For parents, potty training can be a practice in patience. It often involves masterful negotiation, knowing when to celebrate the small victories, and a whole lot of potty-related accidents! But when a child has outgrown the potty-training stage, and they’re repeatedly pooping in their underwear, it might be time to seek outside help.

That’s why this week at childmind.org we’re discussing encopresis, or consistent bowel movements anywhere other than the toilet after the age of four. We explore why it happens — typically chronic constipation — and how it’s treated. And we cover ways you can help children, including those with autism spectrum disorder, learn healthy bathroom practices. We also take a look at urination problems. This is normal for little kids who haven’t quite figured out when to use the toilet yet, but it becomes a bigger problem if they’re bedwetting beyond the age of five. At that point, your child might be diagnosed with the disorder enuresis and will need help learning bladder control. Toileting issues can be hard for a kid, so we offer strategies to help deal with embarrassment. One of our clinical experts weighs in on why these issues might also make the other kids in the house feel some anxiety, and how to address their concerns.

— Faith Wilkins, Staff Writer | ✉