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avalon_mom May 7th 08 11:17 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
Ok so my almost 6 year old is still pooping his pants i'm at a total loss. I
dont think its a medical condition because he can make it to the bathroom he
knows when he has to go it doesnt hurt. I make him go to bed early I take
away tv I've spanked nothing has worked. He will go to the bathroom for a
couple weeks sometimes a month no problem then out of nowhere he starts
pooping in his pants again. It's not alot though usually one small to medium
size like he's holding it in doesnt want to go I think because he's too busy
playing to stop and go any idea's on how to make him go and stop this
nonsense? Please help


Banty May 7th 08 11:45 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
In article 83d0a5c17560e@uwe, avalon_mom says...

Ok so my almost 6 year old is still pooping his pants i'm at a total loss. I
dont think its a medical condition because he can make it to the bathroom he
knows when he has to go it doesnt hurt. I make him go to bed early I take
away tv I've spanked nothing has worked. He will go to the bathroom for a
couple weeks sometimes a month no problem then out of nowhere he starts
pooping in his pants again. It's not alot though usually one small to medium
size like he's holding it in doesnt want to go I think because he's too busy
playing to stop and go any idea's on how to make him go and stop this
nonsense? Please help


Do you *know* it's not a medical condition? Have you discussed this with your
pediatrician?

Banty


Beth Kevles May 7th 08 11:57 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 

Definitely speak with your physician. This is not *that* uncommon a
problem. You may also wish to google for "encoporesis" to learn a bit
more, but the physician should be the first stop.

--Beth Kevles
-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the GMAIL one if you would
like me to reply.

Eowyn May 14th 08 09:44 AM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
avalon_mom wrote:
Ok so my almost 6 year old is still pooping his pants i'm at a total loss. I
dont think its a medical condition because he can make it to the bathroom he
knows when he has to go it doesnt hurt. I make him go to bed early I take
away tv I've spanked nothing has worked. He will go to the bathroom for a
couple weeks sometimes a month no problem then out of nowhere he starts
pooping in his pants again. It's not alot though usually one small to medium
size like he's holding it in doesnt want to go I think because he's too busy
playing to stop and go any idea's on how to make him go and stop this
nonsense? Please help


It is not entirely unheard of for 6yo, especially boys, to poop their
pants, but it is definitely unwanted. If you are absolutely sure it is
not a medical issue, the most likely problem is that he doesn't feel he
has to go, or ignores it. This behaviour has to be changed asap, the
older he gets, the harder it is to learn this properly again.

We are in a similar situation with our 5.5yo. First and foremost thing
to do is not make this an issue for him. When he poops his pants, let
him clean it up, wash his own bottom and change. You can even let him
wash his underwear. He has to become aware that his poop is his
responsibility and noone else's. Do NOT get angry or upset, just ignore
it entirely.

For DS1 we have a fixed schedule of going to the bathroom: before a meal
he goes to pee and wash his hands. After every meal he can take a small
toy and goes to the bathroom for 5 minutes (we give him a timer) to try
to poop. If nothing comes, that's OK. If he poops, he gets praise and a
sticker with which he is saving up for computer time (you can make him
save time for anything he really enjoys doing). During the weekends he
gets to use up his time whenever he likes. When things are going well,
we reward him with extra stickers to keep him motivated.

Also pay attention to his behaviour, see if you can find clues that he
has to go. We noticed that DS would always go play in his room just
before he pooped his pants. So he now has to ask to go to his room, and
then I tell him to go to the bathroom first.

HTH! We noticed a really quick improvement when we started this
schedule. Within a week or two DS was nearly clean. Since then he has
had an occasional accident, but is OK overall. If you don't notice
improvement, take your DS to see a pediatrician.

I
--
mommy to DS (nearly 6)
mommy to TG and TB (2.5)
guardian of DH (age classified)

Banty May 14th 08 12:43 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
In article l, Eowyn says...

avalon_mom wrote:
Ok so my almost 6 year old is still pooping his pants i'm at a total loss. I
dont think its a medical condition because he can make it to the bathroom he
knows when he has to go it doesnt hurt. I make him go to bed early I take
away tv I've spanked nothing has worked. He will go to the bathroom for a
couple weeks sometimes a month no problem then out of nowhere he starts
pooping in his pants again. It's not alot though usually one small to medium
size like he's holding it in doesnt want to go I think because he's too busy
playing to stop and go any idea's on how to make him go and stop this
nonsense? Please help


It is not entirely unheard of for 6yo, especially boys, to poop their
pants, but it is definitely unwanted. If you are absolutely sure it is
not a medical issue, the most likely problem is that he doesn't feel he
has to go, or ignores it. This behaviour has to be changed asap, the
older he gets, the harder it is to learn this properly again.


