Herbie Murray
As a parent, it is normal to worry about your child's health and well-being, and one common concern is a toddler's habit of pooping during sleep. This can be frustrating and disrupt the sleep of both the child and the caregiver. While it is typical for newborns to eat, sleep, and poop around the clock, this habit usually changes as they grow older. By the time a baby is between six and eight weeks old, they start spending more time awake during the day and eating more during the day, which leads to more daytime pooping. However, some toddlers may continue to poop during sleep or return to this habit due to various factors such as diet, growth spurts, sleep training, teething, or simply asserting their independence.
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What You'll Learn
Toddlers may wait until their caregiver isn't present to poop
It is common for toddlers to wait until their caregiver is not present to poop, especially when they are in the process of being potty trained. This is because they are starting to assert their independence and seek more personal power. They may boycott one of the few things they can control: pooping.
Toddlers may also wait until their caregiver is not present to poop because they feel anxious about using the toilet. They may be worried about falling into the toilet or getting bitten by something inside the pipe. These concerns may seem silly to adults, but they can be very real for toddlers. It is important for caregivers to address these concerns and make their toddlers feel comfortable in the bathroom.
Another reason toddlers may wait until their caregiver is not present to poop is that they are simply more comfortable pooping in private. As children get older, they may start to prefer pooping away from others. This is a natural part of growing up and becoming more independent.
In some cases, toddlers may withhold their poop because they are constipated or have had a painful bowel movement in the past. This is known as stool withholding and can lead to other issues such as bedwetting, urine leakage, or urinary tract infections. It is important for parents to address this problem right away and seek medical advice if necessary.
Finally, it is important to remember that pooping at night or during nap time is a normal part of a toddler's development. Between 12 and 18 months, toddlers begin to gain control of their bowels, and this newfound control may result in them experimenting with when they choose to poop. This phase usually passes as they get used to their newfound independence.
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Increased night-time input leads to increased output
Sleep is an essential building block for a child's mental and physical health. It plays a crucial role in their development, impacting alertness, attention, cognitive performance, mood, resiliency, vocabulary acquisition, and learning and memory. However, sleep problems are common among children, affecting 25 to 50 percent of them.
When it comes to toddlers and their sleep habits, it's not uncommon for them to assert their independence and seek more personal power. This can sometimes result in them choosing to boycott one or more of the things they can control, such as eating, sleeping, or pooping. This can lead to instances of pooping during sleep, which can be frustrating for parents.
One of the reasons why a 17-month-old might be pooping in their sleep is due to increased night-time input leading to increased output. If your toddler is still having night feeds, the additional input during the night will naturally result in more output. Once your toddler weans from overnight feeds, you may notice a reduction in night-time bowel movements.
Additionally, if your toddler is going through a growth spurt, they will likely be consuming more food, which can also contribute to increased bowel movements, including during sleep. It's important to monitor their diet and keep a food log to understand how their eating habits are connected to their sleep patterns.
Introducing solid foods can also impact bowel habits. Offering new foods gradually and avoiding introducing too many new items at once can help prevent disruptions in their sleep due to increased bowel movements.
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A growth spurt can lead to more frequent pooping
A growth spurt is a period of intense physical growth in height and weight. It is a normal part of a child's development, and it occurs at different stages of their childhood until they reach physical maturity. During a growth spurt, a child may experience changes in their sleep patterns and appetite. They may become fussier and have increased hunger, which can lead to more frequent feeding.
Growth spurts can cause a baby to eat more, resulting in more poop. Introducing solid foods or new foods too quickly during this time can also affect bowel habits. It is important to note that growth spurts can also lead to digestive issues such as diarrhoea if the baby is overfed. Therefore, it is recommended to feed the infant smaller portions more frequently rather than larger portions less often.
Additionally, growth spurts can cause changes in sleep patterns, which may explain why a child is pooping during sleep. As children grow, their sleeping and feeding patterns change, impacting the frequency of bowel movements in their sleep. For example, newborns lack control of their bowels and often poop during or right after feeding. As they get older, their bodies repair and restore themselves while asleep, and their bowels rest, resulting in less frequent pooping at night.
