Stool Withholding Help

Stool Withholding Help 🌟 Dr Kate McGarry 🧠 Developmental Psychologist 📖 Check out my book for support and guidance ⬇️

14/04/2026

💛 This work is deeply personal for me.
I don’t just talk about stool withholding from a professional perspective — I’ve lived it.
👧 When my eldest daughter was struggling, I was told she was “just constipated,” even though I knew in my gut she was holding her poo in. I kept saying something didn’t feel right, but my concerns weren’t always listened to. That feeling — knowing your child and feeling dismissed — is incredibly hard.
👶 At the same time, I was on maternity leave with my youngest. I was exhausted, emotional, and trying to care for a newborn while navigating repeated disimpactions and the stress that came with them. It was overwhelming, isolating, and honestly one of the toughest periods I’ve been through as a parent.
📚 That experience changed everything.
It pushed me to look deeper — to immerse myself in the research, explore the literature around stool withholding, and apply developmental and psychological theories to understand what was really going on for children like my daughter.
✨ What started as personal desperation became the foundation of my professional focus, and it’s why all of my work today is dedicated to this area.
🔥 I’m passionate about supporting families and shifting the conversation away from “they’ll just grow out of it” and towards “how do we actually tackle this, in a way that supports the child and the family?”
💛 If any part of this resonates, know that you’re not alone — and there is a way forward.

If you’d like to learn more about how I support families through consultations:
👇 Comment YES below 👇

Struggling with a little one who avoids pooing? 💩🚽 You’re not alone—and there is a way through.Squiggy the Poo is an int...
13/04/2026

Struggling with a little one who avoids pooing? 💩🚽 You’re not alone—and there is a way through.

Squiggy the Poo is an interactive, child-friendly story designed to gently support children who feel anxious, scared, or resistant to pooing. Through playful storytelling, it helps children understand their bodies, feel more in control, and build confidence around using the toilet 💛

✨ Loved by parents
✨ Recommended by families
✨ A total game changer for withholders

If you’re ready to take the stress out of poo time and support your child in a positive, pressure-free way…

👉 Comment SQUIGGY below and I’ll DM you the Amazon link!

Nothing means more than hearing how supported families feel after working together 🤍This beautiful testimonial captures ...
09/04/2026

Nothing means more than hearing how supported families feel after working together 🤍

This beautiful testimonial captures exactly why I do what I do—helping children feel safe, understood, and back in control of their bodies 💩✨

My consultations are held online, making them accessible and convenient for families wherever you are. Together, we explore your child’s unique challenges and I guide you through practical, evidence-based strategies you can start using straight away.

You also have the option to add a personalised written plan—so you can move forward with clarity, confidence, and a step-by-step approach tailored specifically to your child.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure what to try next… you don’t have to figure it out alone

08/04/2026

🚽 Stool Withholding Isn’t “Just Constipation”
When stool withholding keeps coming back, it’s a sign we’re missing something.
🧠 It’s About the Whole Child
Withholding is often driven by: • Pain or past painful poos
• Fear or anxiety around toileting
• Sensory sensitivities
• Stress, routines, and environments
Laxatives alone don’t change these underlying drivers.
💛 What Actually Helps
Real progress comes from supporting the child and addressing the behaviours behind the withholding, not just focusing on the poo.
📘 Want Practical Support?
Comment GUIDE and I’ll DM you a link to my practical parent guide with clear strategies you can start using straight away.

07/04/2026

Parents are loving Squiggy the Poo 💩🚽

This fun, friendly story is quickly becoming a go-to for families navigating toileting struggles — especially for little ones who feel worried, anxious, or tend to withhold.

✨ Recommended by parents
✨ Loved by children
✨ Backed by psychology

Squiggy the Poo uses gentle psychological techniques to create positive associations with pooing and the toilet — helping children feel safe, confident, and in control.

It also introduces simple, child-friendly pelvic floor exercises, supporting little ones to learn how to initiate and control their bowel movements in a relaxed, pressure-free way.

Families tell me it’s helped open up conversations, reduce anxiety, and even bring laughter to what can feel like a really challenging stage 💛

If you’re in the thick of it right now, you’re not alone — and Squiggy is here to help make things feel easier.

06/04/2026

🎥 How to normalise poo for your withholder 💩🚽
If your child is withholding, it’s usually because poo feels unpredictable, uncomfortable, or scary. The goal is to make it feel familiar, safe, and understood:

📖 Use stories daily
Toilet books help children learn what poo feels like in the body, what’s happening, and what to do. They also support problem-solving by showing how characters handle the urge to poo, what choices they make, and the outcomes of those choices. This gives your child a mental “plan” they can draw on in real life.

🎲 Learn through play
Play is how children process experiences. Games like Poo Dough or Baby Won’t Poo help them explore withholding, practise problem-solving, and feel more in control — without pressure.

🎨 Create positive associations
If poo is only linked to stress, children avoid it. Crafts, drawing, or silly poo activities help build new, positive connections and reduce anxiety over time.

🚽 Use predictable toilet sits
Regular, gentle sit times (e.g. after meals) help the body get into a rhythm. Keep it relaxed and pressure-free so your child starts to feel safe and familiar with sitting and letting go.

🗣️ Talk about poo openly
Use calm, everyday language. The more matter-of-fact you are, the more your child learns that poo isn’t something to fear or avoid.

💛 Keep it low pressure
Pressure increases withholding. Focus on exposure, safety, and consistency — not immediate results.

👇 Comment “games” and I’ll send you my videos on Baby Won’t Poo and Poo Dough!

Happy Easter 🐣💛If you’re noticing a few toileting setbacks over the holidays, you’re not alone. Changes in routine, diff...
05/04/2026

Happy Easter 🐣💛

If you’re noticing a few toileting setbacks over the holidays, you’re not alone. Changes in routine, different foods, travel, and excitement can all have an impact.

The key thing to remember is: this is completely normal. Try to take the pressure off (for you and your child), stay calm, and gently start bringing routines back in where you can. Consistency will help things settle again.

You’ve got this 💫

31/03/2026

I’ve written THREE different Squiggy the Poo books… and apparently that’s still not enough for my kids 🙃💩

Because now they’re fully convinced what I really need to do is create a Squiggy the Poo Joke Book…

Every day I’m being hit with:
“Mummy, listen to this one…”
…and I have to admit, some of their jokes are actually pretty good 😂

I’d love to hear your favourite (or most groan-worthy!) poo jokes—share them in the comments below 👇

🧠✨ Understanding sensations is step one.When children struggle with toileting or withholding, the challenge often starts...
30/03/2026

🧠✨ Understanding sensations is step one.

When children struggle with toileting or withholding, the challenge often starts deep inside the body — with interoception. Helping them label sensations (like “tight tummy,” “squeezing feeling,” or “pressure low down”) builds the body awareness needed to recognise bladder and bowel cues before discomfort or accidents happen.

🔎 In this carousel

I’ve included simple, child‑friendly sensation labels across different sensory systems to make body signals easier to notice and describe. These words act like bridges between what the body feels and what the brain understands.

🚽💡 Why it matters for toileting

Children who struggle to notice internal sensations are more likely to experience withholding, constipation, or difficulty responding to urges in time. Strengthening interoception is a gentle, supportive way to help them connect with what their body is telling them — especially for school‑aged kids who find toilet cues confusing or overwhelming.

📘✨ Want targeted support?
For interoception + toilet learning in school‑aged children, comment “science” and I’ll DM you a link to my book:
Body Science: The Toilet Time Experiments.

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