My son hasn't pooped in a week! We are trying to potty train and I feel that part of it might be he is holding it in and is afraid to "go" on the toliet. He drinks lots of apple juice (his fav) and even water it down, juice boxes, fresh fruits everday...etc. We eat well, whole wheat breads and not much junk. Any advice...at this point this morning I have had to use a glycyern suppository to get things moving...
Well...after the suppository he went twice during the afternoon. Today is Thursday and he finally had another BM. We went to the pediatrician on Tuesday and he suggested Miralax (over the counter) to soften and create an "urge". He stated this is somewhat common at this age and so long as he is eating good, not doubling over w/pain, fevers or throwing up....that he will eventually 'go'. He seemed to be holding it for whatever reason. We don't pressure the potty thing at all. We will continue w/the Miralax for a couple more days. Thanks for all the advice! "Poopin' is cool" :)
Try adding some mollasses to his drinks, it is sweet and will help the constipation. Remember that BRAT will constipate Bread Rice Apples and Toast so try and stay away from those things. Hope this helps.
Hi S.,
I had the same problem with my little boy when he was potty training (Right after he turned 3). The urinating and getting to the toilet for that was going great by he couldn't figure the "pooping" thing out. One night (aroud 6:00pm) I decided to try a suppository for children. I didn't realize it, but I was leaving the house at 7:00pm. I explained to my husband what was going on and to stay close to the bathroom. When I got home (Around 9:00pm) my husband explained to me that the first time they headed to the bathroom, which was around 7:05 they had an accident on the way, my little boy could not hold the bowel movement until they got to the toilet. He (my husband) was great and cleaned it up and told my little boy everything would be okay and he praised him for trying to get to the bathroom. Then 10 minutes later we had to go again, this time they made it. Yeah!!! Everyone was happy! Because he had not had a bowel movement for days before, he went to the bathroom at least 5 times before I got home that night. I guess having to go that often cured my son of not knowing what to do. He was a pro after that and he never had an accident (bowel movement)again.
Hopefully this advice and info might help. Good Luck!
Love, B. B
maybe stop watering down his drinks, sometimes the pure juice will help in getting things moving. Also try adding some raisons to his foods or let him snack on prunes.....
You can also add fiber to cooked foods and drinks by using something like FiberSure, Miralax, or Benefiber. He could very well be holding it in which makes it hard and compact and so when he does finally poop, it's painful. Extra fiber will help a lot.
I've just done some research on this - we're having issues w/our 4-yr old not wanting to stop playing....
anyway - no meds for those under 6, including over-the-counter, unless you've talked to the doc. Prune juice is a fabulous aid - my daughter hates it but will take it if we put it in a medicine cup. Kindof a pain to do 4-6 medicine cups but there's no fit and it works! Sit on the potty about 10 minutes after every time he eats for 8-10 minutes. Keep it fun - read books (but make sure some "trying" happens). and lastly, keep up the veggies and whole grains, but apparently in kids, it doesn't really matter how much fiber (since for most its psychological). Limit dairy, sugar, and processed foods. Water is better than juice.
My son is 3 and half and I started potty training him several times and stopped for a while. The last time I tried was about a month ago and he didn't want to go for number 2 for days. I called his doctor and she told me to stop potty training right away. She said that my son is NOT ready yet. I asked him why he was holding it and he said that he was scared. He was doing fine with peeing but nothing else.
Ask your doctor and see what he thinks. After I stopped potty training him, he was fine and back to normal. I will try agin in few weeks and see. Let me know how it goes with your son and good luck!
My sister's kids had this problem and the doctor told her juice doesn't do any good because all of the 'bulk' has been removed. I'm not sure if you have ever heard of the brat diet prescribed for diarhea--bananas, rice, applesauce, toast--but I would try and stay away from those items if my kid was having constipation problems. veggies, veggies, veggies good luck! Amy
ps. I wouldn't push the potty training too much...contrary to what lots of people would tell you it really is ok for them to train late (a lot less trauma, and a lot less messy)just stay positive and they will train eventually
I would definitely check with your pediatrician, but my daughter has a problem with constipation, and my ped encouraged us to use Milk of Magnesia.
My daughter is 21 months and about 23 pounds. She uses 1/2 teaspoon every night and she is regular with that. If we miss a dose or two, within a day she is having a hard time going and cries and cries because it hurts her.
It doesn't sound like diet is the culprit, but it may help him to "need" to go a bit more without having to use a suppository. We did that a few times with my daughter when she was a few months old - it works! She went within a few minutes (like 2 minutes or less)!
I am sure you'll get lots of great advice and ideas from all these wise moms on this site. I do encourage you to talk to you pediatrician... that's always the best thing to do first!
I think the best advice would be to not push it. My son turned 3 in January. He has been potty trained for about 9-10 months. However, they seem to 'relapse' from time to time. The best thing that worked for me was actually 'changing' my strategy often. Maybe that is just my son's personality but I did stickers for a while. I put fruit loops in the potty. It did take him a while to acutally have a BM in the potty though. What's nice is you can kind of 'explain' the importance of 'getting it out' to them....in a sense. I know my son still hates for anyone to be in the bathroom with him. And, he still won't poop in a 'big' potty unless we are out in public. So if he has his own potty, maybe try having him sit on it and tell him you will leave, shut the door and be back to check on him. It definitly takes a while, or it did for me, and we still have accidents from time to time. But just don't rush it, he'll get it. Don't worry.
