this woman is providing childcare in her home she has no business have a couch that cannot get wet or that cannot be cleaned. My second point is that I have a couch that cost less than $1,000 and my daughter has thrown up, gotten baby food, formula and urine on it and as long as I wiped it up right away there was no problem either with odor or staining. It seems to me that this woman is trying to squeeze you for money. If you feel that you must do something, I would call the manufacturer and find out about cleaning this couch. But ultimately it is not your problem.

Good Luck :)

Hi A.,
Hands down, this is your sitters responsibility and you should not have to do anything. I babysit kids at my house and if anything happens it is my fault. I understand you feeling some guilt, you're human, but as far as forking over any money....no way. I hope your sitter isn't putting this on you, and if so I would be seeking a new sitter. Give her a bottle of Febreeze and ask her to not have your child around expensive furniture if it's going to be a problem. Good Luck.

A.,

First of all, she is to blame, not you. Kids come with accidents.

It might be too late since they've already washed and dried the cover, but you have to use a special cleaner that's meant to get out organic stains. Petzyme is an example. Also, any apholstery or carpet cleaner meant to remove pet stains will work, but you must test for color fastness first on the fabric in a spot where it won't show. I think that Petzyme would be the safest. I have used it on many things without any trouble. The area must be saturated with the liquid and left to dry. Get a half gallon for about $8 at the pet store. Good luck and get a different sitter! This is just the first of many problems you'll have with her.

I don't imagine you are ever going to satisfy them. They are always going to think they smell urine. They are set on a new couch and that's that.

Also, tell her to make a claim on her home owners insurance. You do not have to pay! She can deduct the deductible from her income taxes as a loss.

tell her try a professional cleaner like stanley steamer

A.,
Yes, I can help you. I am married to a carpet cleaner who specializes in removing stains and smells from from carpet and furniture. Please email me directly. By the time you email me, I will hopefully have had time to ask him and get a recommendation for you.

J. F.

You should not feel guilty about the couch, and if the sitter is trying to guilt trip you, get a new sitter! When you send your kids to someone you trust that their home is child -proofed. They also should be prepared for children's "accidents", and if they aren't that is their own fault. Maybe your sitter should re-think her occupation if she wants to have a perfectly clean/nothing ever damaged house!

She is the baby sitter and she was the one in charge when your daughter went on the couch. Not your issue. She should not be making you feel guilty about it at all. And she should not be making your DD feel bad either. Be careful with this lady.

What a bummer! What kind of fabric can't get wet? And who buys a $2300 couch, lets a 2 year old on it, and then gets mad when it gets stained? Anyway, never mind that. Foam can be replaced- they have it at fabric stores, like JoAnn Fabrics or Hancock. It can be cut to size (using an electric knife), so it can look just like new. The foam isn't super cheap, but it is definitely cheaper than buying a whole new sofa. Also, there are cleaners specially made to take care of urine odor. The one I used for my puppy is called "OUT! Pet Stain and Odor Remover" and is very effective. It's only a few dollars a bottle, and you can get it at PetSmart, and possibly at WalMart. I got "Kids 'N Pets Stain and Odor Remover" at Walmart, which also claims to do the same thing ("rated #1"), but I haven't tried it yet. The "Out!" works great, though, and it's been used on everything a puppy and baby can dish out. Because foam is so dense, it would probably take a lot of it to get out, so replacing the foam may be the best solution. JoAnn's does have coupons fairly often, too. I hope it works out for you!

If someone is babysitting a toddler, they should expect that those things can happen. (Actually, anyone could spill a drink.) What were they thinking when they got a couch like that and planned to baby sit? It could have just as easily been your couch, your parents' or anybody's. Don't beat yourself up over it. It was just an accident. They should invest in slip covers and plastic liners if it's in a room that the baby sitting kids use. P.

I agree with just about everything everyone is saying. What is she doing with such an expensive couch in the same room with the kids? I don't think that you owe her anything! But, if you want to feel like you've helped in some way, offer to have it cleaned or buy a cleaner for her. But, angain, I personally don't think you owe her even that because the kids shouldn't be around that kind of furniture without some expectation of a mess.

There is apet cleaner that is called "urine out", or something like that. Works for any uri ne and it takes the smell out. You could try buying her some????
I wouldn't expect someone to buy me a new couch. Can't she turn the cushion over. If it only smells when it gets wet, why is it getting wet so often?

Your babysitter should never have put your daughter on a $2300 couch in the first place. I'm sure she is aware of her potty training status. She's also CRAZY if she can't get the smell out. There are too many products out there for such occurrences! If she keeps giving you grief I'd think about getting a new babysitter!

