What possible reasons are there for poo smearing

[tempname1]

in a 7 year old boy?

apart from abuse.

Excuse name change for this.

Autism.

For some reason some children on the autistic spectrum treat poo in the same way that they'd treat paint.

Hi tempname1

Apart from abuse, it can for be a whole lot of other reasons, attention seeking, emotional upset (starting a new school, for example); however we have it, periodically, from DS2 who is on the spectrum. I expect it happens when he is a bit stressed or overtired. It happens for a week or two and we talk about it - this sounds awful but he seems to have an urge to touch his poo - and then it stops again.

It has stopped at the moment. I'm glad you mentioned it, it's not something I can talk about at the school with the other mummies.

THere are suspicions that he is on the spectrum. He does the smearing when he is very angry and does it in secret.

Is it something that's happened 'overnight' (so to speak)? Are there any other behaviours that concern you?

Lots of behaviours tbh. Is poo smearing at this age ever 'normal' or must there be something else going on??

sorry to be so cloak and daggers but dont want to be recognised.

x-posts with lots of knowledgable people (I type very slowly) Ignore me. Don't know anything. Just didn't want you to go unanswered

For my DS1, smearing [s]is[/s] (fingers crossed) was definately a sensory issue.

My DS2-11, diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder (RAD), smears poo, also in secret and when angry.

Meant to say he was doing it when he was seven too.