18 Month Old Wont Poop!!!

Squash is a big help. It will help soften what's constipated a bit or firm up if she ever ends up with diareah from too many apples! :)

There's a good recipe online for sweet potato apple bake that is really good and also has some good digestive consequences. I recommend it.

If you don't want to go the Mirilax route yet, try white grape/cherry juice - I can't remember who makes it, but it is 100% juice. My son was always super constipated even when I was just breastfeeding, and this juice was the only thing we found that helped him go regularly.

Avoid the apples. BRAT (bannanas, rice, applesauce, toast) can stop diarrhea. They're constipating in and of themselves.

Kids tend to be very "if it hurts don't do it". AKA she's learned to avoid pain for as long as possible by holding it. Not until she's gone at least 3x as many times as she's held it will she begin to relax. So if she's held it 100 times, expect 300 pain free times before she just hops on the potty or squats down.

Tips for relieving pain from pooping.

- Push fluids so the body allows the poop to retain more liquid (you're already doing that)

- With toddlers, do NOT give them high fiber unless directed by a doctor (the fiber actually slows things down in toddlers because the body is fighting to get the nutrients. It creates a push/pull effect of the body fighting itself which leads to cramping -often severe-, and often gas.

- When you start seeing signs that she needs to go, give her a dose of tylenol. They tylenol will moderate any pain that she would otherwise experience. Just like taking tylenol before a gynecological exam or before a biopsy. After the dose you have a good 4 hour window where it won't hurt anywhere near as much as it did.

- At least 20-30 minutes after the tylenol put a nickle sized glob of vaseline *on* her rectum (don't go poking your finger inside it, because that can be both painful and traumatic, but many parents make that mistake). The vaseline allows the poop to slide out MUCH easier than it otherwise would, and keeps dry poo from creating little rips (like smiling with chapped lips creates painful little rips in your lips).

- ENCOURAGEMENT, ENCOURAGEMENT, ENCOURAGEMENT ... as tempting as it is to get angry, you'll get FAR better short and long term results with big smiles and hugs and high fives. Even if she's screaming NO/ throwing a tantrum. She's doing those out of fear, not defiance. Pregnant women giving birth scream things, too. Just talk to her the way you would want someone to talk to you while you were in pain during labor. Or rather DON'T talk to her in a way that you would have killed someone for ;)

Actually, peeled apples will help in this situation. It's the peeling adding the bulk that makes them good for diarrhea. I've seen some really great ideas on here, but if you aren't able to help your daughter soon, I'd take her to see the doc. My oldest daughter was going through the same thing, only I didn't realize it. She was still pooping just "little" poops so I thought all was fine. Come to find out, she was severely backed up. She had to be on a special laxative for a while, she was taken off all dairy, put on probiotics, etc. It put a lot of pressure on her organs, and especially her bladder. She had a problem with wetting herself for the longest time (she had no control over it) and even now her bladder has a slight weakness to it.

Even if you choose not to take her off dairy (my daughter really enjoyed the rice milks & nut milks) definitely get her a good pro-biotic. It certainly won't hurt and it often helps in these situations. You can pick them up at your local natural food store. They do make them for kids. The type I get is refrigerated (preferred). It's in powdered form and easily stirred into my kids food. They don't even notice it.

A midwife recently told me to soak several raisins in hot water. When it's cool, crush them and then strain. I've not had a reason to use it yet, but it's supposed to regulate bowel movements. You could also make her some ginger tea. Ginger is really good helping to smooth things along. 1 teaspoon of powdered ginger to 1 cup of boiling water and steeped for 10 minutes. I sweeten it with honey. This is what I use for my family when we're having a difficulty with anything (ginger is good for so much more than just constipation) and my kids all like it. If you like, you can make it with apple juice instead of water as a natural sweetener. For constipation, it usually works over night. There's also prune juice too, but for that to be effective, it has to be drunk daily. It's not one of those things where you drink a big glass and it's all great; that's a mistake people often make.

I know it's gross, but slight massages down there will help her. Putting some herbal salve down there will help ease the pain, and heal any cracks that occur. Oh, if you want to go with a laxative for her, you could try to find Fletchers of Castoria (I think it's known as Fletchers Laxative now). It's really hard to find, but it's sooo worth it. Years ago, before my daughter ever had her problem, my oldest son didn't poop for almost a week. So I called the emergency room (it was the weekend) the doctor on call said to try that and if it didn't work then to bring him in. Boy, did it ever work and I didn't need to use much at all. I was so disappointed when I couldn't find any for my daughter to use. Good luck with your little one!

