Becoming A Super Pooper
Why is it that so many young and not so young children are resistant to do their number two business in the toilet? This common problem can quickly progress to more serious issues. Poop is going to come out one way or another! Holding it in becomes a vicious cycle. The more you hold it in, the harder the stool gets. This leads to pain with having a bowel movement which causes children to resist pooping even more. Constipation caused by holding can lead to encopresis, a condition where hard stool forms a blockage which causes liquid stool to seep around it and stain underwear. Chronic stool holders can develop irreversible stretching of the colon and a lack of sensing the need for a bowel movement which leads to chronic soiling.
Prevention is naturally the goal and starts with the onset of toilet training. Often one of the first signs of body awareness is noticing that your toddler squats in a private corner of the room when having a bowel movement. When you notice this behavior, this is a great time to encourage your youngster to visit the potty. Another trick for those kids who are born regular is to sit them on the potty just about that time that they usually poop. Once your child starts sitting regularly on the potty, have them visit the potty after meals even if they don’t have to “go”. After we eat our bodies make room for the new food by stimulating us to have a bowel movement. It is possible to “train” your kids to poop the same time each day with this approach.
Training
Lots of toilet trained kids become resistant to pooping on the potty and that is because kids are very busy. They have lots of playing, adventures and exploring to do throughout the day. Once they discover that they can hold it in, that’s what they do. Who wants to stop playing to visit the bathroom? As stated above you can prevent this from leading to chronic constipation by having your child sit on the toilet for a few minutes after each meal to let nature do the trick and train your child to have a consistent poop time. That way no worries about interrupting playtime.
Diet
Eating a well-balanced diet, loaded with whole grains, high fiber fruits and vegetables and plenty of water throughout the day certainly helps to prevent constipation. Avoiding “white” foods like simple carbs, added sugars and excessive dairy products also helps combat against constipation. For pickier eaters, a fiber supplement can be helpful and cutting back on milk consumption will often do the trick.
Addressing Constipation
Once constipation has developed it is difficult to reverse with dietary changes alone. The pipes need to be cleaned out first, so to speak. There are many products out there to deal with constipation. Glycerin suppositories lubricate the anal opening and stimulate bowel emptying making it more comfortable to pass a hard stool. Stool softeners are taken orally and can soften the stool to make it easier to pass. Laxatives are more effective and come in two varieties.
Stimulate laxatives (like Exlax) trigger movement of the colon which forces the stool out, but it can lead to belly pain.
Osmotic laxatives, like Mirilax, are gentler, pulling water into the gut to make stool more liquid.
Most pediatricians will recommend an osmotic laxative for children with constipation. Enemas, thankfully, are usually a last resort.
Take these steps and your fearful pooper will soon be a super pooper!
Address constipation immediately by discussing treatment with your pediatrician
Increase fiber and water intake and decrease constipating foods including milk
Have your child sit on the toilet for 5-10 minutes after each meal. Give them a book to read or an iPad to play with to encourage them to sit
Proper posture matters. Have them sit far back on the toilet with their back leaning on the lid and place their feet up on a stool
Watch the Youtube video, “The Poo in You” with your children, a great video describing the hows and whys of Poop!