Hi A.-

I used to babysit children in my home, I've had plenty of "accidents" on the carpet and furniture. If they cleaned the mess quickly they should have no problem with smell. I've had plenty of things broken or colored on but that comes with the territory, anything I was particular about not wanting the children to touch I moved out of the rooms they were in. I think your baby sitter is just trying to make you feel bad and get some money out of you. I think the smell is all in her head and if not she probably let it sit way to long before she cleaned it up. Either way its her fault. Children have accidents and she should be aware of that especially if she's a child care provider. Try not to feel bad, and definitely dont offer her money. If it becomes more of a problem try to find a new sitter. I hope it all works out for you. Good Luck
K.-

What is a baby-sitter doing with a couch that can't get wet? I would suggest she call the manufacturer and ask how to clean it. Not your problem.

I had that problem with a mattress. I looked on the internet and there are sprays you could send for. I needed a more immediate result. There is an old fashioned dry detergent called Borax. You wet the area, sprinkle it librally with the Borax, then vacumm or shake off. It worked great, there is not a whiff of urine oder. Hope it helps.

J.

A.,
First of all I too would start looking for another care giver. One, the care giver was NOT paying attention to your child to notice she had to use the rest room. And two, was probably too ingrossed in watching her TV to notice. If it just happened she could have soaked it up with a towel but your daughter probably just sat in it for quite a while until the care givers shows were over and then she noticed it.

Get her a box of DREFT and tell her to wash or hand wash the material with that (REMEMBER this is designed to get out EVERYTHING) Then tell her to remove the pad and put fill the tub with water and a Dreft mixture and then rinse well. Let both dry out (best if in the sun and outside but if not somewhere like like drying---SHE MAY put into a dryer and say it srunk and now will not fit!!!) Preferrablly over the weekend when she is not watching the children. She can also try white vinegar or cidar vinegar as this may work.
She sounds like she is trying to have you get her a new couch!
If it was not intended to get wet, then how is that it keeps getting wet and they smell the urine only when wet? HUMMMMMMM

How many children does she watch?
Have you ever come for your child early? Maybe try that, park away from where you normally park and close door quitely. Walk up in soft shoes as not to make a high heel click and listen at the door for a minute! You maybe surprised, I personally would put a recorder, voice active in the bag I left or a walkie talkie and park down the street and listen.

NO YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FAR!!! THIS IS YOUR CHILD AND CAN NOT BE REPLACED!

If the woman is not watching her she could get harmed as well.
I am more for a Center, I did watch kids a long time ago, I hated to have kids wipe there nose on my furniture etc. YUCK!!! My oldest was picking up bad habits! So I quit.

But, I would not do it again without protecting me as well as the child. I would have cameras and sound in every room! And I think most care centers should as well, with access to view by the parents at will! We live in a crazy world so protect your daughter.
She may have accidents because she is NOT happy where she is, STRESS does this.
Now she is JUST Potty Training so the following probably does NOT apply.

JUST A NOTE TO CONSIDER. A child who NEVER wet the bed or anywhere before and SUDDENLY starts my have been sexually assulted or molested. Look into the signs and symtoms of these and see if you notice anything similar.
BECAREFUL.
Just a note of warning to all parents. PLEASE HAVE A GOOD TOUCH BAD TOUCH TALK WITH YOUR KIDS EARLY!!!
If in daycare start at about 1 1/2 to 2 yrs. Let them know to TELL you when ever they are uncomfortable with how someone touched them and where they touched them.
Tell them it is OK to tell someone not to touch them, they will know right in there GUT.. or innervoice will tell them it is wrong. Have them tell you EVEN if they were told NOT TO TELL, that something bad would happen to mom or day or brother/sister.
I tell you this because my dad was a policeman and someone touched me when I was 4/5yrs I NEVER TOLD! I wet the bed for a while until I out grew that and we MOVED away!!!

Hope this helps you some,
C.

Hi A.,
I had a diaper leak on our mega expesive couch (pee). I pulled the cover off, spot cleaned it with cold water (& a tiny touch of spay n wash) & steamed the cushion with my Conair clothing steamer- then sprayed the cushion with Fabreeze. The smell is gone.

This is JMO but if she is a sitter she should expect situations like this & it is her responsibility to prevent them from happening or deal with it if it does. You were not there, so it isn't your fualt.

I think it is rude that she is putting the blame on you. I sure wouldn't use her again in the future. What if your child scratches her $3700 plasma TV? Will she expect you to replace it?

Good luck
Becky R

Hello! After reading your dilemma, I have to say that your sitter shouldn't have such an expensive sofa if it's around children. We all know they're not the cleanest little people! She should keep it covered when the little ones are around. Maybe you could offer to try to take the cushion to a dry cleaner or something or buy her a can of Febreeze!! At least you'd be offering to do something!
Goodluck!! H.