does anyone have any solutions for a 3yr old who continues to poo in her pants, and withold poo?

Question

She is uncomfortable at times, but will not push it out. Nothing seems to work, treats, incentives, praise or reprimands! is she a clssic anal retentive?

Answer 1

Please consider the fact that she may have Encopresis. Encopresis is a combo physical/psychological disorder in which children withhold bowel movements until they are chronically constipated. This causes the bowel to stretch until they actually lose the ability to sense when they need to go. They will frequently have accidents in their pants, leaking of watering feces, usually will deny that they are dirty, or that they need to go to the bathroom, are very resistant to being made to sit on the toilet, etc.
This is actually a very common problem, but one that people know very little about, and most often keep secret within their families. It can be very, very difficult to treat and can take a long time once it has become entrenched behaviour. I urge you to read up on this disorder, and then seek the advice of a Pediatrician. It is usually treated with a combination of laxatives and behaviour modification.

Answer 2

my son had the same problems, we had to watch his dairy consumption, this causes binding and discomfort, and at times even pain when having a bowel movement.
Prunes, and whole fibers as well as offering drinks, water is best throughout the day to make sure she was well hydrated, so the pain and constipation was not the issue, delaying using the toilet.
Low stress, repetition, explaining what it is you expect, but reprimanding her can delay the whole process and cause more stress. Be patient, you won't be sending her off to college with the problem. It will work it's self out.
It took about 6 months for my little guy to over come his fear of the pain, and successfully poo in the potty.

Answer 3

How about a higher fiber diet? Then, I don't think she would physically be able to hold it in. I wouldn't try to bring too much attention to fact that she is withholding her bowel movements. I would think that would encourage her to do it even more. I once took a psych class where a study showed that kids like your daughter were just overly shy individuals. She'll grow out of it. My son did the same thing. He was potty trained at 2 but refused to poop in the toilet. He would sneak off under the table or into the closet to do his business. But, one day, when he was about 3 1/2, he just started doing it in the toilet.

Answer 4

My 3yo son is doing the very same thing. He simply doesn't want to poop in the toilet. He'll pee just fine. If he wears underwear, he'll hold it until we put him down for the night in pull-ups. If I could avoid the pull-ups at bedtime I would, but he still can't control his bladder at night, even if he has no liquids after a certain time.

I am not stressing over it. Eventually he'll decide to poop in the toilet. I tried bribing him a couple of times, and it worked, but he still won't be consistent. Just hang in there. She won't be the only kid in kindergarten who isn't potty-trained.

Answer 5

At age 3, your child should be able to communicate! The decision rests with perception. My grandson chose not to co-operate at about that age, so we hosed him down in the yard a few times. It was warm. That seemed to get his attention. Kids do what seems to them to work. Why does she seem to think this works? and how can you change her perception?

Answer 6

No she dosnt want to that's all, try not to make a big thing of it sometimes it's an attention thing even though she probably gets plenty of attention. it wont happen overnight but it will happen.

Answer 7

Dr needs to make sure this baby does not have any kidney probs!!