5-year-old pooing in nighttime nappy

[leigh802]

Hi everybody

I'm looking after my sister's boy for a few weeks while she takes a break, she has never used disposable nappies so has given me a bunch of cloth nappies as the lad is still not dry at night. The issue I'm having with him is when I go to his bedroom in the morning to change his nappy (he would have been up before me playing sitting etc for some time) not only is the nappy wet but there was quite a lot of squashed poo in it as well sorry TMI, I thought it was a once off, but this second morning it was the same.

When I ask him about it, he shrugs it off saying his mum doesn't mind it.

It's her only child so wondering if she is just babying him too much, not sure as I haven't spoken to her about it as yet. I don't want to tell him off but feel I need to do something. I've not noticed him doing poo's during the day so wondering also he could be saving it for his overnight nappy.

Any suggestions.

Leigh

[ERIC-Charity Partner]

Hi Leigh. Yes, poos that only happen in the night-time nappy are a sign of poo withholding which is a very common problem in young children. Withholding is when children use their muscles to stop the poos from leaving their body when they feel the urge to go. It isn't always a simple problem to explain it is often linked to having had a painful poo in the past, or having a fear or sensory aversion to the potty or toilet.

You don't mention his age but a nice, consistent, happy 'toilet-time' routine is a good start towards poo in the loo. A toilet-time routine includes sitting him on the loo 20/30 minutes after breakfast, lunch and dinner, encouraging him to blow bubbles (this will get him to push out the poo), rock back and forth, and play games to keep it fun. Check out the 'poo quality' too - are they normal and healthy or are they difficult for him to pass, and does he need some help to get the poos a bit nicer to pass?

Some good places to explore would be:

eric.org.uk/childrens-bowel... - explains a little more about withholding

eric.org.uk/children-who-wi... - a factsheet explaining how to help children who refuse to poo in the loo to overcome their fears

eric.org.uk/helpline/ - free webinar on this page explaining how to spot problem poos, and more about the toilet routine

Hope this helps.

@ERIC

[leigh802]

Adams range of cloth nappies I brought from Snuggleblanks. Have had a couple of mums ask me to show them.

Range of pocket nappies and waterproof wraps.

[leigh802 in reply to leigh802]

Snuggleblank all in one cloth nappy

nappy