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255: Is Your Child Withholding Poop? Signs, Causes & What to Do
Description
In this episode, I’m diving deep into one of the most common—and misunderstood—potty training struggles: poop withholding. This isn’t your kid being stubborn or “doing it on purpose.” Withholding is a muscular reaction to anxiety, and right now, it’s the majority of the work I do with families. I’ll break down the signs to watch for (from smearing to requesting a diaper), why so many specialists and pediatricians get this wrong, and how withholding connects to constipation, pee accidents, and even nervous system overload. If your child is holding poop, asking for a diaper, or flat-out terrified of the potty, this episode is for you. Let’s get clear on what’s really happening—and how to fix it.
Timestamps:
(00:07:16) Behavioral Signs of Poop Withholding in Children
(00:09:29) Anxiety-Driven Poop Withholding in Children
(00:13:13) Significance of Poop Withholding Misunderstanding
(00:15:49) Miralax Treatment for Pediatric Poop Withholding
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