Stool Withholding Help

21/12/2025

🎄✨ Merry Christmas from Squiggy the Poo! ✨🎄

Wishing you and your families a calm, cosy and joy-filled Christmas. I know this time of year can be full of fun, but it can also bring big changes to routines, food, travel and emotions – and for children struggling with toilet anxiety, constipation or stool withholding, that can feel especially overwhelming.

If you need guidance over the holidays, you’re not alone. 💛
Head to the highlights at the top of my profile for clear support on:

✨ Macrogols & how they work
✨ Disimpaction regime guidance
✨ Moving from nappies to toilet
✨ Supporting toilet anxiety
✨ Tips for stool withholding + toileting routines

These resources are there to help you feel informed, confident and supported – even during the Christmas break.

Sending love, encouragement and festive cheer from me and Squiggy the Poo! 🎅💩✨

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🔖 Save this for later

👆 Check the highlights for instant help

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19/12/2025

Available now on Amazon, Eric’s Online Shop, and Waterstones—or just drop ‘Squiggy’ in the comments and I’ll send you the link straight to your DMs!
Is your child scared of the toilet or struggling with constipation? Squiggy the Poo is a gentle, fun story trusted by parents and professionals to help kids feel confident and relaxed about potty time.
✔ Written by a developmental psychologist
✔ Eases toilet anxiety with playful storytelling
✔ Teaches simple pelvic floor exercises
✔ Perfect for ages 2–6
Make toilet time stress-free for your little one today!”

18/12/2025

🎄 Christmas Tips for Stool Withholders 🎄
The holidays can throw routines out the window—but for kids who struggle with constipation or withholding, predictability matters!
✅ Don’t skip toilet sits – move them to mornings if evenings are busy
✅ Plan ahead – schedule sits into your day
✅ Keep a poo diary – track meds, poos & consistency
✅ Choose quieter bathrooms – less stress when out and about
✅ Stay hydrated & add soluble fiber foods – satsumas, berries, veggie sticks are great festive options
✅ Stock up on meds – don’t run out during the holidays
💡 Small steps = big difference for your child’s comfort and confidence!

17/12/2025

Most parents know this—reward charts lose their magic fast. Incentives are great for kick-starting habits like toileting routines or pelvic floor exercises, but they’re not a long-term fix.
Here’s how to keep them fresh:
✔ Rotate rewards often
✔ Add surprise bonuses
✔ Mix tangible and intangible rewards
✔ Let kids choose
✔ Pair rewards with praise
✔ Use short-term challenges
Start with rewards, but aim for routines that stick without them. That’s where real progress happens.
Follow for more practical tips on building healthy habits for kids!”

16/12/2025

🚨 Constipation and stool withholding are NOT the same thing 🚨

Constipation is a physical problem.
Stool withholding is a behavioural response.

A child can be:
• medically “unblocked”
• on laxatives
• having soft stools

…and still be withholding.

👉 Why?
Because withholding is driven by fear, memory of pain, control, anxiety, or habit not just stool consistency.

🔑 The key outcome parents need to hear:
Treating constipation alone will NOT resolve stool withholding behaviours.

If we only focus on softening poo but ignore:
• fear of pain
• toilet anxiety
• avoidance behaviours
• loss of body trust

then the cycle continues.

💡 True progress happens when we treat BOTH:
✔️ the bowel
✔️ the behaviour
✔️ the emotional response

This is why so many parents feel stuck despite “doing everything right”.

If this resonates, you’re not failing, you’re missing a piece you were never taught.

✨ Education changes outcomes.

📕 Comment “guide” for a link to my practical guide to support your child’s stool withholding!

15/12/2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Total game changer!” • “Life changer!” • “This works!”

If your child struggles with poo anxiety or stool withholding, Squiggy the Poo is here to help 💙

This interactive children’s book is designed to gently support children who are holding onto their poo, helping them build confidence, understanding, and positive toilet routines — without pressure or fear.