Eh - I don't think he'll be pooping in his pants when he's 18.

Banty


Stephanie[_2_] May 14th 08 01:18 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
Eowyn wrote:
avalon_mom wrote:
Ok so my almost 6 year old is still pooping his pants i'm at a total
loss. I dont think its a medical condition because he can make it to
the bathroom he knows when he has to go it doesnt hurt. I make him
go to bed early I take away tv I've spanked nothing has worked. He
will go to the bathroom for a couple weeks sometimes a month no
problem then out of nowhere he starts pooping in his pants again.
It's not alot though usually one small to medium size like he's
holding it in doesnt want to go I think because he's too busy
playing to stop and go any idea's on how to make him go and stop
this nonsense? Please help


It is not entirely unheard of for 6yo, especially boys, to poop their
pants, but it is definitely unwanted. If you are absolutely sure it is
not a medical issue, the most likely problem is that he doesn't feel
he has to go, or ignores it. This behaviour has to be changed asap,
the older he gets, the harder it is to learn this properly again.



I doubt this asap business.

We are in a similar situation with our 5.5yo. First and foremost thing
to do is not make this an issue for him. When he poops his pants, let
him clean it up, wash his own bottom and change. You can even let him
wash his underwear. He has to become aware that his poop is his
responsibility and noone else's. Do NOT get angry or upset, just
ignore it entirely.



I agree with this.

For DS1 we have a fixed schedule of going to the bathroom: before a
meal he goes to pee and wash his hands. After every meal he can take
a small toy and goes to the bathroom for 5 minutes (we give him a
timer) to try to poop. If nothing comes, that's OK. If he poops, he
gets praise and a sticker with which he is saving up for computer
time (you can make him save time for anything he really enjoys
doing). During the weekends he gets to use up his time whenever he
likes. When things are going well, we reward him with extra stickers
to keep him motivated.
Also pay attention to his behaviour, see if you can find clues that he
has to go. We noticed that DS would always go play in his room just
before he pooped his pants. So he now has to ask to go to his room,
and then I tell him to go to the bathroom first.



For my child by the age of 5 or 6 this would have been micromanagement and
would be counter productive to the former idea that the child is responsible
for going to the bathroom or the consequences of not. I would stick to the
first paragraph and leave the rest behind. If he was still training, that
would be a different problem. But IIRC he was formerly confident in his
ability and is backsliding.

All of this based on the assumption that the child does not have a medical
issue, which I would confirm with a pediatrician first. It would be terribly
frustrating and counter productive for the child to get no assistance when
he literally *cannot* control the issue.

HTH! We noticed a really quick improvement when we started this
schedule. Within a week or two DS was nearly clean. Since then he has
had an occasional accident, but is OK overall. If you don't notice
improvement, take your DS to see a pediatrician.

I




Beth Kevles May 14th 08 01:31 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 

Encoporesis (pooping in the pants) is not *that* unusual in school-aged
children. If it appears *after* the completion of toilet training
(typically when a child starts formal schooling) then it probably means
that that the child has gotten into the habit of holding back (for
example, waiting to get home to poop) with the consequence that the
bowel becomes distorted and it moves from a behavioral problem to a
medical problem.

And yes, if not attended to and resolved, it can become a problem with
very long-term consequences.

The medical problem is basically that, with the bowel distored by the
large amount of poop retained, the signals that normally tell you when
you need to go stop working and the child stops even realizing that his
bowel is full. And the poop seeps out, without the child having any
control.

The solution is multi-step.

First, if the behavioral root of the problem still exists, eliminate
it. Sometimes it can be as simple as telling the child it's okay to use
the toilet at school. Sometimes it means solving a bullying problem in
the bathroom. Whatever it is, resolve it as best you can.

Now, the medical part. It's important that your child get on a regular
schedule, at least for a while. Many doctors recommend a diet high in
fiber and fluids, but also a daily dose of mineral oil. Then require
your child to sit on the toilet every morning and evening.

Once your chid is pooping at least once a day the problem will start to
resolve. After a couple of months of regularity, the bowel should stop
being distended and the child should be recognizing his own body signals
successfully.

Frequent soiling is definitely a problem to be discussed with the
child's pediatrician. Although withholding can be a cause, there are
other possible causes as well.

I hope these thoughts help,
--Beth Kevles
-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the GMAIL one if you would
like me to reply.

Stephanie[_2_] May 14th 08 01:45 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
Beth Kevles wrote:
Encoporesis (pooping in the pants) is not *that* unusual in
school-aged children. If it appears *after* the completion of toilet
training (typically when a child starts formal schooling) then it
probably means that that the child has gotten into the habit of
holding back (for example, waiting to get home to poop) with the
consequence that the
bowel becomes distorted and it moves from a behavioral problem to a
medical problem.


