Expert: Susan M. Heim - 5/25/2009

Question
Twin boys Sam and Toby were two this month. Sam is very good at dressing/undressing himself and helps his brother too.  He is beginning to be aware of his body and the need to excrete.  They both can pee on their potties if reminded, Toby has never pooped into the pot but Sam won't, he'll do it on the floor indoors or out.  He just takes his clothes off and performs.  They need direction but are getting the right idea. The big problem is when they go to bed for their daytime nap or bed time.  Sam will foul his diaper, take it off then sit on the floor, his bed, his brother's bed with a very sticky bottom.  Toys get run through the mess, it can be wiped on the walls and furniture.  It's a real pooh fest! Toby doesn't like being dirty and can get upset, if he was alone there would be no problem.  In sheer desperation the boys have been duct taped into their diapers to stop them taking them off.  That worked for a couple of nights but now Sam has learnt that he can pick the fabric of the diaper to pieces so it's shredded by morning - more mess to clear up!  Desperation is setting in so any help or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Answer
Dear Maggie,
This can be a huge problem with kids this age, especially twins because they can help each other escape their clothes! Duct tape sometimes works for a few days until they figure out how to get around it, as your child did. One mother I know had success with buying zippered pajamas for her boys. She put them on backward and secured them with a safety pin! So far, they haven’t been able to get them off. Another mom recommended a product called the Little Keeper Sleeper. It’s a specially designed sleeper that is very difficult for kids to remove. You can read about it here: http://www.littlekeepersleeper.com/store/Default.asp Other parents have had success with giving their kids cold showers after a feces-smearing episode. After a few such showers, many children will stop playing with their poop to avoid the cold water. The good news is that, for most children, this fascination with feces is usually short-lived. I hope that one of these techniques works for you.

Warm wishes,
Susan Heim
www.twinstalk.com