Fear Of Pooping In Children – Being Parents

The fear of pooping in children is almost always associated with intestinal problems  that go along with the type of food they eat. In general, intestinal laziness causes irritation or pain in the little ones. And that’s why, when they feel like having a bowel movement, they refuse to do so.

It may also be that, if the child is in a foreign place or one different from the one to which he is accustomed, he is preventing himself from spontaneously satisfying this physiological need. This refusal leads to constipation. As a result, the child may have dry, hard stools that are difficult to pass, and which cause pain and discomfort.

What are the reasons for fear of pooping in children?

In general, this phobia is caused by constipation and the consequences associated with it. However, this can also be due to other reasons, among which we can mention the most common:

Excessive eating of meat and eggs

A high protein consumption leads to hardening of the stool and therefore difficulty in passing them. Feeding from an early age should be supervised by a specialist. Indeed, it is essential for the healthy growth and development of children. With proper follow-up as well as monitoring, digestive disorders can be avoided.

Sedentary life or laziness

Lack of exercise in children not only leads to bowel complications, but other types of cardiovascular problems as well. It is therefore very necessary to involve them in sport and physical activities in accordance with their age.

Nervous disorders related to mental exertion

They tend to show up at school age  when little ones feel overwhelmed by too much mental work  or worries about homework and school activities.

Shame fear generates fear of pooping in children

Often, children don’t dare to poop in foreign places because they feel ashamed or uncomfortable. The possibility of being seen by strangers or getting dirty leads to fear of pooping in children.

Low water consumption

When the minimum necessary amounts of liquid are not ingested, the stools harden. This causes pain and sometimes even the presence of blood from the effort put in passing stool. Fearing that these episodes will repeat in the toilet, children avoid pooping at all costs.

When this type of phobia intensifies, it generates a lot of discomfort and uneasiness. Indeed, this prevents the body from performing a natural function such as the elimination of organic waste.

As a result, it can trigger serious problems such as appendicitis, infections, intestinal fermentations, and ailments in the bile ducts, among others.

How to deal with fear of pooping in children?

Having phobias is totally normal, especially in the first few years of life. However, even though they are common, fears should not be underestimated. On the contrary,  they should be treated in time depending on the severity of the case and with the help of a specialist. 

By acting quickly, we will to a large extent prevent these phobias from setting in and leading to other diseases.

Phobias or fears are generally a reaction to an adverse situation of pain, unpleasant moments or disgust that can be prevented. During the early stages of life,  this type of reaction is innate and appears without thinking about the consequences.

As parents, we need to be extremely understanding and support our children little by little to overcome these obstacles. It is essential to avoid forcing or forcing children to face their fears. Because this, far from helping them, will increase the difficulty of overtaking them.

Conclusions

Talking openly about the fear of pooping in children as a family will help  our little ones to feel confident and freely express their worries and fears.

Fluid communication will increase the chances of finding the right strategies to deal with this phobia. While allowing children to be part of the solution and alleviate the anguish this causes in them.

By feeling supported by those around him, by understanding and sharing the solutions to his fears, these will gradually decrease because the child will internalize the capacity that he has in himself and within his family to overcome any adverse situation.

Ultimately, it will help him in this particular case but also in many other situations that can generate an emotional or security conflict.