Help! My 7 year old 2nd grader will not poop on the potty

by Zoraida
(Maplewood, NJ, USA)

My son has refused to be fully potty trained since we started when he was a toddler. He jumps around and holds his belly in whenever he feels the sensation to poop. He rarely sits still because he often feels the sensation to go. We have tried everything from rewards to punishment.




We had him seeing a therapist who concluded that he has a lot of anxiety issues. The worse part of this situation is that he is really irritable all of the time. I worry constantly that he will get sick because he is withholding his bowel movements. Of course, when he can hold it anymore, he usually goes in his underwear. What can I do?

My next step was to take him to a child psychiatrist and have him evaluated. I know he is capable of going to the bathroom, because he has evacuated in the past and was very proud of himself. But then, just like that, he stops and doesn't do it again.

He gets very angry when we try to talk to him about the importance of being clean and going to the bathroom. It is really upsetting to see him struggle with what clearly is something he can do for himself. How do I help him?



Comments for Help! My 7 year old 2nd grader will not poop on the potty

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		My 7 yr old son will only wear pull ups and has never wanted to pee or poop in the potty.
by: Anonymous

My son is 7, almost 8, and will get angry when we want him to go to the bathroom like other kids his age. He becomes angry and shuts down, will not tell us why he refuses to use the toilet. I am at a loss and no one can seem to help, we can’t get a diagnosis but he has sensory difficulties. I’m still having to wipe him like my 18 month old son. My 5 yr old doesn’t want to potty train cuz his older brother isn’t. Help please!! I feel like a failure. Like he isn’t embarrassed or anything and doesn’t care that he wears diapers.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		6 year old
by: Anonymous

So what happens when your child is of school age and still uses diapers/pull ups for bowel movements etc?

My child is about to start school and we have no idea how to handle the bathroom issue. Help!!!
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		1st Grader
by: Shannon

We have a first grade foster son who holds in his poop as well. He has seen every specialist possible.

Finally one doctor told me to give him Miralax every night before bedtime. It worked! He still doesn't go poop everyday but he goes 3-4 times per week. The Miralax doesn't allow him to hold it in.

This isn't a long term solution, but it is helping during this stage of life.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Help for 7 year old who won't poop
by: Anonymous

My daughter did the same thing wouldn't poop in the toilet. I just let her be. She's 14 now and suffers from all types of anxiety. Get him help ASAP!!!

Sometimes we parents want our kids to be just like other normal kids. Worst mistaken we can make. Listen understand and get him help.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		We have an almost ten year old daughter with a similar problem
by: Naomi

Our Downs mild PPD daughter will announce that she needs to make but refuses to go to the toilet either voluntary or involuntary.

However sometimes she is willing to be talked into going if you have the patience to reason for at least 4-5 minutes. She likes the challenge "let's surprise mommy" but more often than not she refuses. Hence she goes around in diapers.

At her special needs school they have tried a toilet training program with very moderate and inconsistent success over the last 9 months. Anyone with advice out there?

Thanks

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Potty Training.