Only Pooing in a Nappy, Diaper or Pull up! Where to start in helping?

Charmaine Champ Author

Only pooing in a nappy can impact upon more than our childrens toileting needs. Within this blog we share more about pooing and the help available.

The progression from wearing nappies, diapers,

pull-ups in the day, to using the toilet to pass wees and poos, is a monumental childhood milestone. Children can be ready "physically" to stop using nappies between 18 months and 3 years of age. However, many internal and external factors can influence how and when a child is "able" to stop using a nappy.

Although a child may be physically ready to begin toileting between the ages of 18 months and 3 years, age, should "not" be the main focus.

Studies reveal that one in three children experience a "poo difficulty", however, these are just the children known to the medical professionals.

Poo, when we poo, how we poo and what our poo looks like, are not easy topics to talk about, with family, friends, colleagues or medical professionals. Therefore discussions about "what" is normal is not always easy to identify or explore with others. This can lead to thinking that a poo pattern or the way a poo is passed is "normal", for an individual child i.e. a child always passes a large poo in his nappy, after school, and no further thoughts of "why" this may or may not be taking place occur.

• Does it matter how or where our children poo? 

Yes, it does! How, where and when our children poo, can highlight a child's poo pattern, the first step in ruling out if there is or isn't a poo difficulty, which may or may not be preventing our children from progressing with toileting. 

Why do some children only Poo in a nappy? 

Poo is the waste, the part our body does not need and is meant to leave the body. Poos are passed either three times a day or three / four times a week. 

When our children experience a slower poo transit or low muscle tone, resist or with hold passing a poo, a delay occurs. Poos then remain within the body.  

When poos remain within the body they can become painful or uncomfortable when passed and the size, type and how often being passed can change.

Wearing a nappy, diaper or pull up can provide security, feelings of safety and sensations of comfort when poos are uncomfortable or difficult to pass.

What is being communicated by our children when pooing in a nappy?  

Only pooing in a nappy, is our childrens way of letting us know that they are struggling with either their internal or external needs. 

Our role as parents, carers, teachers or other professional is then to support our children in identifying "what" the internal or external needs that are affecting the child, are!

Poo "can" and "does" really affect how, when and what children do, both within the family home and school as well as how our children are to respond to others and their environment. Poo affects our childrens behavioural responses, eating, sleeping and so much more! 

Where can we start in helping?

How can we help our children who are only pooing in a nappy? 

We can start, by identifying and confirming "your" child's "poo pattern". Keeping track and identifying "what" your child's Poo type and pattern is, is not always easy. That's why here at Clear Steps Consultancy we have two easy to use approaches to help:

1. A Monitoring chart using the Bristol Stool Chart
2. A Bowel & Bladder Assessment Pack sharing monitoring charts and step by step guidance of "what" to do and how to help
   

It is recommended recording your child's Poo type for a minimum of four days (if possible fourteen days, to give a really clear picture of what is happening for your child)

We can also help our children who are only pooing in a nappy, or avoiding the toilet when pooing, through a FREE Poo Problem Checklist. FREE Poo Problem Checklist is an eight page step by step guide of where to start with poo. Click here for your FREE copy today: FREE Poo Problem Checklist

How can Clear Steps Consultancy help you further, with children who will only poo in a nappy?

Charmaine, at Clear Steps Consultancy supports children with and without a diagnosis, additional needs, their families, schools, organisations, charities and professionals internationally, in progressing and being successful with Toileting, Sleeping and Understanding Behaviour.  Support available to help with Poo, is as individual as the children, families and schools themselves, from online support to one to one Parenting Support Packages to Comprehensive assessments.

Charmaine, helps with Poo progress and toileting, through identifying any Poo difficulties which may be impacting upon your child's daily life and overcoming these through Poo Support and addressing ongoing Poo concerns with hiding to pass a poo, only pooing in a nappy, diaper or pull up or avoiding pooing in the toilet, through a comprehensive approach within Achieving Poo: SUCCESS. Achieving Poo SUCCESS is a step by step joint approach, between Clear Steps Consultancy and Therapeeze. Together the seven areas impacting upon our childrens internal and external needs are explored to empower families, schools and professionals in helping children move away from pooing in a nappy to successfully pooing in the toilet.

Help and support is available!

Where are you on your child's poo journey?

Start helping your child, with "knowing" your child's Poo type and the FREE Poo Problem Checklist to Achieve Poo SUCCESS today!"

Categories: Poo, Pooing in a Nappy, Sensory needs and toileting, Toileting