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Stool witholding, any advice?

4 replies

Magentaa · 21/02/2023 23:02

Dd5 has had this issue since starting potty aged 2.5/3 she found the transition difficult and had lactose etc. At age 5 she still doesn’t go for a poo without being prompted by myself or DH. She is not constipated and can go daily if we keep on at her, if we don’t say anything she will hold it for days. She is very bright and understands that she ‘needs to go’ but she will squirm, sit awkwardly and act out to avoid going. Her behaviour when she needs to go is next level. She does have some wee accidents also but this is because she is waiting until the last minute before going. She never has wee accidents at school though so she know when she needs to go. All the doctors do is give softening medication but her poo although large sometimes( when held for a few days) looks soft. I don’t understand why she doesn’t just go, we have talked about it so much. Has anyone else got experience? Could there be more to it? adhd? Or sensory?

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MattieandmummyandIs · 22/02/2023 08:51

I can't offer any advice but there is an organisation called ERIC that is specifically for children with toileting issues for all sorts of reasons. They have lots of advice on their website - perhaps have a look there. They have a helpline too.

eric.org.uk/helpline/

OracleMiracle · 22/02/2023 09:00

It does sound sensory, and you may want to explore further as suggested above. In the meantime, have you tried a visual timetable? Take photos of your child carrying out daily morning/nighttime routines and include ‘toilet time’ (or however you refer to it) at a particular part of the day eg after breakfast/before bath-time. That way the passing stools becomes a part of the daily routine with a set time i the day just like brushing teeth and having a bedtime story. Maybe it will help normalise it and reduce the stress it clearly creates. (Worth a try?)
(Visual time table: a list of photos/pictures of daily routines stuck up on wall. As the child completes each one, (Get out of bed/go to the toilet/eat breakfast/brush teeth/get dressed etc) the child removes it from the wall (blu-tack/Velcro) and pops it in he ‘completed’ box. It gives clear guidance of expectations which become a game and create a sense of control, independence and achievement.)

Magentaa · 22/02/2023 11:41

I have heard of ERIC before but never really found things that relate if that makes sense. The visual time table is an excellent idea and I will define be giving this ago. Fingers crossed it helps her. I have booked in with the doctors again as not sure if there are other behavioural things going on also. Thank you so much for your advice it’s very much appreciated 😊 x

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YMZ · 23/02/2023 20:03

Go to the ERIC website. It’s more common than you would think.

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