Why does she poop at naptime?

[EllenS]

Not sure where to post...

For a month or more, it seems that no matter how long the interval is between E and S, she always poops about 10 minutes after I put her in her crib for first or second nap.  It's as if she's waiting for her "quiet time".  Then the diaper change gets her all riled up again and often she takes so long to wind down that she winds up OT.

Any ideas?  I think next week after we move I'm going to get a potty seat and incorporate a visit before naptime, maybe that will help.

She will be 9 months next week.

[LLLena]

Hi Ellen, We've had very similar problems w/ pooping at naps & bedtime.  Ds still poops 50% of the time during naps and is about 25% at bedtime.  I've changed his fruit schedule so he doesn't get the more "movement" inducing fruits toward later in the day. 

TBH, that's the only thing that helps us.  I don't even bother changing the poop during naps and will change him in a deeper part of his sleep cycle at night.

I really think some kids just prefer for a quiet moment if they can. 

HTH-
Lena

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

Well not real advise, but just one question: woudl she fall asleep with the dirty nappy anyhow so you would not have to change her before the nap? if she does not get nappy rash may be that's your trick! you change her after the nap then.

[EllenS]

No, she won't sleep - that's how I know she pooped.  We get about 10 minutes of chat, then a loud shout-out that will turn into hysterical crying if I don't go get her.  When she shouts and I go get her, she is holding onto the railing hopping up and down.  She really works herself into quite a state.

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

she is holding onto the railing hopping up and down.  She really works herself into quite a state.

so that's clear!!!
well then may be try to make a calmer moment before the sleeping timing so may be she gets the sense she is calm enough to poop if that's why she is waiting, so kind of advancing the bed time to allow poop time before the real S time should be there, so she would not be OT by the moment she should be in S.

does that make sense?

[EllenS]

Yep, you mean take a longer winddown or put her down early for the nap.  Worth a try.

[dbj]

That was happening with my DD for awhile too.  I just tried to switch when I fed her certain foods and that seemed to help.  It's not always going to be the food from the previous E.  She still poops 2-4 times a day, so it's occasionally unavoidable, but considering the frequency, she now does pretty well.

[Muriel - Elisa's mama]

Yep, you mean take a longer winddown or put her down early for the nap.  Worth a try.

yes like that you have poop time & still your nomal S time  and no OT, may be it works, may this combined to the food check as quoted by others you have a possible solution!

good luck!

[LLLena]

Some other advice given to me is to wait one hour between meals and naps if possible.  Given her age, I'm not so sure that's possible yet.     Others had great advice too. 

Good luck.

Lena