4Yr Old Pooping in His Pants Again

Hi D.! Wish i had some advice for you, but my 2 3/4 yr old dd is kinda going through that also so I"m no help. Could it be food related? Or some stress? Maybe a change of schedule or routines? My dd's is most likely related to her allergies. I did want to let you know that I also homeschool and would love to chat about what you do and how you do it. We're just getting started and I'm kinda looking for advice and experience, so if you have any to share I'd love it. Good luck to you! - J.

Argh, I feel your pain! My daughter, who is five and has an ASD, goes through phases where she poops in her pants. For the past year, she's used the toilet for BMs almost exclusively...still, every couple of months, she loses her groove for two or three days. What I do: I do NOT make a production out of it (eg, scolding), and I do NOT put her back in diapers. I simply clean her off, remind her that we make poops on the potty, and have her dress herself again.

Some issues I know have factored into her lapses: constipation, stomach virus, and not wanting to use a public toilet (and given the condition of a few of them, I can't say I blame her).

Hopefully your son will get back on track soon. Good luck.

a full load or just a little? My almost 5 year old tends to try holding it back as much as he can and when some comes out, he rushes to the bathroom and goes. Yesterday, he somehow had 2 pairs of dirty underwear (can't figure that one out except I think he may have had a little accident at daycare - he refuses to go there, came home, changed and then dirtied the second pair).

At one time, I told him it was his job to clean it. He thought of it as the grossest thing and it stopped him for a while. We then moved to a tresure box full of goodies. If he goes poop at daycare, he gets to pick a toy out. That worked too (for a while)

D.,

I would not go back to pull-ups. If he poops in his pants, just gentle say, oh no an accident. Then guide him into the bathroom and tell him to take his pants and underpants off and have him clean up his mess. Don't make a big deal out of anything. Then have him put his stuff in the laundry basket and get new underpants on, etc. After a few times most kids will remember to go to the bathroom. I was a professional nanny for twenty years and potty trained several children and whenever they did this I would help guide them and encourage them to clean themselves and soon they were back on track. I would remind them that they were the ones who made the mess and they should clean it up. Hang in there!

K.

Are you homeschooling your others and not him? Not sure I'm clear. Could he be missing everyone?
For sure I would never make a big deal out of it as that makes a lasting impression....
If he was fine before and this is new I'm wondering if something is bothering him???

I wouldn't go back to pull-ups, that's for sure. Just give him some time and hopefully it will pass quickly.

Have you ruled out encopresis? Many pediatricians are not that knowledgable about it. We struggled with my son for many years until we got a referral to a specialist at University of Chicago. By then the encopresis had gotten so bad it took years to correct. I am not saying that is what it is but it is something to think about. The earlier you start treatment the better and quicker you can fix it. If it is just a training issue I have no suggestions because I only have the son and since he had awful encopresis he never potty trained like a "normal" child. If you have any questions about encopresis seriously email me. We are now on the other side of treatment and I wish I had known someone to help me during treatment. Good luck