Comments on: BabyShrink Handles the Grossest Problem Yet: Poop Smearing

By: Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:39:24 +0000

Thank goodness…I actually dreaded googling this, because I was so afraid it was an indication of some sort of serious issue. I’m so relieved. I am the mother of 6, 3 are grown, the others are 3 and under and two afternoons ago, my 3 y/o did this. She has been removing her diaper because she doesn’t like the feel, however, won’t do anything in the potty. She took her diaper off during “naptime,” had pooped, smeared poop EVERYWHERE. All over herself, her mattress and OMG, we have a mesh crib tent and yes ALL OVER THAT, TOO!!!! My husband was here I was not. He bathed her and I told him not to touch the room, not realizing how bad it was and I literally stood in the room, spong and bucket in hand, sobbing. This is the first time EVER out of 6 children, that I have ever experienced this. She simply kept saying “ew gross” over the monitor and my husband went down to find….POOP! I am so glad to read your article and know that as of right now, its not abnormal. HUGE RELIEF!

By: Cristine

Cristine — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:39:53 +0000

Thank you so much for this helpful and reassuring advice. I work and my husband twice had to deal with poo smearing yesterday which has started out of nowhere. Our daughter is just over two and not quite ready for toilet training, and my husband thought at first that there was something wrong with her, she keeps putting her hand into her nappy and is very curious about it all, so toilet training may be on the way, but this poo smearing has come out of nowhere and she doesn’t seem concerned in the least. However this post has eased my mind and given us some good tips to try and avoid any more incidents. Our main problem is that my husband is partially disabled and not physically up to tidying up such a mess, so I have to come home from work! However I will be looking out our sons old onesies, and maybe put them on backwards as our daughter is much more inquisitive and will probably work out how to get into them if she desires!

Thank you again for this VERY helpful article!

By: Dr. Heather

Dr. Heather — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:27:25 +0000

Veronica,

It sounds like much more than poop smearing is going on here — you need to consult with an early childhood therapist who can meet with you all in person. If you live in the USA, you can access — for free — Early Intervention evaluation services until your child is 3, if he qualifies. Ask your pediatrician for the local “Part C” provider. Let us know what happens!

By: Veronica Ramirez

Veronica Ramirez — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:09:27 +0000

My 24 month old had his first poop smearing episode tonight and my husband and I are at a loss for words on his new activity. He is the youngest boy of our three boys and is currently the only child living with us full time. So he gets all of our attention. We are completely at the end of our rope with him. We just don’t know what to do with him or how to positively and productively react and deal with his array of bad behaviors. He pediatrician ensures us he is just “being two” and we get that but it’s getting to the point where I’m not sleep because he’s ALWAYS working on his next move. He wakes up in the middle of the night or early morning and destroys things or makes massive messes. He waites for me to leave him unattended for as little as a few minutes (restroom break, dish washing, shower etc) and then colors on walls, brakes things, spills things in large amounts of destruction. He’s thrown glass vases at my walls, speared red lip stick on my carpets, smeared poop on his bedroom wall, colored all my kitchen cabinets and living room walls with black permanent marker then fed the marker to the dog. He’s covered our living room furniture in baby powder in the middle of the night and these are just a small percentage of the things he does on a daily basis. I literally can’t take my eyes off him or turn my back on him for a few moments because he’s destroying something. I’m a stay at home mom and can’t get anything done household wise or even as little as going to the potty without having to drag him along in fear of what he might do next but without fail he seizes the smallest opportunity or wakes in the night to terrorize. HELP! The stress of his behavior is literally making me ill

By: Yolanda @ One Family Table

Yolanda @ One Family Table — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 02:55:39 +0000

Great advice Dr. Heather! It’s definitely a stage, but it feels like an ETERNITY!! Both my kids went through their own version of this. I’m thankful for the experience though because it’s been helpful to reassure other parents as a pediatrician that, yes, my kids did this too! I don’t think I have mastered how to keep my cool when it happens though. It’s just so gross and frustrating.

By: Dr. Heather

Dr. Heather — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:22:25 +0000

Kathryn,

PREVENTION is the key here. Get to him before he has any chance to poop unattended. Don’t scold, don’t freak out — just PREVENT the smearing. Hang around his doorway, whatever you have to do to make sure you catch him before he poops. Let him poop as he likes — as long as you’re around — then clean him up. Then, show support and interest when he shows a desire to learn how to use the potty. Push the positive growth, and try to ignore (and prevent) the negative — that’s the way out of this one. Good luck and let us know!!

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:11:08 +0000

I forgot to mention it always happens in conjunction with waking up, either in the morning or after a nap, and he usually doesn’t cry first to let us know that he is awake, he is just suspiciously quiet.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:08:52 +0000

Dear Babyshrink,
I am at a loss. My 22 month old has started poop smearing. Onesies worked for a while, but then he discovered he can go in by the leg openings, so I bought 1 piece footie jammies, and he undresses himself to get to the contents pf his diaper. This is becoming a routine thing, as he has done it twice this week.

Help!

Kathryn

By: Tammy

Tammy — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 03:45:55 +0000

Thanks Dr. Heather for the advice!
I especially like the idea of keeping a journal of her incidents or accidents. A great idea! I have told her where the poop belongs without getting upset…although, I have to admit, at times, it was hard to hide my distaste in the situation. I realize that she may be going through something emotionally right now and you are right, giving her other opportunities to be messy might help out! I will definitely keep you posted.
Thanks again!
Your website is wonderful and very helpful!
sincerely,
Tammy

By: Dr. Heather

Dr. Heather — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:52:50 +0000

Hi Tammy!

Does she have the opportunity to “make a mess” anywhere else? Give her the opportunity to play in the mud, use play-dough, do finger painting — let her try to get her “messies” out of her system in more acceptable ways. Talk to her about how it’s OK to make a mess — outside, at the painting easel — wherever you give her permission.

It’s also important not to scold, but to be straightforward about what you’re hoping she’ll do. “The poop belongs in the potty or in your diaper. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Also, you can try to analyze when she does it — and what was going on BEFORE the messing. Were you busy with the baby? Was she tired before her nap? Was she eager to get out and run outside, but you couldn’t take her? Sometimes, there IS some rhyme and reason — some pattern — to the behavior. Figuring out what that pattern is can help you to change it. Really try to collect info from everyone who takes care of her, keep a journal, with days, times of day, everything you can — to try to find the pattern.

Make sure you read the several posts on poop-smearing here, as well as the other comments — you’re not alone! And you might find some additional tips. And of course, make sure her doctor says there’s nothing medically wrong. Good luck and keep us posted!