How would one know if this were the case unless A. the child was willing to
express some kind of issue B. soiling (or leakage) or C. bleeding? Are there
other tell-tale signs?

Thanks


And yes, if not attended to and resolved, it can become a problem with
very long-term consequences.

The medical problem is basically that, with the bowel distored by the
large amount of poop retained, the signals that normally tell you when
you need to go stop working and the child stops even realizing that
his bowel is full. And the poop seeps out, without the child having
any control.

The solution is multi-step.

First, if the behavioral root of the problem still exists, eliminate
it. Sometimes it can be as simple as telling the child it's okay to
use the toilet at school. Sometimes it means solving a bullying
problem in the bathroom. Whatever it is, resolve it as best you can.

Now, the medical part. It's important that your child get on a
regular schedule, at least for a while. Many doctors recommend a
diet high in fiber and fluids, but also a daily dose of mineral oil.
Then require your child to sit on the toilet every morning and
evening.

Once your chid is pooping at least once a day the problem will start
to resolve. After a couple of months of regularity, the bowel should
stop being distended and the child should be recognizing his own body
signals successfully.

Frequent soiling is definitely a problem to be discussed with the
child's pediatrician. Although withholding can be a cause, there are
other possible causes as well.

I hope these thoughts help,
--Beth Kevles
-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the
milk-allergic Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be
construed as medical advice. Please consult with your own medical
practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the GMAIL one if you
would like me to reply.




Banty May 14th 08 04:15 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 
In article , Beth Kevles
says...


Encoporesis (pooping in the pants) is not *that* unusual in school-aged
children. If it appears *after* the completion of toilet training
(typically when a child starts formal schooling) then it probably means
that that the child has gotten into the habit of holding back (for
example, waiting to get home to poop) with the consequence that the
bowel becomes distorted and it moves from a behavioral problem to a
medical problem.

And yes, if not attended to and resolved, it can become a problem with
very long-term consequences.

The medical problem is basically that, with the bowel distored by the
large amount of poop retained, the signals that normally tell you when
you need to go stop working and the child stops even realizing that his
bowel is full. And the poop seeps out, without the child having any
control.

The solution is multi-step.

First, if the behavioral root of the problem still exists, eliminate
it. Sometimes it can be as simple as telling the child it's okay to use
the toilet at school. Sometimes it means solving a bullying problem in
the bathroom. Whatever it is, resolve it as best you can.

Now, the medical part. It's important that your child get on a regular
schedule, at least for a while. Many doctors recommend a diet high in
fiber and fluids, but also a daily dose of mineral oil. Then require
your child to sit on the toilet every morning and evening.

Once your chid is pooping at least once a day the problem will start to
resolve. After a couple of months of regularity, the bowel should stop
being distended and the child should be recognizing his own body signals
successfully.


There are kids and adult people who aren't and will never be daily eliminators.
Indeed, expecting this can lead to just the frustrations that cause the
problems. There are also kids and adult people who need to eliminate when they
get the signals, if they deny the urge for whatever reason, they then need to
wait for more urgent signals some time (hours) later, and *can't* go on schedule
or on any given opportunity (I'm one of the latter, always have been.)


Frequent soiling is definitely a problem to be discussed with the
child's pediatrician. Although withholding can be a cause, there are
other possible causes as well.


Definately something to be discussed with a ped and also there is a need to find
if there is a cause for underlying hesitancy. It could be bad bathroom setups
in school as you say (filth, far away, bullying), it can also be an over-busy
home schedule which doesn't allow for elimination enough opportunities through
the day. Or it could be over-involvement in play. A good pediatrician will be
aware of what the various issues may be, some of which may be totally outside
the experience of someone who doesn't have a problem and eliminates daily,
because people don't talk about this stuff!

But micromanaging it can miss the cause and even directly make it *worse*.

Banty


Beth Kevles May 14th 08 05:40 PM

my 6 year old poops his pants
 

Hi --

I know that some people think the method I outlined (not my own method,
by the way, but one that's recommended by many pediatricians) is
micro-managing, but really, it's about emptying a distended bowel so
that the child can get back to whatever elimination schedule is normal
for him or her. If the source of the problem is NOT a distended bowel
triggered by witholding, then of course, this solution could make the
problem worse. But if the source of the problem IS what I've outlined,
then you this is the recommended course of action.

The $1000 question, of course, is just what IS the source of the
problem. And that's why it's important to check in with your child's
doctor before treating.

--Beth Kevles
-THE-COM-HERE
http://web.mit.edu/kevles/www/nomilk.html -- a page for the milk-allergic
Disclaimer: Nothing in this message should be construed as medical
advice. Please consult with your own medical practicioner.

NOTE: No email is read at my MIT address. Use the GMAIL one if you would
like me to reply.


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