Sneaky Poo

Product Information

The bowel's natural tendency to move after the intake of food is a great ally in the campaign against soiling, because it enables parents to predict when a motion is likely to occur and encourage the child to sit on the toilet at those times. Maintaining a regular toileting routine is important. Encourage the child to sit on the toilet 15-20 minutes after breakfast, lunch and dinner when the gastro-colic reflex is active. Allow enough time for children who attend childcare or school to sit on the toilet before you leave home. Praise/reward the act of sitting on the toilet rather than just results. We have strong muscles in our large bowel that squeeze poo along (this movement is called peristalsis). As it travels through the bowel, water is removed turning poo into a smooth sausage shape.

This third group, who continue soiling into their primary school years, is quite unlike the first two groups because there is - or is likely to be - a genuine physical reason for the continued soiling. In contrast to the common cultural and professional practice of identifying the person as the problem or the problem as within the person, this work depicts the problem as external to the person. It does so not in the conviction that the problem is objectively separate, but as a linguistic counter-practice that makes more freeing constructions available. When the bowel is working normally, children should produce a soft, easy to pass poo at least 4 times a week. Ideally, children should pass some soft poo every day. Viewing the child as facing rather than being a problem is a helpful start to preserving the fluidity of identity formation. Externalization seems a natural fit for many children. It is compatible with the way they typically approach difficulties in the dynamic learning environment of play. In play, along with hats, costumes, and accents, multiple perspectives and roles are tried on during “dressup” and other games. This fluidity allows the child to explore variations of attitude, identity and behavior–to try out the emotional flavor of the moment or day. In fact, when a child’s play is repetitive, ritualistic, or confined in its range of roles and behaviors, we may wonder about abuse or other severe interruptions to developing identity.

Causes of bowel problems

Breaking the stool withholding cycle needs a two pronged approach - sort the physical first and then you can work on the behavioural side effects of being scared to poo. Epston, D. (Autumn, 1989a) Temper tantrum parties: Saving face, losing face, or going off your face! Dulwich Centre Newsletter, 12-26.

Travelling down the neuro pathway: Narrative practice, neuroscience, bodies, emotions and the affective turn Roth, S. & Epston, D. (1996a). Consulting the problem about the problematic relationship: An exercise for experiencing a relationship with an externalized problem. In M. Hoyt (Ed.) Constructive therapies: Volume 2., (148-162). New York: Guilford. Freedman, J., & Combs G. (1996). Narrative therapy: The social construction of preferred realities. New York: Norton. Seek professional help: If there appears to be no progress, seek advice from your health visitor or Community learning disability team if necessaryFreeman, J., Epston, D. & Lobovits, D. (1997). Playful approaches to serious problems: Narrative therapy with children and their families. New York: Norton.

Going into denial. You child may say: "I don't need a poo and I haven't had an accident" when you can clearly smell that they have! This is a classic stress response to a situation they feel embarrassed about but don't know how to stop or control.A change in routine such as potty training, starting school and feeling anxious about doing a poo away from home can make it hard to relax and do a poo. Shopify sets this cookie to remember the user’s country of origin and populate the correct transaction currency.

When children stop the urge to do a poo it’s very easy for them to get trapped in a vicious circle of withholding.When their poo hurts or they are fearful of the toilet, they find it hard to relax and are anxious it will hurt. Try to see it from their point of view - we all avoid things that hurt us, but as adults we have learnt about consequences and can understand the risk of long term effects. These children (usually boys) have never been reliably clean for more than a few weeks or perhaps a few months at a time. They are most unlikely to pass a full motion into their pants, and have no anxiety about using the toilet, but will soil their pants most days to a level which is immediately apparent to others nearby. Although the smell is very noticeable to others, these children seem not to be aware of it, or to be worried by the physical discomfort of dirty pants. Encourage your child to use a foot stool to support their feet while sitting on the toilet, and lean forward with their elbows on their knees (this opens up the pelvic floor muscles and allows the bowel motion to pass out more easily).

What is normal bowel function?

Whichever method is used, once there have been a few successes the problem usually disappears. Even without any kind of intervention, in my experience it is very unlikely that the behaviour will persist past the age of 5. Lobovits, D., & Prowell, J. (1995). Unexpected journey: Invitations to diversity. Paper from workshop presented at “Narrative Ideas and Therapeutic Practice,” Fourth International Conference, Vancouver, BC. Unfortunately, despite all efforts relapses are common, and final remission probably depends on physical maturity. This cookie, set by YouTube, registers a unique ID to store data on what videos from YouTube the user has seen.