My son had an upset tummy Thursday. He had diarreaha 4 times in about 40 minutes. Each time, he'd stop playing, get still, and cry out like his stomach hurt. After the 4th bout, he stopped and was fine. He didn't have a bm at all on Friday, which I expected. Saturday and Sunday he had normal bms. This morning, he has suddenly stopped playing and cried out twice. When I check him to see why he's crying, he's had a dirty diaper both times. The first time, the bm was a little hard, like he might have been a little constipated. The second time was normal, however. He stops crying and is fine when I change his diaper.
I can't figure out if he's crying in pain from the bm or if he's upset by having a dirty diaper and wants to be changed right then.
Any ideas?
Thanks! I called my grandma (who raisesd 4 kids in 5 years) and she seems to think it's the fact that he's dirty that's bothering him. He has been pulling on his diaper some, but I hadn't thought he was really old enough for that yet.
So...I'm going to watch him very close the next few tdays and see if I can't catch him in time to take him to the potty.
Can you tell he's about to poop or does he not stop what he's doing until after he's done? If you can tell he's going to poop, I'd just pop him on the potty. If he doesn't like the dirty diaper, he'll probably happily start using the potty. If he cries while he goes there's something going on there. Or maybe if you wait a couple days it will pass.
Make sure he's hydrated so you know it's not constipation.
I think he actually maybe ready to start potty train, another sign of being ready to train, is when he gets wet or poops again he will fuss as you have said but also pull on his diaper, and he is at that age where he will start to get ready to go in the big boy potty!
what i have done is, everytime i went to change i would put the child on the potty to start them out, so that they can get used to it and as he reaches closer to two he will start to actually go in the potty SOME
He was probably slightly traumatized by the diarrhea and doesn't like to poop at all. His bum probably hurt from all the pooping, now he doesn't like any poop in his diaper. Also his tummy may be still getting over the virus and not quite regular yet, maybe he is having some cramping or something right before his BM.
Don't stress it, or he will be more stressed and start retaining his stool. You didn't mention anything about his bottom being irritated, but his anus might be. Maybe use Tucks (which is just witch hazel on a little cloth) or other soothing solution (such as diaper rash ointment) on his bum.
Keep the mood positive about his BM's even if he's obviously stressed by it somehow. Tell him, "Good JOB" (50+ years ago my mom called #2 my 'job'. LOL), clean him up quickly and gently and go on your way. 17 months isn't too early to have him start using a potty if you can tell AT ALL the signs that he's about to 'go' (either #1 OR #2. All 4 of my kids were thoroughly trained @ 2 years. Both boys had some bedtime accidents, but that's all. I love potty training and did it intently. I know everyone doesn't or can't, but it's feasible.)
