Poop issues.

[Lilypie32]

I'm looking for some advice/opinions/commiseration on this issue I am having with my son. He has an autism spectrum disorder and he is 5 years old. We started potty training in November 2008 and after two intense weeks he seemed to have gotten the hang of it for the most part.

Last month we moved. Every time we move, issues arise which is understandable. However, since we have moved he has regressed with regard to his pooping habit.

Basically what happens is he starts to go and then sticks his hand in his pants and pulls out the poop to play with it. I know, it's disgusting. Nothing I do will make him stop. Even when he is in the bath tub he will wait til I leave the room to grab his pjs, etc., he will poop and secretly put the poop in the toilet. I am so tired of cleaning up poop. He will smear it on the walls, etc. I'm so frustrated and angry.

I am wondering if anyone has dealt with this? I am thinking about taking him to the GI doctor but I think this is more a sensory/control/anxiety/behavioral issue and I have no idea what to do. I actually started crying the other night when he did it because I just had enough.

Can anyone help me?

[Kailey's mom]

I read about this somewhere.. I'm pretty sure it's sensory related btw. If he were NOT pottytrained,this would be easier. Try to put him in outfits he can't take off himself ( yeah, I know, easier to type than do lol ) Give him something with a similar texture to play with often like playdoh. One idea for an outfit is putting him in overalls backwards. If he still has any one piece sleepers, maybe use those backwards.. I hope someone posts soon with more idea's. (hugs)

[NamastePlatypus]

Is he in any therapies right now? They might be able to help you with this. I got lucky with the potty thing here with my SPDer. I would offer the reward of finger paints if he is able to control that urge. It is all about + reinforcment is what I have found. I know you can't watch him every min every day day and night. I would maybe try and have him go criss cross style, pants on backwards.

[sbgrace]

We went through that when my son was younger (and not potty trained). That was easier because I basically rigged clothes so he had no access and he didn't have the control to time stuff in a bath when I walked out of the room at that age either.

I think I'd work on allowing a lot of messy sensory play and rewards for keeping poop where it belongs. Blech. It was so hard when we went through this and I think it would be even harder at this age.

[DaughterOfKali]

Maybe you could look into behavior therapy. It doesn't sound like sensory to me.

[wytchywoman]

I have a student with autism who does this as well. I asked an ABA consultant that did a PD for us today about this behavior, and her only suggestion was to make him clean it up. I don't necessarily think that's going to work for my student, but perhaps it might work for your son? I do think it is sensory related, and perhaps you can have some things that are of similar consistency (playdo?) for him to play with instead. I also think that it is bowel health related as well as I have noticed my student is way more prone to play with his poop when he is constipated. When he is having regular bowel movements we don't see the behavior at all. One thing we did with my DS 2 (when he was vax injured) was place him on a GF/CF diet. That was by far the biggest PITA I've ever been through in my life, but the very first thing we noticed was how much better his gut seemed to be doing. No more constipation or tummy troubles. So GF or GF/CF might be something that you want to consider along with pther suggestions.
Wanted to add...as far as the outfits go, my student is usually dressed in a onesie underneath a shirt and pants. Pants have a tight belt on them and we tape the bottom of his pant legs to keep him from being able to reach up his pant legs to get inside of his diaper. That coupled with watching him really really really closely has helped during the times when he is most prone to engaging in "poop artistry".

[SashaBreeze]

I'm actually very grateful that you posted this question Lilypie. Our son A has been doing this for a little over a year now and I never even thought to tie it to his SPD. Now for the first time I have a game plan for it, thank you all for the great ideas.

[oceanbluemomma]

This is a sensory situation and/or age coping - inability to deal with change and coping in a matter that comforts him (gross as it is). Maybe make a book with picks of the old house and picks of the new house. Can there be a way to transition him easier to this house from the last - recreate the same room, same stickers on the wall in the same places as the last. He sounds stressed out from his changes - hope he can find comfort in his new home with out the smears..

Linda
Warrior Mom to Nick and 3 more!

[Lilypie32]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts/comments/opinions. I have implemented some changes and we'll see how it goes. I know life will just get harder as he gets older. I miss the easy baby days.

[CarrieMF]

I work with a little boy who does this. He is 8 & not potty trained at all, though he did bring us his bathroom card for the first time ever the other day(he is non-verbal).

He has only had 3 bm's at school, once when I had him & he was on the toilet. Once when his other TA had him & he was in the playground while they were taking a school photo for the paper. Once when he was with another one of his TA's while they were walking down the hall. In the 2 instances where he was not on the toilet he threw it on the ground/handed it to his TA.

At home though, every morning he had a bm & then smears it in 1 spot on the wall in his room. I would not be surprised if he eats it, he eats everything. Since he does not actually smear it at school there isn't much we can do about therapy for it. He eats everything(except fruits/veggies).

At home he apparently sticks his hands down his diaper alot, he never does it at school. Any time he tries we stop him & he rarely tries. At home he's allowed free reign to do what he pleases. Whatever we try to do at school is not reinforced at home, there are no rules at home.