Pooping pants

My daughter is turning 5 July 18th. She has been poty trained since she was very young, and recently started pooping and peeing her pants during play and activity times. She does not do it at pre-school, because she knows she will have to go home, but only when she is playing with friends in social situations. It has become a major problem, and she is starting Kindergarten in August. My wife and I are very concerned. We plan to check with our pediatrician about potential bowel issues, and changing her punishments to cultivate a more merit based system where she is rewarded for positive steps in the right direction. Is there anything else we can do besides the previous recommendations?

[margypops]

I dont think punishments help this anyway as it can create an anxiety, could she be upset about anything, have there been any changes in her life , a new sibling, house, family ? you say she does not do it at preschool so why would she do it at Kindergarten .Doing it when she is playing could mean she is busy concentrating on just the playing.Merit base sounds a good positive move ..also a visit to the Doctor wont hurt.

[Wojo70]

Here is my story and it sounds like we have the same issue.  My daughter seems to poop in her panties when she is busy concentrating on playing , activities, etc.  Preschool ended a couple weeks ago and not sure if that has something to do with it.
Please read my story below....thanks

A few years she was having issues pooping at all so we brought her to pediatricians/specialists who finally had to do an enigma on her.  After that, the specialist recommended giving her Myralax daily to help with her pooping. For almost a year or so she has been pooping regular, asking to go potty etc, and has been alot happier.

Just lately, she has been pooping in her panties daily.  When she does poop, she has regular poop and she says that it does not hurt to poop, so I am very frustrated when she goes in her panties.  I ask her to tell daddy or any grown up when she has to go potty and she will say now that she does not have to go, then proceeds to poop in her panties??I ask her if it hurts to poop and she says no, and she sometimes cries.  She is a very smart girl and she should know when she has to go potty, and is still very socialable and happy. She does not poop in her panities and night and they are dry in the morning.  I am asking for some direction here.

Thank you

[jwristen]

Hello Wojo,
After doing some more reading I found a problem called encopresis. I am not sure if she has this problem but I am going to have the pediatrician look into it. Here is a nice link that has a summary of it, and how to treat it. http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/encopresis.html There is a good list of ways to recognize the issue and solutions about how to address the problem. Hope this helps, we going to try to change her diet a little.