My 6yr old son won’t stop pooping his pants. My son has been fully potty trained since he was 3. When he was 5, we had his sister, and things were good for a while. Well, he started having accidents, not peeing on himself, always pooping his pants. We chalked that up to the new baby, sat him down, and explained things, and things went back to normal. For a while, then he started back up with the accidents. This has been an on and off thing now for almost two years. It doesn’t matter where he is; he has done this at home, at school, at relatives. When you try to ask him why we get “I didn’t want to miss anything” or, “I thought I could hold it” or “I didn’t know I had to poop”. We have tried sitting down and talking with him, we had him go to a behavioral therapist, we’ve tried positive reinforcement, (ie, going out for a special treat for a week w/o an accident) we’ve tried negative reinforcement, (ie, making him wash his own underwear out) and finally we got some diapers (generic goodnights) for him. I told him he could have his underwear back if he could go for two weeks without pooping himself. It wasn’t even a week, and he was back at. Nothing has really made a difference. His father and I are scratching our heads as to why and how we can get him back on track. What are we missing? What haven’t we tried?
Have you taken him to his doctor? There may be an underlying medical condition.
Tell him to go to the bathroom randomly throughout the day. My 11 year old has chronic constipation due to him not wanting to stop what hes doing or to have to miss anything. He also has severe ADHD as well. He would have accidents through the day and most of his were bc he damaged the nerves down there by holding it and he lost feeling of when he has to go. I have to tell my son 3-4 times a day to go poop.
Rule out a medical condition first then go from there x
Mine was bring bullied at school check into that .
Get him on a daily schedule of trying to go. You cant deviate. Let him use video game or something to keep him interested. Can be very complicated.
Could he possibly being molested? I take no pleasure in mentioning the possibility, but the “pooping” incidents usually follow due to muscle control problems…it could be why its sporatic occurances…varying access to the child. I have experience in the subject. I know you asked him, but he will probably never feel he can tell you…l pray it’s not the reason at all, but please dont rule it out.
My grand daughter has a sacral dimple with a possible tethered cord. The neurologist said she may not have good signals that she has to go. So definitely check w the dr first. Also if he’s constipated he may be avoiding the potty. Contrary to popular belief fiber may make it worse. Meat and healthy fats will help him go.
A good ole fashion ass whooping would line him out lol. Yea shit your pants I’ll give you a diaper lol…
My doctor said sometimes it’s behavioral. Strong willed child wants your attention. Maybe ignore him when he does it. But offer rewards when he puts it in the toilet himself.
Sticker chart.
My oldest regressed with the 2nd baby. I just let him wear diapers and treated him like a baby… Lasted about 2 weeks. Lol-- he didn’t get big kid privelages, so he thought better of it.
I suggest taking him to his doctor. My son kept doin this and I took him to his pediatrician. He was so constipated, that his intestines and bowel was so full, it was causing poop to just come out of him. I had no idea!! Had to give him castor oil to flush him out, and he never had the problem again.
Take him to the doctor and make sure theres nothing g physically goin on
Have you checked to see if he has be molested by anyone ?
There could be medical reasons this is happening. My first stop would be his pediatrician. My son had undiagnosed constipation and tummy troubles for years. He had small bowel movements nearly daily, but his colon was still backed up all the way up to his diaphragm. It can cause decreased sensation (the urge to go or when to go) because they have the feeling all the time and get used to it.
My daughter is 6. She has been potty trained since her 2nd birthday. She started having multiple accidents a day. I was buying a pack of undies a day. She was constipated then got a uti. But once she got medicine for both the accidents stopped. Rule out any medical conditions
- Rule out medical issue
- Rule out being molested
- Regular schedule and instant reward for now
Washing his underwear is not negative punishment it’s positive punishment. Negative punishment would be remove leta say T.V time
I would work with positive reinforcement and negative punishment for this little fellow
My brother used to do this because he was busy playing and didn’t want to stop. He eventually grew out of it but he even did it a few times when he was like 8+
It sounds like you are good and sensitive parents…thank God for that! It seems though you’ve searched many avenues and are still not successful…ad a Christian, I’m praying that God will intervene here and bring you and him the answer!!
Our doctor said for us to make my grand sit in it while in time out and start everyday to where he sits on toilet at least 3 times per day at same time and was told to take away all big boy toys and outings that he wants to do and explain those toys and the things others his age are doing he is not allowed being he is now trying to behave like a toddler . But before you do this talk with his doctor have him checked head to toe by GI to rule out any underlined conditions . Also by all means you and hubby do not stop doing things you want to do for you can get a sitter just for him it took us 4 weeks and problem went away . Doctors felt he was doing it for our attention good or bad
My son did the same thing. We are still working on it and he is 9. My son had become so constipated that it hurt to poop. So he feared pooping. The doctor put him on miralax and a toilet schedule to try and retrain his bowel habits. It’s working, slowly…but working. First things first, see a doctor.
