Dr. Alan Greene on Playing with Poop

Question

My recently potty-trained 22-month-old thinks his bowel movements are fascinating. When he has an "accident" (usually on his bedroom floor) he plays with the poop! Is he the only toddler to do this?

Answer

Many kids do go through a phase of finding poop fascinating. The goal is not to make it more so by reacting too strongly to it. Usually, the best way through this phase is to smile and say, "Poop is yucky on the hands," and then take him and wash his hands right away.

If poop smearing is done as an act of aggression, that can be a cause of concern and kids should be evaluated to see if there is an underlying problem going on.

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.