Few topics spark more controversy than potty training, a developmental milestone that, in the age of social media, has become a competitive sport. Now the UK government has weighed in with a campaign asserting it’s “best” for children to ditch diapers between 18 and 30 months of age. The campaign, while well-meaning, spells bad news for kids and, ironically, good news for the diaper industry.

Children with encopresis, nighttime wetting, and/or daytime enuresis absolutely can overcome these conditions and the chronic constipation that is the root cause.

Potty-training struggles at age 2 or 3 are a giant red flag for chronic constipation and should not be dismissed ("no worries, she'll outgrow it") or treated as a psychological issue.

By Steve Hodges, M.D. It's a myth that Ex-Lax is unsafe for children with chronic constipation. Parents often ask me how long children...

We covered poop and pee withholding, bladder medication, Ex-Lax and Miralax, a recurrence of accidents in a teenager, and explosive pee acci

By Steve Hodges, M.D. Is Miralax safe to take for short periods? Should my child be x-rayed for constipation? What’s the best timing for...

If your child isn’t amenable to potty sits, don’t force the issue! When a kid's rectum lacks tone and sensation, a potty sit may be futile.

By Steve Hodges, M.D. It's not unusual for preschools to set potty-training deadlines and then issue ultimatums to parents when a child...

By Steve Hodges, M.D. At the start of every school year, Google alerts me to articles like this one: Teachers Are Seeing More Kindergartners Arrive at School Still in Diapers . A handful of teachers report that a handful of their students wear pull-ups to school, a “concerning education trend” is declared, and blame is assigned. The 2023 version, published by We Are Teachers and “informed” by over 1,000 Reddit commenters, offers three explanations: lazy or ignorant parents,

By Steve Hodges, M.D. Have you ever been at your wit’s end with a child’s potty accidents or bedwetting? At times, feelings of...