I think he’s jealous of the baby getting more attention so he poops his pants to get some even if it’s a negative attention 
My brother did it cuz he was pissed off at my mom for going back to work.
I think it might be the baby sister… negative attention is better than no attention. Just my thought
Definitely start with some medical tests. Anxiety in kids will present that way and can be compounded with IBS because of the stress/anxiety.
There’s condition known as soiling may be . seek medical help asap
He could have sleep apnea
I go through this as well. My son was potty trained in 3 days but pooping is another issue. He’s now 8 and still poops in his underwear, he spends alot of time on the toilet too but it’s mostly the little pebbles that gets stuck or can’t poop out. Unfortunately he has constipation issues and alot of the time doesn’t know it is still stuck in there or it hurts for him to go and still has problems fully wiping til clean. Ive tried many different things to get him to go in the toilet like you have tried but then I finally figured out its a medical stomach issue and it’s something he’s going to have to take medicine everyday for. This could possibly be the issue for your son as well. Ive been told boys take longer to get the pooping in the underwear to stop(not every child is the same) but talk to your doctor and good luck
I baby sit a boy and he uses the bathroom on his self and even at school and what thr dr said it is a sign of sleep apnea and the next day his brain is so tired bc he doesn’t sleep well at night
He more than likely had a gastro issue. Tell the pediatrician. Do not shame or punish him. My daughter had impacted stool, a weak bladder and issues with her muscles and multiple problems she regularly sees a gastroenterologist and is on 4 different medications daily plus miralax 2 times a week.
My niece started doing this recently… She says the same thing, that she didn’t know. It’s always when she’s playing and then stops for a moment (clearly to push one out). I honestly think it’s bc she doesn’t want to stop playing and being so young, that’s all she cares about. I’ve heard of other kids doing this… Even when they have to pee. It could be a phase 
An unpleasant one for sure. My sister (niece’s mom) started making her go to potty even tho she says she doesn’t need to… Then once she was on the toilet, she would go. This has helped significantly in stopping her from going in her pants.
Try keeping a journal of when and where he has accidents and what was going on around him i.e. With family,baby,friends,school it may give you a place to start.
My son was like that 2…if u talk loudly or scolded him he poop in his pants.i was at my wits end…he is 7 now.thank God it has stopped.i understand ur frustrations…been there…bear with him with time he will stop
Could be different things going on, maybe he likes the feeling of having it in hes underwear I’ve seen it before in school boy. Or it could be bowl movement issues has he gotten really bad constipated before? Where it has hurt him? Maybe hes trying to hold it in and accidentally happening thinking that if he dont go sit down it wont come out
My son has this issue sometimes… had all the talks, whooped him… everything.
But what it has come down to is he holds it so long cause of playing or not wanting to miss something.
If you find something please let me know. I have the same issue with my son.
Encopresis is also known as fecal soiling. It occurs when a child (usually over the age of 4) has a bowel movement and soils their pants. This problem is most often linked to constipation. Constipation occurs when stool becomes backed up in the intestines.
Soiling usually happens when a child is so constipated that a large, hard piece of poo becomes stuck at the end of their gut (rectum). Fresh poo from higher up the gut then runs around the hard poo and leaks out, staining their pants.
Impacted bowels is what it sounds like. Take him to the doctor!
Get him checked. It could be bad or simple. His pooping can be cause of molestation or something hurting his butt. No joke. Don’t get scared but tell ur primary everything
My daughter has a condition called spinning top urethra, this may be his case as well. The brain will not tell you it is time to go until he is about to poop on himself, or has already had the accident . I was like what at first with the doctors but I’ve studied and read about it. Talk to the Drs and have him tested.
Please take him to a child psychologist. There may be some things going on that he is afraid to speak about.
Chance of being molested, that’s a very common thing in boys with sudden accidents. I wouldn’t punish him for what he can’t control. Maybe seeing his pediatrician?
Why don’t you spank him twice and next time he wants to poop on himself he gon remember how the spank tasted. He needs to be disciplined with a rod as the Bible says. Kids are smart in a stupid way, he’s just playing with your psychology. C’mon, you can’t let him prove to be smarter than you…
If it’s a medical condition, it should be always,not on and off. He can get the energy to ask for food but not to be taken to the bathroom? That’s not feacal incontinence. Pay attention!!
Have you taken him to possibly a doctor, I know you said he keeps saying he didnt want to miss anything and didnt know he had to go…maybe there’s a medical reason?
You haven’t taken him to a pediatrician? I would have tried that before the behavioral therapist.
So why havent you taken him to a doctor.?
