Let’s Talk About Poop!
With potty training parents don’t necessarily need to train separately for bowel movements.
Typically, bowel movements do not occur without the sensation of needing to urinate.
Once the child has demonstrated the ability to potty, poop or bowel movements just come “naturally”.
However, that is not to say that parents might not encounter the occasional problem with bowel movements.
Some children refuse to poop on the potty, preferring rather to use their pants or pull-up.
What is a parent to do?
Mommy it Hurts!
First evaluate the situation. Is the child constipated?
If so, bowel movements can be quite painful. Taking the child to a physician for an evaluation may be very profitable.
Often times, Dr.s can prescribe a stool softener to help with bowel movements and greatly reduce pain.
Another source of painful bowel movements can stem from positioning while seated on the potty or toilet.
Make certain that the potty chair you purchased is not applying pressure to their perineum.
Another more subtle cause of pain or more accurately irritation, is the tingling legs from dangling off a high toilet.
Proving your toddler with a stool to rest his feet flat on can make a huge difference in comfort level.
Just Can’t Sit Still
Sometime children refuse to stay seated on the potty while having a bowel movement.
The child may not like the “free-fall” feeling without a diaper or they can be very curious about what is going on and attempt to get a closer look.
This can lead to messes on the potty! Parents may choose to use consequences to reinforce desirable behavior and discipline the negative behavior.
Having the child clean up their own mess can be a natural consequence and often times such an unpleasant experience one time is all it will take!
Parents may place the messy potty into the bathtub after emptying it into the toilet and have the child wash the potty seat.
Just too Busy to Go
Children get so involved in what they are doing at the moment, that they simply refuse to take the time to go to the bathroom.
Withholding a bowel movement is easier than it may seem. Children have been known to sit on their heels rather than get up and use the toilet.
Parents can find themselves dealing with constipation if a child is allowed to continue the habit of delaying a bowel movement.
If a child is chronically putting off bowel movements only to have an accident or is causing constipation, parents may choose to regulate their child.
Ask your physician about foods that will help loosen stools and instruct the child to sit on the potty during times you know they typically have a bowel movement.
Parents of older children may also use consequences like removing toys that are highly distracting, if the child is not taking time to use the potty.
