Would a Squatty Potty Help My Constipated Kid?
We are built to poop squatting, not sitting. When we sit or stand, we have a natural “kink” in our colon that prevents stool from passing through. This prevents accidents. Before toilets and privies with seats were invented, humans squatted over the ground or over a chamber pot. When you are in that squatting position, the “kink’ in your colon “unkinks” and the stool can pass more easily through the colon.
Sitting on a toilet can be especially hard for children because their feet don’t touch the ground. They hang in the air forcing the child to sit uncomfortably, perched on the edge of the eat. This makes it very hard for them to bare down and push.
Often if a child is uncomfortable they will get out just enough stool to stop the feeling of having to go, but not fulling evacuate. If they do this over and over again, it can lead to constipation.
If a child is already constipated for a different reason (This article Finding the Root Cause of Constipation can help you figure out why your child is constipated) then the difficulty of pushing is increased by not being in that squatting position. This can cause your child pain which can lead to withholding of their stool. My article, Solutions to Stool Withholding in Children Without Using Miralax, can help you with withholding.
When a young child or toddler poops, they will often squat down in their diaper and bear down. This is their instinct getting them in the best position to release their stool easily and fully.
When you start to potty train then, not only are you asking them to only go in one place, instead of wherever they are playing, but you are putting them in an unnatural position that is uncomfortable for them. Many kids get constipated during the potty training process and not being able to squat is one of the reasons why this happens.
One solution to helping your child get in the natural “squat position” is putting a stool in front of the toilet for your child to put their feet on. You can try using a regular step stool but they often aren’t wide enough for their feet to be a proper distance apart or high enough for your child to be able to get their knees up over their hits. Another option is having your child stand on the seat of the toilet and squat over the opening. This can be a good option when they are little and you can help them balance. As they get older, it is a lot of stress on the toilet and can be slippery.
Squatty Potty makes stools that are specially designed to help adults and children get into the squat position to poop. There are many different sizes and styles of the Squatty Potty. The standard 7″ Squatty Potty (Click Here to See on Amazon) works for standard height toilets and for adults and older children. This is what my family has. My son’s doctor recommended we get it. My son is older the 7″ height works for him. If you have a “Comfort Height” toilet (a higher toilet), are very tall or are using it with a young child, then the 9″ Squatty Potty is probably a better option.
The Squatty Potty is shaped to tuck in around the base of the toilet so you can push it back and close to the toilet when not in use. This way you aren’t tripping over it every time you walk past your toilet. Our bathroom is narrow and we pass the toilet to get to our walk-in closet so this is important to us.
Squatty Potty also has a hilarious commercial that involves a Unicorn pooping. It is a fun way to show your child why using this tool is a good idea to help them go to the bathroom.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43Q?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
If you aren’t sure of what size Squatty Potty you want to get or you have many different sized humans in your family that will be using it, the Adjustable Squatty Potty is a great option. It comes in two sections, a 7″ main section and a 2″ section that sits securely on top to make it the full 9″ height.
Squatty Potties are heavy white plastic and have rubber grips on the bottom, plus they are angled to put your feet in the right position and angle to get you in the squat position. The surface where you put your feet has a texture so even if your child is really bearing down they aren’t going to push the stool away or have their feet slide off the surface.
There is a pretty Teak Squatty Potty if you are looking for one that doesn’t look as utilitarian. This is a good option if you don’t have a second guest bathroom and you want something that looks more attractive than a plastic stool. You can also get the teak on in the 9″ Height Stool.
For a kid-friendly design, the SquattyPottymus looks like a hippopotamus. If you think that would encourage your child to give it a go, then this is a super fun option. Especially for smaller children. It isn’t as wide as a regular Squatty Potty so your child isn’t going to be able to get their feet as far apart with this but it is super cute.
If you are worried about your child being able to have bowel movements away from home, then Foldable Porta-Squatty Potty is a good option. It comes with a bag you can carry it in. Another portable option that is smaller than the Porte-Squatty is the Foldable Squatting Stools. They come with a bag to carry them in as well but your child will have to be comfortable with using two separate footstools. This might also be a good option if your child likes to spread their legs wider than a standard Squatty Potty will allow as they can custom place the two footrests.
There are some older kids who still perch on the toilet seat to go. If your child needs to have their knees really high and be in full squat position and you are worried that even the 9″ Squatty Potty isn’t going to be high enough for them, then the Poop Stoop, High Full Squat Stool is very tall. It has footrests on each side of the toilet at almost toilet height. It comes in white or tung oil finished and must be assembled when you get it. It is a pricier option than the Squatty Potty by quite a bit but if it helps your child to have an easy, full poop, then it is worth every cent.
If your child is afraid of the toilet or a training potty, one way you can get them moving in the right direction is to get Bed Underpads or Chucks and put one on the floor of the bathroom. Encourage your child to squat over the pad. If they are afraid to go without a diaper or pull up, you can let them do this still wearing the diaper or pull up and work your way to getting them to squat over the toilet. This will get them used to going into the bathroom to go. This is a big step. It makes them more aware of when they have to go and also works towards them using the privacy of the bathroom instead of a corner of the living room. As they get older, this will make life easier for you if you have company over. You can gradually get them used to using the pad and work your way to having just a toilet seat on or under the pad and then eventually the training potty on the pad. Or skip the training toilet and move them to the adult toilet with a Squatty Potty so they are in a natural position. If they don’t like the feel of the disposable ones or are nervous about standing on it because it feels slippery, then Non-Slip, Washable Gorilla Grip Pads. They are meant to go on a chair in case of accidents but they can be used on the floor for squatting as well. They need to be washed so take that into consideration when making your decision.
If your child is constipated, then trying a positioning stool to help them go is a really good option. It is safe, not very expensive and can make a big difference for your child.
When your child is chronically or functionally constipated, it is frustrating and exhausting for both you and your child. It can also be very hard to figure out what interventions are helping to overcome their constipation and what regiment needs to be followed to help them go 1-3 times a day.
It is very helpful to track what you are giving your child and how it is working. It seems like you will remember how much magnesium or how many Chocolate Coconut Oil Poop Candies your child had last Tuesday when they had 2 great BMs, but the reality is that it is very hard to remember everything when you are stressed about your child’s constipation.
To make it easier for you to track the interventions you are using and what impact this regiment has, I want to offer you a free bowel movement tracker chart that you can download and then print off for each week. It will help keep you organized and will give you insight into what works to help you overcome your child’s constipation.
Click on this link and sign up to receive a Free Bowel Movement Tracker Chart to help you find a plan to manage your child’s constipation.
If your child is struggling with chronic constipation, please read my article How Do I Solve My Child’s Chronic Constipation? It will help you get a game plan to get your child going and to solve their constipation long term.
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*DISCLAIMER, I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR MEDICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. ALL IDEAS DISCUSSED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS POST ARE MY OWN AND ARE NOT MEANT TO TREAT OR DIAGNOSE. IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION PLEASE SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