Between 12 and 18 months, toddlers begin to gain control of their bowels and may intentionally wait to poop until their caregiver changes them, sometimes using it as a form of defiance or to delay bedtime. This behaviour is usually just a phase and will pass as the toddler gets used to their newfound independence.
To summarise, while a growth spurt can lead to more frequent feeding and subsequent bowel movements, other factors, such as changes in sleep patterns and the development of bowel control, also play a role in why a 17-month-old may poop in their sleep.
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A consistent daytime schedule can encourage pooping during the day
It is normal for newborns to eat, sleep, and poop around the clock. However, as babies get older, they start to develop a preference for pooping in peace, away from others. A consistent daytime schedule, including consistent mealtimes and playtime, can encourage them to develop a preference for pooping during the day.
- Create a consistent daytime schedule with consistent mealtimes and playtime. This will help your toddler develop a preference for pooping during their awake time.
- Offer your child plenty of fluids to soften their stool and make it easier to pass. Toddlers should aim for around 6 cups of fluid per day. You can flavour their water with cut fruit, veggies, or herbs, or offer fruits with high water content such as grapes, watermelon, berries, cucumber, and celery.
- Focus on fibre-rich foods. A diet rich in fibre helps keep poop soft, making it easier for your toddler to pass. Some fibre-rich foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
- Encourage your toddler to use the toilet several times during the day, especially after meals or whenever they feel the need to go. You can also create a plan for consistency by taking your child to the potty every 30 to 60 minutes for the first few days and gradually extending the periods between tries.
- If your child is still being breastfed, log the foods you are eating and how they affect your baby's bowel movements. If your baby has started solids, keep a food log of what they are eating and the timing before sleep. This will help you identify any patterns and make adjustments as needed.
Remember, it is common for toddlers to occasionally go a few days without pooping, and their stooling patterns can vary. However, if you have any concerns or notice any changes in their bowel movements, it is always best to consult your pediatrician.
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Teething can cause more frequent pooping
While there is no scientific evidence that teething causes diarrhoea, many parents believe that their babies tend to have more frequent bowel movements while teething. This could be because the pain of teething affects their diet, such as by reducing their fluid intake or making it difficult to eat fibrous foods. In turn, this can lead to constipation or diarrhoea.
If your baby is experiencing diarrhoea while teething, it is important to monitor the duration. Diarrhoea that persists for more than a couple of days, or is accompanied by other symptoms like fever or vomiting, should prompt you to contact your baby's healthcare provider. You should also seek medical advice if you see any blood in the diarrhoea. To manage the symptoms, you can try to keep your baby hydrated by offering breast milk or formula more frequently. If your baby is older, you can also offer small sips of water or an electrolyte solution as recommended by your healthcare provider.
It is also important to monitor your baby's diet. If your baby has started eating solid foods, try to offer bland, easy-to-digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (often referred to as the BRAT diet). Avoid foods that might irritate the stomach, such as dairy products, sugary foods, and juices. Additionally, frequent diaper changes are important to prevent diaper rash, which might be aggravated by diarrhoea.
If your baby is teething and experiencing constipation, increasing their fluids or fibre may help. Teething toys and other soothing measures can also help reduce teething-related discomfort. If your baby is in pain or is having difficulty with bowel movements, it is important to talk to their doctor.
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Frequently asked questions
Between 12 and 18 months, toddlers begin to control their bowels. They may wait to poop as an act of defiance, to delay bedtime, or to get a reaction from their caregiver. This is typically just a phase and will pass as they get used to their newfound independence.
You can try skipping fruit at dinner and offering meat, cheese, rice, and toast instead. You can also provide some independent playtime later in the evening to give your toddler some alone time.
Every toddler is different, and so are their diets, so there is no definitive answer. Over a week or so, try to monitor what's typical for your toddler. If you notice any black or tar-like stool, contact your pediatrician.
