6 year old still having poo accidents

[mumcop]

Just that really. 6 year old son has always struggled with poo's.
I'm not sure if it's laziness, anxiety or he just doesn't realise?
He can be an anxious child. But is very happy at school and at home. No other issue with him. His a happy healthy little boy.
I use to think it was a change of routine that would start him off. He can go weeks without any accident then have 4 in one day. He says he didn't know he needed to go. He doesn't tell us/teacher either so can be in dirty pants for ages before we notice.
I have tried everything! I work with young children so Iv dealt with most things! But this has me beat ☹️
Any advice would be welcome. And please be kind pretty down about it. Thanks

Is he constipated, Or withholding? Are they full accidents, or small squishy ones?

Have a read about encopresis. My daughter has it.

You will get answers, and most will be kind! Anyone else who has been through it knows how it feels!

You need to look at the ERIC website. They are really good and they have a help line.
Also, google the Poo Nurses.
They are an excellent support resource.

Have there been any big changes at home? Pregnancy/new sibling? My Dd was 4 so younger than your lad but she started having accidents when I was pregnant with Dc2.

Mine too. Has pants smeared with loads of pop virtually every day - keeps saying he "didn't realize" it was coming out. Also a very anxious child (I suspect ASD). I don't think he's constipated though. We're at our wits end with this and so many other aspects of his behaviour.

No changes at home.

I'll have a look at these suggestions. Thank you everyone

Could it be over flow from constipation? We dealt with this on and off for about 18 months holding it and then constipation

I still have nightmares, 24 years on from dealing with retention and overflow!

Also had son at that age with accidents and doctor though it was constipation and overflow.

He was given a mild laxative to take but we tried to change his diet and ensure we tried to encourage him to sit and have a poo at a regular time every day. This seemed to work and did clear up completely but we do keep an eye on his diet , he's now 8 and absolutely fine.

Forgot to say interestingly our little boy was also like yours healthy and happy but something over anxious about things so we always thought it was anxiety causing it

Likely will be overflow from constipation, it’s very possible to still be constipated even when pooing regularly. I would see GP for movicol powders to start a disimpaction regime. Basically starts on a high dose to clear the bowel out, then reduces to a maintenance dose whilst the bowel learns to take over again.

Thank you so much for all the responses. I had a look at the poo nurse site. And did some reading.
Iv started him on a mild laxative. His on day two today. I sat him on the loo with a magazine this morning and we had success

I don't want to hijack your thread but I'm hoping that the same people who've replied can give me some advice.

My daughter hates going to the toilet. She says it hurts, it smells, it's takes too long.

I have been extremely sensitive about this with her; saying that EVERYBODY poos, I even made up a song about it but after finding at least 15 pairs of soiled pants hidden behind a book case - I feel I need tough love because I don't know what else to do.

I do feel a little bad, and sad as I've just told her I'm not feeding her anymore as I'm not "adding to her rubbish bin until she empties it" - Terrible mum I know 🤦‍♀️

She isn't aware of it but she's walking around with a constant "aroma" and I don't want that for her, especially at school.

We've had the Movicol a few years ago but once she gets regular, we stop it. I realise now that she may need to stay on it.

Is there something else going on ? Possibly but she doesn't appear overly anxious about things and I talk very openly about everything she asks about.
Dad and I are separated, have been for 4 years now, but we have a very good relationship and the children (she has a 6yr brother) see us both regularly.

I think she just hates going because she doesn't like poop, and how it feels and smells 🙁

Thanks for reading and any advice would be appreciated.

Have you downloaded Poo goes to Pooland?
Staying on movicol might help.
Other than that, has she a stool to rest her feet? That is a better position. Some people find blowing bubbles helps - if you pretend to do it, you can feel the muscle relaxing! (Especially if you say it is magic bubble mix). A star chart for some amazing item? A little smear of vaseline to help ease things?
If you get more suggestions, try them, try them all!

Or after a few teaspoons of syrup of figs 😬
And she actually liked the taste of it !!!

It's such a worry though esp after 4 days days 🤦‍♀️

My ds made it to day 10; that was worrying as usually he went regularly on a Thursday! Liquid Paraffin sorted him eventually, but I think movicol is the modern choice. i don't think liquid paraffin is permitted these days. It's really frustrating to deal with, it's so illogical.

Wow 10 days - that must have been a worry.

When I found my daughter stash of pants my heart sank - the fact that she was hiding them thinking that maybe she would get into trouble 😢

The ten day event was solved with a very extreme laxative ( this was 27 years ago), it was really hard to get anyone to believe me. It probably took three years and a television medical programme to sort things - mumsnet and similar are brilliant for finding someone who has been through a situation.
If you have tried movicol, speak to someone about how to maintain it. avoid anything like fabulous new knickers that she has to keep nice, as she can't. Would she like a potty - is she scared of the toilet? (Mumsnet mummies tend not to like potties, but they give good support and position).
I never found any food or drink helped - but pear juice, prunes, bread with seeds, oranges - some people swear by different things.

Contact your school nurse for help.

Did you watch the poo nurses video, OP? Watch it all the way to the end and download a copy of the Bristol stool chart.

So I found out today that her teacher mentioned something to her Dad when he collected her last week as she noticed a smell.

You think you have a breakthrough when she goes after several days only for it to start all over again.

We are just moving to a lovely new home and I have given her her own bathroom to fill with lovely smelling things and pictures and have also told her to put her pants straight in the bin and nobody will mind.

My poor lovely sweet little girl .... I just wish I could help her 😢

You can help her. But it will be a long process. If it is impaction with overflow, which it sounds like, you need to disimpact and do the maintenance programme. It takes weeks, months, sometimes years but it can be done. You have to stick with it and the whole family has to be on the same page.
Contact ERIC.

I agree, a good poo solves the overflow for a couple of days, but then there's a build up again. You need to keep preventing a buildup which takes time.
You have my sympathy!