Dr Catherine
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Girl
8-15 years

hi i have 2 children one is 8 and the other is 12 and they both wet and poo the the bet maybe 2 a week and i want to know if i should put them in nappies at night and my 8 year old poo and wees his pants in the day should i put him in nappies through out the day and my 8 year old still uses a pacifier

This must be very distressing for you all. From what you have written in your question is sounds like your children may be experiencing encopresis which simply refers to uncontrolled soiling in children who are four years of age or older. For a diagnosis to be made soiling must occur at least once a month over at least a three month period, and can be voluntary or involuntary. Encopresis or soiling problems occur in 2-8% of children and is often associated with constipation or diarrhoea but can result from underlying emotional causes or stress. It is not unusual for encopresis to occur alongside nighttime and daytime wetting. My advice is to take both of your children to your GP for a full medical and behavioural assessment. All the best, Dr Cathrine