It Hurts When I Poop!
- iParenting Media Award Winner
Helping children overcome their fear of pooping with colorful illustrations and a thoughtful story.
Ryan is scared to use the potty. He is afraid to have a poop, because he’s afraid it’s going to hurt. He does NOT want to go. This story, along with Ryan’s “poop program,” will help young children gain the confidence they need to overcome this common problem and establish healthy habits. Includes a Note to Parents by the author,
From the Note to Parents:
The book includes a “poop program” that I use with children between the ages of 3 and 6. While the program is ostensibly for the main character, my hope is that your child will want to follow these steps as well. How you approach the program will vary somewhat depending on your child’s age. Most 3- to 4-year-olds do not need to do the program in a formal way. Instead, you can incorporate parts of the program into your daily routine—make the needed dietary changes, reward successful pooping with stickers, and consider reviewing how poops come out of the body. Most 5- to 6-year-olds are interested in doing the full program, though it is still important to be flexible. For example, if a 5-year-old does not want to do Potty Practice, I would adjust things accordingly.
Howard J. Bennett, MD, practices pediatrics in Washington, DC, and lives in Maryland with his wife and two children. He is the author of Lions Aren't Scared of Shots, Harry Goes to the Hospital, and Waking Up Dry: A Guide to Help Children Overcome Bedwetting.
Dr. Bennett is also a clinical professor of pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and a member of the Community Advisory Staff at the Children's National Medical Center. He maintains a website where he posts information related to bedwetting.
M.S. (Michael) Weber is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago. His illustrations appear in children's books and magazines, and online. "I look upon children as a new frontier," he says, "because if children are well influenced through their parents, education, and literature, the chances of our world becoming a better place will improve. This is why I illustrate children's stories." He lives in Chicago with his family.
- iParenting Media Award Winner!
Every child with toilet training trouble should see this book!
—Allison Schonwald, MD, Pediatrician, Harvard Medical School, author of The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Potty Training Problems
It Hurts When I Poop! is a wonderful book. My daughter runs a little slow, digestion-wise, and is prone to tummy aches when she holds everything in. Dr. Bennett's story provided her with knowledge about her body, confidence in her intelligence, and a plan to remedy the situation. I heartily recommend Dr. Bennett's smart, playful treatment of a frustrating problem.
—Mary Kay Zuravleff, author of The Bowl is Already Broken
This is a terrific book that will help children overcome the fears they experience with using the potty. I highly recommend this book and think it will be enthusiastically received by parents and children alike.
—Teri Crane, author of Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro
At last, someone has provided parents with a fun-filled, non-threatening approach to help children who hold in their bowel movements. Dr. Bennett's book will be a permanent fixture in my waiting room.
—Benny Kerzner, MD, Chairman, Department of Gastroenterology, Children's National Medical Center