🎄 Christmas is the perfect time to start
With more time at home, it’s an ideal opportunity to introduce Squiggy and begin developing supportive routines that can help your child start overcoming poo withholding issues.

Written by a Developmental Psychologist, Squiggy the Poo is loved by parents for being:

✔️ Child-friendly
✔️ Reassuring
✔️ Practical
✔️ Backed by psychology

✨ Want the direct link?

Comment “Squiggy” below and I’ll send it straight to your DMs 👇

11/12/2025

Struggling with toileting routines or stool withholding? 🛁 Visual supports can make a huge difference!

First-Then-Next cards show your child exactly what’s expected and what comes after:

✅ First (required task) → ✅ Then (second required task) → 🎉 Next (reward).

Why do they work?

They create predictability, reduce anxiety, and keep kids motivated with a clear reward at the end. Perfect for multi-step routines like toileting!

How to use them:

✔ Pick two short, achievable tasks (e.g., sit on toilet + wipe bottom).
✔ Choose a motivating reward for “Next.”
✔ Show the card before starting and use simple language: “First sit, then wipe, next sticker.”
✔ Follow through—make sure the reward happens right away!

Examples you can try:

👉 First: Sit on toilet → Then: Wipe → Next: Sticker
👉 First: Sit → Then: Bum squeeze → Next: Watch a video
👉 First: Flush → Then: Wash hands → Next: Play with bubbles

🎁 Want ready-made cards for bum squeezes? Comment “cards” below for a DM to my FREE download!

08/12/2025

05/12/2025

So many children are treated for constipation when the real issue is actually stool withholding — and if we miss those behaviours, our little ones get stuck in the same painful cycle. 💛

If your child is actively holding onto their poo, doing “bum squeezes,” hiding, tiptoeing, clenching or avoiding the toilet… treating the constipation alone won’t break the cycle.
We must identify the withholding behaviours and support their emotional + physical readiness to poo.

I have lots of videos on my feed walking you through:
✨ how to spot stool withholding
✨ what behaviours to look out for
✨ how to support them step-by-step
✨ what ACTUALLY helps long-term

Save this for later and share with another parent who needs this reminder. You’re not alone. 💛

04/12/2025

✨ Another 5-star review for Squiggy the Poo! ✨
I’m so grateful for every parent who shares how this little book is helping their child feel more confident, relaxed and actually excited about going to the toilet.

If you’re navigating constipation, stool withholding or toilet anxiety, Squiggy the Poo is designed to make those tricky moments lighter, calmer and easier for your child, and for you.

Want the link sent straight to your inbox?
💛 Comment “BOOK” and I’ll DM you the Amazon link so you can grab your copy today!

Let’s help more little ones feel proud of their poo journeys 🚽💫

03/12/2025

Struggling with toileting routines?
First–Then–Next cards are a game-changer for building predictable routines and increasing engagement. They break the process into clear steps so your child knows exactly what to expect, reducing anxiety and boosting confidence.
Example:
✅ First: Sit on the toilet
✅ Then: Do bum squeezes
✅ Next: Enjoy a high-value reward – whether that’s a sweet treat, screen time, a favourite game, or a trip to the park!
Want to make it easy? Drop “CARDS” in the comments for a FREE link to my pre-made First–Then–Next cards. You can personalise them by swapping in your own pictures!
✨ Build routines. Reduce stress. Make toileting positive.

02/12/2025

✨ The Birthday Candle Technique ✨
A simple, child-friendly strategy to support emotional regulation, reduce anxiety on the toilet, and help little ones who are withholding or becoming overwhelmed during difficult moments.

By guiding your child to “blow out the birthday candle,” you’re:
🎂 Teaching slow belly breathing
🎂 Redirecting their attention away from what’s upsetting them
🎂 Helping their body relax so they can feel safe and in control
🎂 Strengthening co-regulation and connection with you

This technique is gentle, effective and can make a huge difference for children who experience stress, fear or tension around toileting.

💛 Save this for later & share with a parent who needs it.