PRIVACY ALERT!

Pee, Poop and Periods

We are now going to talk about some things that are private.

Private means that you stop to think about when it is safe to talk about it. And think about who you can talk to about it. Private talk is the kind of thing that you say to a trusted person or a doctor or a nurse, but not to just anyone at school or work. You try to talk quietly about it in a private place and not loudly in a public place.

If you use the bathroom on your own, you are in charge of checking if everything is going well.

How do you do that? You have to look in the toilet!

In the bathroom we pee, poop and take care of periods. It is your job to know if your pee and poop look okay. If you are a woman, you need to know if your periods come every month.

You are in charge of how often, how much, and what it looks like.

Pee

Is also called urine. It is the water and waste that your two kidneys make when they filter your blood. The kidneys send your pee to be stored in you bladder until you are ready to pee.

How often?

Most people go to the bathroom 3 to 6 times a day. Some people are very good at feeling when they need to go to the bathroom. Others wait too long. Then they have to rush to get there or have an accident.

If you have trouble waiting too long, then you might use an alarm to remind you when to go. Even if you don't have much to do, it is a good habit to go this often to prevent accidents.

Timed Voiding

Plan to go:

when you get up in the morning,
after each meal,
after school or work and,
before bed.

It is also a good habit to go to the bathroom before leaving the house for an outing.

Healthy Urine

How much?

Healthy kidneys make between 1 and 2 liters of pee a day. If you drink plenty of water, you will make more urine.

What does it look like?

Healthy kidneys need to make clear to light yellow or lemonade colored urine. If your pee is dark gold or orange, you should drink more water. If it is red or brown, you should tell someone like a trusted friend or doctor.

cartoon image of someone sitting on a toilet

Poop

Also called stool or feces. It is the waste and water that your intestines make after they digest the food you eat. It gets stored in your rectum until you are ready to poop.

How often?

Most people go to to the bathroom between a few times a day or every few days. It is a good rule to go soft and easy at least every 2 days. Some people are good at feeling when they need to poop. Others wait too long and then the poop gets too big, too dry, and too hard. And it can become hard to go.

It is a good habit to sit and relax at least 10 minutes on the toilet once a day so it gives your body a chance to go. Sitting after a meal is a good time. You might want to do something to help you relax. Do a puzzle, read a book, listen to easy music.

What does it look like?

A healthy colon makes poop that is usually brown. It should be soft and the size of a hot dog or a sausage.

Tell someone you trust if your poop:

is red, maroon, black or beige,
is hard or really large in size, or
comes out like water.

Flip the cards to learn more about what the poop means:

Tap to flip the cards.

Separate, hard lumps or a large, lumpy sausage can be hard to pass.

This can be a sign of a colon problem, called constipation.

poop that is a smooth sausage and soft blob

A smooth sausage or soft blobs are usually easy to pass.

Mushy watery poops are too loose.

This can be a sign of a colon problem, called diarrhea.

Video

The Poo in You

Pooping problems, or constipation, are very common.

Watch this video from Colorado Children's to learn more.

If you need help with pooping problems, talk to someone you trust. Think about what you eat and drink, and your activity and your medicines.

Extra Help: Toilet Hygiene

Extra Help: Constipation

Privacy alert icon saying keep reading if you have girl body parts

Periods

Also called menses. They happen about once a month when the uterus peels off its lining. Once you are an adult, having periods every month is a helpful sign that your body is working right.

Women have a choice in what they wear during their period. During your period, check if you need to change what you wear every time you go to the bathroom.

Tap to flip the cards.

period cup in front of an orange background

Cups

Pads

Period panties

Tampons

How often?

A healthy uterus makes a period about once a month. It doesn't need to come on the same day each month. Some people are good at knowing how often they have their period. Others need to keep track on a calendar or ask someone to keep track for them.

How much?

Most women bleed for between 3 to 7 days. The blood flow can vary. It can be heavy at the start (red or with clots). It can become light (brownish) near the end.

What are cramps?

Some women have cramps or pain during their period. Cramps are pains in your lower belly or back before or when you start bleeding.

Medicine like ibuprofen or naproxen can help ease cramps. Check with a trusted person or your doctor if you can take these medicines.
Some women use a heating pad to help their cramps. Be careful if you use a heating pad. Don't put it right on bare skin. Don't fall asleep with it turned on.
Sometimes a warm bath helps cramps.
Some women choose to take medicine that stops their periods or makes them very light.

If you need help with period problems, ask someone you trust or your doctor.

Extra Help: Period Hygiene

Daily rules for taking care of your body during menstrual periods.

Extra Help: Period Visual Story Cards

Here are some step-by-step stories on how to take care of your period.