Kids who are toilet clean and then revert… iit is usually so reason. being lazy isnt one of them.
The punishment you have inflicted on him hasnt helped…
Seek medical advise, dont humiliate the child anymore…
Stress can cause this. Bullying. Sexaul abuse. An issue with his bowel muscles…
Doctors now.
Doctor visit is in order
Well I would want you to
Rule out physical problems before diagnosing as psychiatric but also they go hand in hand. It could be Encopresis. I had a stepson that had this and he was abused as a child but also he was whipped during potty training by a grandparent so he would hold it. Then his bowel stretches to a megabowel and than it is perpetuating and it is traumatic to poop. You need to have the pediatrician examine his bowel to diagnose mega colon and then order colon cleanse and then keep stools liquid until bowel shrinks back down and then he will have control but therapy is important also. It takes time and caring but he can be helped. My stepson was cured and went on to feel like a normal kid and teen. 
Have u taken him to a DR
Wow… I pray that the only thing u dont do is listen to the asshat women on here telling u to beat ur child… please whatever u do, dont beat him! This doesnt sound like something that needs that type of discipline… I would take him to a doc and have his bowels looked at.
Sexual Abuse? the sphincter no longer can go back after so many times of repeated anal secual assault…anal assault and feces waiting to come out are the only 2 reasons the sphincter opens…but with repeated anal assault the sphincter just cannot hold it in anymore…causing accidents
He’s a boy and boys are gross. He gets caught up in what he’s doing and doesn’t want to stop to go to the bathroom. Maybe it hurts to go and that’s why he holds it…(big poops)? My son sometimes will do this (like, poop a small amount in his underwear) if he’s caught up playing video games or something. It’s annoying and we have to tell him to go poop all the time or he’ll just hold it. I honestly think it’s just something he’ll grow out of.
You know um I read this page everyday I love this group ,the 1st time I read it I thought I really hope people cont post bad advise but I haven’t seen much bad advice . These topics are so sensitive and need to be addressed carefully . . . Heather Rene I totally agree with you . You need to take your son to a child psychologist they know how to deal with these type of issues .
My son had the same problem and a daily dose of stool softener will work after a few days, carry on using it for a while, even tho he’s still going (accidents) he is constipated it’s that simple x
could it be medical ?? Celiac ?? or some bowel disease ???
Get him more activities take his mind off himdself…
My daughter was the same she didn’t fully potty train tell she turn five now she fully potty train
Hun set him down ask him if anyone did anything to him that dont start back just so or is anything new going on in your life explain to him talk to him ask questions love ask
Consult your pediatrician, then when ever he ate his lunch or dinner guide him to the bathroom to poop it just a matter of training him again or if not could be some psychological problems.
My daughter is 9 and still has leaks , Have you seen how many times he poops a week ? He should be doing it 1-2x a day. I have 7 kids so I put a poop chart in bathroom for her to mark everytime she goes. you can try giving him miralax daily for a week and see if that helps
Look up encopresis. Our daughter has it. He could be constipated to the point where it leaks out. I thought it was because of school but it was a medical condition. It really sounds like enco. My daughter was potty trai ed at 2 and at 4 stated pooping her pants again.
My son did it and some other mothers children. See a rectal specialist. I am 68. And had rectal cancer
Clear him through a doctor before disciplinary actions, may be out of his control!
Maybe he has ibs and it’s certain things in his diet we had this problem with my son. Get a doc input
My son had these issues and he just turned 10 in September…he finally grew out of all of this about 2 yrs ago…once he realized pooping regularly would not cause his mama to give him an enema…once that stuck in his brain the game changer and I still give him the kids fiber gummies I get at Walmart…they keep his poop. Not so hard and easier to come out
Try a merit system he earns points during the week for chores and not doing pooping In pants. Then at the end of the week he get to chose to do something as easy as go to the park, slurpee at the store or saves them for a bigger gift.
This is out of pure jealousy. He sees the baby crying cause of a poopy butt so you change it so he does this for attention. Best way is to ignore it and make him clean it himself and make him understand that thats not how things work.
My kid did this and my friend is dealing with the exact same. Her son wont do it at school. Just at home
Seems like hes jealous of the baby… it will pass eventually… my boys did the same thing.
Have you tried a dr. Maybe he has some medical issues
Try removing gluten from his diet. That may help.
My son did this til he was 11. We took him to his doctor and they determined that he has been holding it in order to not have to interrupt his playing. Which caused several impactions. Which also caused hemroids… so it was a multiplayer problem. We gave him a laxative, once he was cleared out we gave Miralax every day to help regulate him and set him on the pot every 2 hours with a tablet and told him to stay for 15 min… eventually he regulated himself and the accidents stopped.
Try giving him alone 1 on 1 time. Maybe hes trying get attention.
Look up the poo in me on YouTube