When providing sanitation hardware solutions in emergencies, special attention should be given to the safe management of children’s faeces. Children’s faeces are generally more dangerous than adult faeces as excreta related infections are usually more prevalent in children, with a higher prevalence of diarrhoea and soil-transmitted helminth infections. The immune system of a child takes several years to develop and children may not have developed the necessary antibodies. In addition, toddlers and small children are often unable to fully control their defecation and children may defecate in areas where other children could be exposed (e.g. on the ground where children play, children may put contaminated fingers/objects into their mouths). Hence children are more susceptible to faecal-oral transmitted diseases. These can result in increased malnutrition, stunting and reduced cognitive abilities. Unfortunately, children’s faeces are often  considered less harmful and therefore are often not properly collected or disposed of safely. Additionally, children may often not use a toilet because of their age, stage of physical development, or safety concerns of their parents. They might be afraid to use toilets for fear of falling in, bad smells, or a fear of dark spaces. Hence, addressing child excreta management includes the context-specific consideration of the following components:

Infrastructure: Sanitation hardware interventions should consider the specific needs of children. These include that public or shared toilet facilities are close to households, have proper lighting and are equipped with child-friendly user-interfaces such as smaller bowls or squat holes. The superstructure has to be large enough to be occupied by a parent or caregiver and child together. A children’s toilet can be further enhanced with child-friendly colourful artwork and picture-based hygiene messages.

Non-Food Items: For toddlers and small children the provision of age-appropriate faecal containment products such as nappies, diapers and potties needs to be considered. If disposable nappies or diapers are being used, there needs to be an adequate collection and management system (incl. hygiene promotion) in place with subsequent burial or treatment options. Washable nappies may be an alternative. If potties are being used the child faeces can be discarded or rinsed into the toilet and the potty cleaned with soap or disinfectant afterwards

Hygiene Promotion: Hygiene promotion X.12 measures for children’s faeces include the provision of information and training to parents and caregivers about safe disposal options, children’s toilet training, laundering  practices, and actively advocating to prevent indiscriminate defecation and household contamination with child faeces. Hygiene promotion includes hygiene messages on the importance of handwashing with soap after contact with child excreta and washing the child after defecation. It may also include encouraging clean-up of already contaminated environments with shovels or other tools to avoid direct contact with children excreta.