feces eating

[fasNadha]

what can i do to stop a 35 month old child from doing this, she usually has her poo when sleeping, and i try to catch her before she wakes up, but usually when i go to her in the morning, there is poo everywhere, her hair, face, body, in her mouth, and of course she has smeared it on the walls and floor
what are the health risks for this child, i have taken her to two doctors, both said some kids do this and she will out grow it, but she has been doing this for at least 10 months

to go to sleep, i put on her diaper, then tape around it, then a pair of tights, then a sleeper on backwards, and then i sew the zipper closed, just to try and keep her out of the diaper, she is quite determine to get at the poo, she will pick the diaper open.

[Hope3red]

My 2 1/2 year old is a 'painter'.  (My husband hates that term.)  He loves to poo in his diaper, then paint all over his room with it.  If I don't catch him he is covered head to toe.  I don't think he eats it, but honestly I would put it past him as he still puts everything in his mouth.  As Dr. Kennedy suggested, having your child sit on the potty before bedtime really does help.  Maybe not every time, but we are getting there.  If my son does have a bowel movement while on the potty, he gets lots of praise (and an M&M.)  This works well for him.  Also, when he poos in his diaper, I check his fingers and if they are clean, more praise.  He knows I prefer him to go in the toilet, but honestly, when you have a child that likes to play with their poo, you take what you can get.  :)   I have discovered that with my son, it is a sensory thing, he likes the way it feels between his fingers.  So I buy cheap shaving lotion and let him play with that in the bath tub.  We play with play dough a lot too.  If he is getting his sensory needs elsewhere, he is less inclined to paint.  Hope this helps.    

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Rather than focus on trying to stop the behavior, focus on gradually changing the pattern of her bowel movements. Have her sit on the potty prior to bedtime, and you can have her drink a cup (don't overdo it) of warn water - this may help to stimulate the bowel movement. Do not get in the habit of giving her laxatives to promote the bowel movements, though. That would be a mistake.