Potty

Updated on August 11, 2009
S.W. asks from Flagstaff, AZ
6 answers

I have a 7 year old girl. I am having some issues with her poopen in her pants. She holds it all the time. I have tried everything. Shes probably been doing this for about 2 years. Does anybody have some advise for me on this subject?

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N.O.

answers from Phoenix on

My daughter was holder all through potty training. It is so hard because it creates a vicious cycle. They hold it because they feel it will hurt then it hurts because they hold it. My daughter would hold it for 4-5 days and it was just so sad. We basically had to change her diet and give her supplements and medicines every day to make it easier for her to go or so easy she could not hold it in until she trusted it would not hurt and be scary. Please know this can take time but it is worth it. We had to eliminate or drastically decrease dairy from her diet, give her vitamin c supplements, miralax, high fiber foods, no binding foods (bananas, rice, apples, toast), no juice, and lots of water. Eventually things did work out and we could take her off the miralax (we did it for about 2 weeks) and then she stopped holding it.
I would ask your daughter why she holds it and go from there. Ask her if it is a control thing, if she does not want to stop or interupt an activity to take the time to go, if she is afraid it will hurt etc. and if she answers to yes to the first two you will need to talk to her so she can trust that she is not missing out on things by going to the bathroom, and that by holding it in by means of controlling it is not healthy. Hopefully you find this helpful and good luck!

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D.H.

answers from Phoenix on

When a 7-year-old does that, there is an emotional problem - usually she is afraid of something. Find out her fear and help her feel loved and safe, then she will be okay.

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M.P.

answers from Phoenix on

first of all get her checked for any medical reasons for this. if the doctor says everything is ok then proceed. my guess is that her goings on is such that she doesn't want to stop playing to go to the bathroom before she goes. if this is the case and you notice that "went" then I would enforce a time out and not let her continue that activity hopefuly soon she will learn that going to the bathroom is the thing to do.

I know someone that has the problem that if he has to go he has to go right now not in 5 minutes. maybe your daughter has the same thing.

pay attention to her body language and you might have to re train her again.

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A.J.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi S.,

Take her to her pediatrician. There are several things that can cause poop in the pants. I would not take medical advice from peeps on here..perhaps listen to their experiences and discuss them with the doctor.

I know of a boy who had similar troubles. He was diagnosed with Encopresis. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encopresis - not a medical site, but some insight). The doc did an abdominal x-ray to rule out blockage, had him take an over the counter med to "clean" him out, changed his diet, talked to him, and gave advise to the parents to help change the situation. It cleared up.

Good luck!

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D.W.

answers from Phoenix on

I would also give the pediatrician a call for an opinion. Some kids have physical issues that may make it hard for them to know when it is time.

D.

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H.M.

answers from Phoenix on

Try Fleet fiber gummies from pedia-lax. I've seen them at walgreeens. They work much better than just plain fiber.

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