5 Ways To Deal With Toddler Holding Poop

If you are a mum to a toddler and are worried about your toddler holding poop and refusing to pass stool, then you’re not alone, as this behaviour is very common in toddlers. What is essential, is to understand the cause behind this behaviour because it needs to be resolved or else it can lead to other health problems in your toddler.

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For the first three years of your child’s life make sure you have a stock of natural baby wipes as you will be dealing with many poop issues! From green poop to loose motions, constipation, poop accidents and a toddler holding poop your little human’s poop problems can get pretty frustrating. Especially when your toddler stops pooping which is something most toddlers do during the potty training years. 

Here are some signs and reasons for a toddler holding poop.

What Are The Signs Of A Toddler Holding Poop?

While you will be able to notice that your toddler has not been passing stool for a few days. Some of the other signs of a toddler holding poop are:

• Urine incontinence
• Gassiness
• Controlling the urge to pass stool
• Clenching their buttocks
• Stiffing their body
• Standing on their toes or crossing their legs when they feel the urge to poop

Why Do Toddlers Withold Their Poop?

The most common reason for a toddler holding poop is usually some psychological or physical factors. Some of these reasons are:

Fear

If your toddler has had any previous bad experience that is related to pooping, like pain while passing stool because of hard stool then a toddler is most likely to hold back poop because of the painful experience. Another reason could be fear of going to the bathroom because of the loud sound of the flush or if there has been an incident when the electricity has suddenly gone off while they are in the bathroom.

Fun Distractions

Often when a toddler is busy doing something they like and are enjoying it, they tend to hold back their poop. They tend to avoid going to the bathroom because they are too engrossed in the fun activity they are doing or their playtime with friends etc. They’d rather not waste that time sitting on the pot!

Not Fully Potty Trained

When a toddler is being potty trained and breaking out of their diaper habit, it is easier to get them to pee in the potty but it takes a while for them to learn to poop in the potty as it requires them to sit there longer so they try and this is one of the reasons for toddler holding poop as they wait or try to convince you to put back their diaper on for them to poop. 

Anxiety

Some toddlers are highly sensitive and may not like the feeling of pooping because they do not like the smell or the look of poop. While some may not like letting go of their poop. This kind of behaviour can be seen especially in toddlers with a sensory processing disorder or in kids with autism. 

In some rare cases, some medical conditions can be the cause for a toddler holding poop. Some of these conditions are:

• Faecal impaction
• Gastrointestinal condition (GI)
• Hypothyroidism
• Colonic inertia
• Tight anal sphincter
• Celiac disease
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Urinary tract infections

How To To Deal With Toddler Holding Poop? 

Here are some simple ways to deal with a toddler holding poop:

Include Fibre Rich Food

One of the main reasons for a toddler to hold their poop is the pain caused by passing hard stools because of constipation so a diet rich in fibre will help their bowel movements. Include green leafy vegetables, fruits, grains etc in their daily diet.

Choose A Child-Friendly Potty Seat

There are many options when it comes to potty seats for toddlers, if your toddler has a separate toilet in his/her room, you can design their potty seat as per their size, need and height. If your toddler shares the bathroom with you then you can buy potty seats for kids that can be placed on an adult-size potty seat, to make it convenient for your toddler to use, and the toddler is not scared of falling into the potty or falling off it! These come in interesting and colourful designs for kids.

Read Them Books On Toilet Habits

Reading books is always the best way to teach kids about things around them and the ways of the world. Invest in some books that talk about toilet habits and potty training. Read to your child and talk to them about how our digestive system in simple words, explain to them how we need to get rid of the food we eat from our body. Make it seem fun and less scary. Allow them to ask you questions and be patient and clear when you answer them.

Make Sure They Are Well Hydrated

Along with fibre, it’s also equally important to make sure that your toddler is drinking enough water. If your toddler is fussy about drinking water offer them healthy smoothies, fresh juices, soups or even foods like watermelon and cucumber that have high water content.

Cover Image Source – Romper