My three yr old daughter has recently started pooping in her bathing suit while swimming. She has been potty-trained for about ten months and we don't have any issues with her having accidents at any other time. I repeatedly ask her to tell me if she feels that she has to go, but she doesn't. I have threatened swim diapers and plastic pants, but I'm not even sure I could find any that would fit her (she weighs 40lbs) or that they would help contain the mess. My husband says that we shouldn't even let her get in the pool until she has pooped in the potty. Sounds like a good plan, but what if she truly doesn't have to go? Although, it seems that she always has to once she's swam a little while. Our swim instructor said it was probably "exercie induced bowel movements" and that she doesn't have much control over it. Has anyone else had this kind of problem? Any advice on how I should handle it? Rewards - immediately after a "no-mess" swim or sticker chart with prize after 5 or so days? Or punishment - no swimming for a while? Although, I'd hate to punish her if she truly has no control!
No Apple juice or apple products might help. Apples cause a build-up of gas that 1 can hurt and 2 can cause poop/diahrea. You might want to try not giving them to her several hours prior to swimming. (apple juice hides in a lot of fruit juices as a cheap filler, check the labels.)
:)
Hi, J..
While my 3-year old daughter has never pooped in her bathing suit, she does almost *always* have to get out of the pool to poop after about 10 or 15 minutes of swimming, whether at her swim lesson or in our pool at home. And even if she went potty (usually just pee) before getting in the water, she still ends up pooping after being in the water for a bit.
I don't have any really good suggestions, but I would not punish her. Maybe try just getting her out of the pool after 10 minutes or so and asking her if she has to go, or even just taking her to the bathroom? Maybe if she knows that it's okay to miss a few minutes of her lesson, or that she can get back in and swim more after she poops on the potty, she'll feel more comfortable and learn to control it better. At least enough to tell you when she feels it coming on. It might be a pain (with the we suit and all), but it doesn't seem like rewards or punishments are the way to go here!
Good luck,
A.
Hi J.. My 4-yr-old daugther experienced that last year as well. She will sometimes even get the urgency to go while she is in the bathtub playing. Last year we had a tough time with swim lessons. Where she goes for lessons, the instructor takes them one at a time. She would get out of the water after each of her turns to get into the bathroom. Although we made several trips, our instructor was very understanding and we avoided any accidents.
Maybe you could try getting her out of the water after 10 minutes or so, and letting her sit on the potty. I think eventually she will gain control over it. I definitely would not punish her in anyway...but reward her if she is able to make it to the potty during this time.
Hope this helps some. Good luck!
I dont know if this will help, but my Brother In Law who is 50 y/o now has a simular problem. If his feet touch cold tile he has the same problem! It doesnt sound like a discipline problem, but a problem none the less! Wish I had some good advice other than research on the web and talk to your Dr. - Good Luck!
