We help kids achieve comfort, continence, and confidence with toileting
Family-Focused, In-Home Pediatric Pelvic Health Occupational Therapy in the Twin Cities
YOU DON’T HAVE TO NAVIGATE THIS ALONE
Kids are a joy, and life moves quickly, but toileting troubles can be all-consuming. While parents often discuss successes in toileting milestones, support is scarce during struggles. Along the way, you’ll likely be told, “I’m sure they’ll grow out of it.”
But you and your child shouldn’t have to just wait it out! We are here to help carry the burden of your child’s toileting challenges and empower your family with effective solutions.
We meet you and your child right where you are with our convenient in-home therapy, virtual therapy, and caregiver consultations.
Who + What We Help
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NEWBORN to ~12 MONTHS
It feels stressful and helpless for you to be unable to soothe your uncomfortable baby when GI issues are at play. We’re here to comfort postpartum families, support you in making small changes, and teach you simple tools that will have a lasting impact on your little one.
We support families of infants who are who are experiencing:
Reflux
Irritability after feeding
Excessive straining when pooping
Irregular or infrequent pooping
Hard poops
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~12 MONTHS to 4 YEARS
Toddlers are in a critical time for developing healthy bladder and bowel habits. Families face tons of pressure around potty training, and it’s tough for you to know when it’s the right time, how much to “push it,” what method to use, and what to do if it’s not going well. No matter the issue, we’re here to help.
We support families of toddlers who are who are experiencing:
Difficulty potty training
Constipation
Straining to pee or poop
Pain with peeing or pooping
Fear or avoidance of toileting
Irregular or infrequent pooping
Very hard or very soft poops
Postponing toileting by “holding it”
Difficulty sensing urge to go
Frequent UTIs
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PRE-K to EARLY ELEMENARY AGE
There’s likely an exciting burst of independence with toileting over these years! But that also means that you probably have less knowledge first-hand of exactly what’s going on toileting-wise with your child than you used to have. Plus - kids don’t necessarily know what’s normal or when they need to alert someone! Toileting troubles can hide under the surface for awhile, and as kids develop increased social awareness, it becomes tougher to talk about issues when they do arise. Whether it’s a new issue, you had hoped to be able to be able to solve it on your own, or you just learned that your child’s been struggling, there’s no better time than now for us to provide guidance for toileting troubles.
We support families of kids who are who are experiencing:
“Incomplete” potty training
Bedwetting
Daytime pee or poop leakage
Constipation
Straining to pee or poop
Pain with peeing or pooping
Frequent or infrequent peeing
Urgency with peeing
Fear or avoidance of toileting
Irregular or infrequent pooping
Very hard or very soft poops
Postponing toileting by “holding it”
Difficulty sensing urge to go
Frequent UTIs
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LATE ELEMENTARY to EARLY MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE
Maybe social pressures are building for your kiddo, and you want them to be able to enjoy sleepovers and summer camp without fear or discomfort around toileting. Maybe changes in school structure has made it tough for your child to find time to get to the bathroom during the school day. We’re keenly aware of the how sensitive and emotional toileting troubles become at this age and how you are desperate to help your child but unsure of how to do so.
We support families of tweens who are who are experiencing:
Bedwetting
Daytime urine or stool leakage
Constipation
Straining with urination or BMs
Pain with urination or BMs
Frequent or infrequent urination
Urinary urgency
Fear or avoidance of toileting
Irregular or infrequent BMs
Very hard or very soft BMs
Postponing toileting by “holding it”
Difficulty sensing urge to go
Frequent UTIs
Pelvic pain
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MIDDLE to HIGH SCHOOL AGE
Pelvic health is a lifelong journey, and bladder, bowel, or pelvic floor dysfunction in childhood is likely to persist into adulthood if it’s not addressed. We understand that your teenager - despite wanting the issues to be resolved - may be reluctant to talk about it, which is why we take an empathetic and empowering approach to therapy.
We support families of teens who are who are experiencing:
Bedwetting
Daytime urine or stool leakage
Constipation
Straining or pain with urination or BMs
Frequent, irregular, or infrequent urination or BMs
Urinary urgency
Very hard or very soft BMs
Difficulty sensing urge to go
Frequent UTIs
Pelvic pain
MAYBE THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR…
"My child used to be dry at night. Why is she now wetting the bed?"
There are many reasons that bedwetting can start after a period of being dry at night. It's frustrating and tiring for both kids and parents when this happens, but it is usually not something the child can control. We'll help you get to the root of it.
"We've tried every different potty training method that we can find, but nothing has worked. What are we doing wrong?"
Probably nothing! There isn't one overall "correct" way to go about potty training - different kids, different needs, different responses. But sometimes, after trying lots of different things without success, kids start to become avoidant of it. This is tough, especially with added pressure of daycares and schools that require potty training to be "complete" in order to move to the next class. Take a break, give yourself grace, and allow us to help. We'll break down what has and hasn't gone well, shift the focus to potty learning, and help your child over the hurdles.
"Why does my infant seem irritable after eating and have such a hard time pooping?"
You have plenty on your plate as a parent of a new baby, why not add in difficulties with feeding and poop...? Ugh! Early intervention is key here, and we focus on small changes that can make a big impact. We want to assure you that these challenges are not your fault, and you’re not supposed to know what to do to fix it. We’re glad you’re here.
"How can we get our daughter to go to the bathroom in public places?"
We see lots of kids who need the "just right" conditions to be able to go. For adults, it doesn't make a lot of sense. It can lead to power struggles, missing out, and headaches. We'll work to figure out why it's happening, resolve any underlying issues, and prevent the snowball of problems that can arise from withholding.
"I notice my kid has poop in his underwear. Why doesn't he tell me when it happens?"
The real answer? Probably because he didn't notice - didn't feel it and didn't smell it - which is hard to believe but often true. And if he did, no matter how much you tell him "it's okay," "you don't have to be embarrassed," and "I won't be mad," it still feels like something that shouldn't have happened, which often equates to a feeling of shame. We reset the narrative, teach families what is happening anatomically and physiologically in their body, support effective communication, and work toward making the poop leaks stop.
"They said he'd grow out of it, but he keeps getting older, nothing has changed, and we're exhausted. Can you help?"
Yes, we can. The "grow out of it" response is unfortunately the go-to, when the reality is that it's often not true. In many cases, they'll grow out of one issue but into another. Even if they eventually would grow out of all of it, the social-emotional impacts of toileting issues will compound in that waiting time. We're here to help stop the issue now - your child and your family should not have to wait it out.
Our Process
STEP 1
Free Discovery Call
We learn a bit about your child and walk through how we can help. We want you to have your questions answered and know what to expect. No fee, no pressure, no obligation.
STEP 2
Comprehensive Evaluation
We gather "puzzle pieces" about your child and the concerns you have in with a holistic approach. We put together a treatment plan that fits your child's individual needs.
STEP 3
Individualized Follow-Up Care
Sessions are focused, functional, and playful, working to meet your goals. Your family is encouraged, empowered, and effective in supporting your child's pelvic health.
