Let’s Talk About Poop, Baby.

Yes, poop.

I’m just going to dispense with the formal ‘fecal matter’ term, and call a spade a spade. It’s poop. And it’s something that  parents of young children deal with. All. The. Time.

Albeit a taboo and unsavory topic, it’s an important one. From the moment your precious little bundle of joy enters the world, through potty training and possibly beyond, poop will be a central topic in your parenting life.

Baby Blowouts
Baby poop provides a direct indication of what is going on with baby’s body, both good and bad. And of course we want to make sure that our newborn child’s body is functioning properly! My husband and I talked more about our first child’s diapers than I would have ever thought possible. I think as parents we are conditioned to do so – both instinctively and because the labor and delivery and pediatric staff at the hospital put us on alert. From those first tar-like, meconium diapers until the mustard seedy breastmilk or pasty infant formula poop appears, new parents are on high alert:

• What does it look and smell like?
• What color is it?
• How many diapers did baby fill?
• Is there any blood in the stool?

The ranges of color can be quite shocking! My pediatrician actually has a handout for new mothers on this very topic. If you’re a first time parent, don’t panic; it’s mostly normal for poop to come in an array of browns, yellows and even greens. However, if there is any indication of blood in your baby’s stool, definitely seek medical attention. It could be a sign of an allergy or an indication of lactose intolerance in your little one.

Toddler Toots
Two words: potty training. If you’re lucky, your little one will take to it quickly and go #2 with gusto. I’ve potty trained two children thus far and have yet to fall into that “easy” category, particularly when it comes to poop.

My first son held his poop for a week.
Apparently this is a totally normal reaction when transitioning from diaper to toilet. It may be normal, but it did not appear at all comfortable for my little guy. My husband and I were forced to take drastic measures in the form of a liquid suppository. It was rather dramatic for all parties involved. Thankfully we only had to do it once; our son got the not so subtle hint. If you’ve ever had a similar experience, you know exactly what I’m talking about!

My second son would hold his poop until nap time.
Then he would go in his Pull Up. My little stinker – pun intended – would then occasionally take off said Pull Up and decorate the walls and carpeting of his bedroom with his offering. No, I’m not joking. That industrial carpet cleaner that my husband kept in the basement closet became worth its weight in gold. Here’s the culprit, luxuriating in a bubble bath after one such episode:

Those were dark, dark days. I’m so happy that phase is OVER!

How did we get through this poopy phase?
It took an insane amount of:

1. Patience
   An essential parenting quality that I, unfortunately, do not possess in spades. Potty training definitely tested my limits. For those of you who have patience in abundance, I stand in awe and bow before your expertise. It will take you far!
2. Bribery
   Another essential tactic to have in your parenting arsenal. Some may argue that it’s not fair, but in my book: if it produces results, a little incentive is a-OK. ‘You want that ice cream? Sure! Just as soon as you go poop on the potty; You’d like to play with Mommy’s tablet? Great, then you must sit on the potty.’
3. Trial and Error
   Isn’t this always the way? We have to investigate and discover what works and what doesn’t.  My hubby and I found that the normal toilet scared the daylights out of our second little guy, even with his special stool and potty seat. We ended up using a small, portable potty. I even put it in the back of my car in the event of an on-the-go stop. I was worried that my son would never attempt to use the big potty, but he eventually became accustomed to it.

Preschool Poop
Whoever invented the automatic flushing toilet definitely didn’t have a little kid. I have yet to meet a child who doesn’t find that huge, unprompted, loud WHOOSHING sound absolutely terrifying! My boys always thought they were about to be whirled right down the toilet bowl. We had encountered these bathroom gems on occasion, but my son’s hand was never forced. Once he started preschool, however, the automatic potty was his only option. He was petrified. Urinals were thankfully available for #1, but going #2 was a nightmare.

Once we finally weathered that storm, the issue of wiping popped up. My son’s teacher pulled me aside one afternoon  and said, “You might want to check his bottom, he went potty and I don’t wipe”. What a mess! What three-year-old is an adept wiper? Other parents agreed – one even asked her son not to go #2 at school. I called the director, furious. I soon learned that by law, the school was not licensed to handle children in that manner. Daycare settings are different, but the structure of our particular preschool wouldn’t allow it. Fair enough. I promptly added “practice wiping” to my to-do list!

A final preschool poop topic of note: children who simply can’t go. Constipation is no joke. It effects many kids, from the toddler years and beyond.

For parents with younger children unable to verbalize their discomfort, it’s pretty much a guessing game:

• Are they constipated?
• If so, what caused the blockage? (if possible, you want to prevent a repeat performance!)
• Now what? What will remedy the situation?

I distinctly recall running to the store for pureed prunes and pear juice at midnight to help alleviate a screaming child who ate too many bananas. Prunes and pears work great for this malady. In cases of chronic constipation, a doctor may also recommend a powdered laxative that can be easily mixed into food (*please don’t try this on your own without medical supervision*).

Poopy Tips
My middle child had an absolute poopy disaster right through his lovely, white, starched baptismal outfit . It happened in the car on the way to the ceremony, completely unbeknownst to us! The lovely matching hat and shoes were still intact but the outfit was beyond destroyed, and I didn’t have a second set of clothing. I learned an invaluable lesson that day: always pack spare clothes! Here are a few more tips:

• Keep prunes and pears – pureed or in juice form – on hand from the time infant cereal is introduced.
• Practice wiping while potty training. Yes, it’s easier and cleaner to do it yourself but it’s a skill that must be mastered.
• Hydrogen peroxide mixed with warm water in a spray bottle + baby wipes removes poop stains from carpeting and mattresses
• Probiotics (in powdered form) are helpful to restoring a healthy GI tract/eliminating diarrhea, particularly after a round of antiobiotics
• Beware of pectin in commercial applesauces and fruit purees, it’s a hidden constipator
• Baby wipes aren’t just for babies
• Liquid suppositories aren’t fun, but they get the job done. Pediatric brands are readily available.
• Fruit = fiber = good flow.
• Skid marks are inevitable. Keep your laundry stain remover on hand.
• Providing a little incentive for your little one to go on the potty just might help to maintain your sanity.
• Poop accident in a car seat? More than likely, the seat is destroyed. Getting the stain & smell out of the foam padding is next to impossible.
• Invest in a mattress protector.
• Always keep a spare set of clothes in your diaper bag!

Are you a parent weathering the trials and tribulations of poop? What phase are you in: baby, toddler or preschool? Maybe you’re potty training? Share your wit and wisdom with us!