What else to do with a 6-year old boy who continues to poop in pants, smears, poops in tub & puts it on floor?

Question

I have 2 children and 1 on the way in 3/07. My son has pooped in his pants, in the tub, on floor, used to put in toys when he was 2-3. Was potty trained and did well on and off. The last 6 months have been hell. We have tried spanking, making him clean it up, talked about toileting skills, checked his bottom to be sure it's clean during the day, taken away toys, therapy, you name it. I'm tired of throwing away underwear and cleaning poop. He starts 1st grade soon and I'm worried. He stinks and doesn't seem to care. My 4-year old daughter has great toileting skills. I'm starting to lose it, yelling at him about it, I guess because I just can't fix it. Please help.

Answer 1

He might be autistic or have problems like ADHD.Try taking professional help,specialising with these issues.

Answer 2

Hmm...that is a curious problem. Did you ask him straightforward why he has stopped going in the potty? Maybe he'll just tell you. My first thought was maybe he is suffering from autism because autistic kids tend to be fascinated by their feces, but you'd probably have identified it by now. Reading the additional details, I was wondering if this could be him acting out in response to you having a new baby on the way. You've tried punishing him obviously, what if you turned it around and made a reward system? Make a big poster and get some star stickers, those shiny metallic ones. Everytime he goes in the toilet, let him put a star on the poster. When he reaches a certain number (say 5, 10, 15) give him rewards. Maybe a special day out with mommy and daddy all by himself? If he is getting jealous that would work. Other wise, you've done a lot. If that doesn't work, stick him back in pull ups, continue therapy, and hope for the best. Good luck!

Answer 3

He's having an issue. Is there some sort of upheaval in your house? Have you moved? Did you divorce or remarry? The new baby on the way could do it to. I'd say he has some sort of disorder having to do with change. I say this because that is what caused my oldest daughter to do that sort of thing when she was about his age. It will pass. He may need a better therapist. My daughters therapist told me at the time to make my daughter wash out her underwear in the sink completely three times every time she got them dirty. I can't remember what the technique is called but give it a try. Don't stress to much these things happen a lot more than you think. In thinking about it a little more you could try to provide a very structured environment for your son. Make a schedule and stick to it. Sometimes that helps with these sorts of behaviors. My email is [e-mail] if you would like to discuss this further.

Answer 4

What kind of therapy? I remember when my mother had a daycare here in our home and this boy was your son's age. And he always stunk, and he pooped in our bathroom one day before he left our house and he wiped it everywhere you can think of. my mother was livid! Does he poop regularly? My best friends son does that too, and he is potty trained also. He is only 4 years old, but he had a problem with pooping. He wouldn't be able to go for like a week or two. Then he would poop his pants. He had to get a flush of something done at the hospital. So they cleaned him out and he did not have a problem. It sounds like the same problem he has, I would take him to a doctor and have him cleaned out. It might help him. Good luck

Answer 5

Honestly I'm going throught that same thing with my 7 year old but he's been diagnosed with autism and it's a very difficult situation. I often catch myself yelling at him and sometimes he gets smacked for it. I hate myself for it because I'm still learning how to deal with this and it's really hard I have to constantly remind myself that he is not an average child. I hate that he's not able to understand that going on himself is a bad thing, but he's slowy progressing he's even cleaning himself after he goes. I check him out just in case. My advice to you is talk to your sons pediatrician about this. Your pediatrician will probably refer you to a specialist to reevaluate your sons actions/behavior. Have him checked out it's the best thing that you can do for your son right now. For the time being if you already have a potty chair start him off on that. Use a reward system, whenever you see that he uses it reward him with a treat (candy, chips etc.). This way he'll see that using the potty is a goog thing. You can also encourage him by telling him he did a good job by going to the potty. Positive reinforcement sometimes works too.(do this until you see his pediatrician). Good luck and take care. If you'd like to talk some more about this, email me at [e-mail].

Answer 6

I would recommend seeing a doctor immediately. He would be able to determine whether something is wrong with your son physically, and if not, he could recommend a psychologist or psychiatrist to help. This seems serious, and alternating between positive and negative reinforcement will probably only confuse him. I realize you've already tried therapy, but I would start again- you need an outside influence who may be able to diagnose his problem and get him on the right track.

Answer 7

That sounds like something for a good child psychologist! There might be some emotional issue underlying the poopy problem! Go get some professional help, and if one therapist doesn't work, go to another!

Answer 8

I would suggest that you speak to your family physician about the problem to see if there is a medical reason for the problem. After that, I would suggest you see a child psychologist to see if there is something they can do to help. This kid sounds messed up and you need to find some form of outside assistance to help you get through this before you lose it. Good luck!

Answer 9

Oh my god ? Look you need to put some pull-ups on the boy so he knows that you are going to treat him like a baby. and let him know that school is starting soon and the kids are going to make fun at him if he smells like poop just kind of a reverse thing you know hope it works good-luck.

Answer 10

Hello-
I gotta say this is not normal. If he poops his pants at school, you will be called in and they will require this be handled. There are sanitary issues involved here.

You need to get him to toe pediatrician and perhaps a gastroenterologist. He may not be able to hold it in or something. This is not normal, and needs to be addressed now. He will never live in down with his peers.

Hope it works out.

Answer 11

No parent likes to go to the main extreme's on this one. Personally if I had one that was super and one on the way? I would not need one in the middle whom I could not trust around a new born with his filthy habits. Your best bet to be honest besides giving him away or institutional lock up. DR.PHIL ever watched him? If he couldn't resolve the problem or help you with it; then you are doomed.