My daughter does the exact same thing! My doctor told me to give her Miralax. All you do is put a 1/4 capful in her water. It is tasteless and it does help. Just be sure not to give her too much because she will have a blow out. Give it a couple weeks to work in her system and she should start pooping on regular basis. You can check with your pediatrician to make sure they are okay with you giving Miralax to your daughter. My daughter is 3 now and we still will have to give her Miralax at times because she startsto hold it in again. Very frustrating, and know exactly how you feel! Hope she gets pooping for you soon!

Hi A.,
In your case Miralax is your best helper. It is very safe, no addiction, no side effects poop softner. If you ask her doctor he can give you the pharmacy version of Miralax (I can get the extact name of it you need it) which I find more effective and my insurance pays for it. It has no taste, so you can mix it with anything and it really helps. It is a 6th year now I'm dealing with your problem and we have been on and off the powder and it is so hard doing all the effort with the vegies, fruits and soups and to see no results. Good luck!

Apple sauce and apple juice are given to stop the runs. Orange juice and grapefruit will do a better job loosening up her stool.

When my son was about 3 or 4 I took him to the doctor with bad stomach pains because he was constipated. For the longest time we didn't know what it was...we did blood work and finally the ultrasound showed how constipated he was. Unlike your daughter he didn't do it on purpose. They prescribed my son some powder we put in his drink and before long he was going! What about a stool softener? I don't know how old you have to be to take those but it's just going to get worse and hurt more and more. The only thing I can say is since she's so young to be safe I would take her to her pediatrician...good luck!!!

I have to agree with the miralax suggestion. You are lucky to know this about your child before potty training. If you get her bowels working properly using miralax (non habit forming) it is easier when they are in diapers. Also if she can loose the poop holding habit while in diapers this will help a lot with potty training. The constipation delayed our daughter's pottytraining. She has been on miralax - initially adult doses and now half doses- since age 2.5 and is now a month short of 5 years old. We really have to pay attention to her bowel habits to this day. I say the earlier you nip this habit the better for her and you. Research this-i t is called encoparesis. If she stretches out her bowel and becomes too constipated she will have incontinence issues for years. I have friends with 5 and 6 year olds who have suffered from this. I don't want to scare you - I think you are doing the right thing by reaching out now. Good job. Your daughter is lucky to have youas parents!

When our daughter was constipated we had been giving her real fruit snacks and fruit leathers hoping having the fruit would help - turned out it was part of the problem. I haven't read the other advice, but if you give her those items, stop for awhile.
We would also try to make it sort of fun and we would yell together, "poopy, get out of my bum." It seemed to help
Good luck

I agree with miralax to help. My son was withholding and had gotten to the point of stretching out his colon. The pediatric gastroenterologist put him on a high dose for a couple days to flush everything out and then he went on a maintenance dose. She had used it on her kids and said he could take it for years if need be. Potty training has allowed us to stop using it but it also helps break the cycle of discomfort. Just be prepared as they can hold a lot more in than you would think.

When my daughter was younger and wouldn't go her doctor told me to use miralax. it softens it up so it's easier to go. I tasted it, no bad taste or thickness. you can put it in water, milk or juice. ask her doc if she is old enough...good luck!

My son gets constipated on and off and when he does, I give him a liquid glycerin suppository. It's perfectly natural for them to take. My son (whose now two) has done fine with these. I would give it to him and seriously he would poop five minutes later. You don't even need to use the whole thing, of course you need to throw it away after one use. It just makes things a little smoother and gives them that urge to go and they really can't ignore it. Be careful how often you give it to her. I would only give it to my son if he didn't poop for three or more days. Here is the link of the product I use, I get it at Target:

http://www.pedia-lax.com/Liquid-Glycerin-Suppositories.php
Oh and on the website it says ages 2-5, I gave it to my son when he was about your daughters age and he did fine.

Hope this helps!

I'd get her a bottle of the off brand of Miralx (for $11) and give some to her every day for a couple weeks. It is totally safe. My daughter started on it at 18 months and was on it for years. It will make her unable to hold it in, and prevent the constipation without making her explode. If you keep it up long after things seem back to normal, she will forget all about her new habit and the pain and fear.

Avoid the applesauce and try pear or pear juice. Applesauce is part of the BRAT method for stopping diarrhea (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), so defintely avoid.

Have you asked her why she holds it in? My daughter went through this and turned out that [and I quote]: "I'm afraid a crocodile will bite my bottom."

I had to go to the library and buy books that explained where crocodiles live and than go on to explain why baby crocodiles couldn't live without their mothers who are much to big to fit in the toilet.

This was a serious concern of hers!!!!!

After that she calmed down and started going when she needed to.

Apples are also constipation--it's the pectin. Try prunes, raisins, peaches, pears. Anything to make it soft. And this is just a phase. Once her bowels get softer, and are not so hard, things will get easier for both of you.

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