Why is my son doing this!?

[Anonymous]

My 3.5 year old son has taken on a disgusting habit of playing with his poop. He is potty trained except wears a pull up during naps/night time. He seems to wait til one of those times to take his diaper off and smear poor all over himself and his bed. It is totally disgusting and nothing I do discourages him. Help!?

[Anonymous]

That's pretty gross, when did he start doing this?

[Anonymous]

I have a really hard time believing that a child that old is engaging in what is typical for a much much younger child.

[Anonymous]

OP,

I'd put him on the potty 10 minutes after every meal to help stimulate the elimination reflex. (Don't let him sit more than 5 or so minutes if nothing happens.)

Hopefully, he'll start pooping during the day than during the night. I'd put a plastic sheet on his mattress and go without the pull up at nap and bed time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a really hard time believing that a child that old is engaging in what is typical for a much much younger child.

Not the OP, but this isn't constructive. Also, kids that age can play with poop -- kids older can play with poop too. It happens.

[Anonymous]

He started it about a month ago, almost an everyday occurence! I ask him why he does it, he just says "I don't know".

[Anonymous]

When did it start? What do you do when he does this? What does he say about it? This is very odd behavior for this age and seriously makes me wonder whether there is something else going on (LD, abuse, other issue beneath the surface) that would explain such an unusual behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a really hard time believing that a child that old is engaging in what is typical for a much much younger child.

Not the OP, but this isn't constructive. Also, kids that age can play with poop -- kids older can play with poop too. It happens.

You're right. I'm sorry, OP... it just stretched credulity for me. Any kid I have ever known past the age of 3 is totally grossed out by poop, much less is wanting to play with it. If it's true, I apologize.

[Anonymous]

Op here, it's okay, I think it is bizarre too. My pediatrician friend said to give him cold shower right after but that seems cruel to me. I wish I knew why he's doing this and he won't tell me.

[Anonymous]

Since he can't/won't articulate why he's doing it, maybe offer him an alternative like playdough or something?

[Anonymous]

I would not do a cold shower after he does it! That is a really harsh and cruel punishment! I would certainly involve him in cleaning it up. Let him know that it is wrong and that it needs to be cleaned immediately, and then make him participate in cleaning up the mess.

Also, start rewarding him for when he successfully goes #2 on the potty.

[Anonymous]

Is he putting his hand in his diaper to *check* for poop, and then trying to smear the poop off his hand?

[Anonymous]

He cleans up his bed and gets actively involved in all laundry-doing. He also gets a punishment of having a favorite activity taken away.

It's time to accelerate potty training.

[Anonymous]

My dd was peeing on the floor just recently, and she is 6. It seems to have been attention getting behavior. I initiated a reward system that if she could go 5 days without doing it, I would take her to the dollar store for a few toys. She stopped doing it, earned her reward, and she has not started back up.

[Anonymous]

So PP let me get this straight. Your DD (6!!?!!) pees on the floor and you wait a bit and then go get her treats. No wonder she's peeing on the floor at such an advanced age. Can't wait to see what you get her when she's a teenager and pees on the floor before stopping for a few days. A car?