5 Year Old with Pooping Issues

Updated on March 17, 2013
M.C. asks from Warren, MI
5 answers

My Sweet 5 year old son has some issues with pooping, it just started within the last few months, he's been potty trained since he was 2 1/2, but recently I notice he's holding his poop, or waiting until the last possible second, and a lot of time, I tell him to go, he tells me he doesn't have to, then I make him go sit on the toilet and he poops right away. It's getting very frustrating, I don't think it's from constipation, he eats fruit with lunch and dinner, and he drinks a lot of water. I'm thinking of calling the pediatrician to see what they think. I explained to him it's bad to hold your poop, and he understands that, and I never get mad at him about it, so I don't understand why he try's to ignore the feeling, if anyone has any tips I would appreciate it :)

Thanks

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Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try to think back when he would go poop & see if there was a particular
time of day he would most likely always have to go: morning or
afternoon? Then try to encourage him to go during that time to sit on the
toilet. I gave my son "distratctions" at first (a book, e-reader etc).

2 moms found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from Philadelphia on

I agree, set a schedule. Poopie time sit on the toilet maybe with a book. Set a short time limit see what happens. Other than the set time he simply doesn't want to stop what he is doing to go. But, if he holds it it WILL become painful and then he will hold it and round and round we go. See when he tends to go. Set that time as the time to go and sit him down. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.G.

answers from Dallas on

When my son started kindergarten, he had the same issue, but it wasn't obvious because he was at school. He ended up with encoperisis and is now doing fine.

There is so much going on that they don't want to stop, and they don't want to get poop on their hands, etc. I think they kind of become aware of the body function and aren't 100% comfortable with it.

The pooping schedule really does work. 10-15 minutes after dinner have him sit on the potty for at least 10 minutes with a book or whatever will hold his attention. He will be relaxed and he'll poop. And it'll get him into a pooping routine. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.N.

answers from Dallas on

My son never wants to take the time from what he is doing. When I told the pediatrician this, they said to set a schedule. Say at 4:00 every day you go sit on the potty and try to poop. Then it becomes habit and his body will tell him ooh, its time to poop and if you set it aside, then its like getting ready for bed, or lunch time. It sjust time to do this job.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

Ditto Patricia G's response. You're dealing with a condition called encopresis. Definitely plan a visit to the pediatrician for his/her recommendations for overcoming it.

What we found worked best with our son is a set poop schedule. You may also need to use bribery to overcome the initial mental hurdles to pooping.

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