My 2.5 year old daughter has always been very consistent with her bowel movements, going once a day about the same time each morning. Then one day she did not go, tummy was hard and poop did not come out. By the 2nd day she was uncomfortable and still could not go. I ended up getting the childrens fleet liquid glycerin suppositories and this HUGE poop came right out, but it was a hard one and I think since it was big and hard it hurt so now she is afraid to go. They are not hard anymore, just that one time and I got her on more fruits and fiber, so she does not have to be afraid - no more hard poop. But still she won't go, whenever the urge arises she runs for the corner crying "caca hurts" and holds it in. Little bit may sneak out but thats it. I keep having to revert to the suppositories to just "get it out"! This has been going on for like 3 weeks now. I am hoping to start potty training soon but with this issue occurring that is on hold. Help!!!!!
Hi everyone, thanks for all your input. I decided to try the Miralax method, but it ended up making her have the runs and then she got a red irritated bottom from the continual pooping. I stopped the Miralax right away and decided to start talking about going on the toilet. We went shopping and she picked out a pretty pink cushy potty seat to go on the big toilet. Right away she got to wear her Tinkerbell panties which she loved. She was very excited about it all and surprised herself at going pee in it the first time. Then later that day she pooped on the toilet too! She realized how much better it is to let it all out at one time I think rather than holding back and fighting the urge all day. I made a little chart and put it on the wall by the toilet. She gets a little cute butterfly sticker for peepee and a large Dora sticker for poop (plus a malt ball). The chart is in the form of a snake type trail and when she gets to the end with all the butterfly s (40), I will give her a bigger prize. When she fills in all the "poop-spaces" (7), I will give her a prize too. She seems pretty excited and has even been singing "I'm a big girl now"!!! LOL I think this issue was just the perfect transition into potty training.
I think you should take her to the dr. Just in case there is a problem. It's better safe than sorry.
My daughter, at about the same age, had that happen.
We, had to see a Pediatric Gastroenterologist.
HE said, at this age (potty training age), toddlers often get constipated.
He does NOT recommend suppositories... it is habit forming, and does not "solve" the problem.
He says:
Do not force them to poop in a toilet. Go at their pace. Do not toilet train unless they are ready.
- Constipation, if allowed to go on, can even develop into "Encopresis." Look it up online... you do NOT want this to happen... just because you want them to poop IN a toilet.
- Toilet training, pooping, often incurs progress then set-backs. Normal. It is not perfect when they are so young.
- Constipation is: (1) an emotional issue- because it causes pain, then they "withhold" it and don't want it to come out... because it causes pain. So... (2) then they will NOT poop. Then it becomes a Biological issue and a health problem. THEN (3) The constipation will become WORSE.. and it is a vicious cycle--- withholding poop/ it hurts/it gets harder and harder to come out/it hurts/withholding poop... it hurts/it gets harder and harder etc. etc. etc. and the harder and harder the poops gets INTERNALLY... the harder it is to come out, and more pain, and more emotional burden upon the child.
- SO it is a vicious cycle.
For my daughter, again... he does NOT recommend suppositories. HE, prescribed a treatment of care for my daughter. Mostly through diet. AND... most importantly... he said that for a child to overcome the emotion-based and physical pain and the biological issues and the impact-ment of the poop internally... it can take at LEAST 3 months to overcome... and that long, for the poop, to become a normal natural healthy consistency. Sometimes longer than 3 months.
The key thing is he said, do NOT make pooping a matter of expectations NOR punishment... or bribing. Just let the child.... adapt at their own pace... not forcing it. Once they feel okay... and their internal organs are normalized...then, they will be able to poop without pain... or pressure.
You do NOT want to create constipation in a child... nor do you want it to develop into Encopresis.
Your Daughter is only 2.5 ... there is no "deadline" or rush about pooping or toilet training... and she is going through difficulty with it now. So, hang back.
My daughter, even though we did not "force" her or pressure her in any way to poop in a toilet... she just got anxious about it... and the more they get hung up on it, the worse it will get.
Stop the suppositories.... the Pediatric Gastroenterologist we saw, abhors those things, in children. It is not good. Unless only used for a one time basis.
And keep in mind.. that is can take much time... to overcome.
All the best,
Susan
Hi J.,
I'm so sorry your daughter is going through this. I can sympathize because my 17 month old is going through the same thing right now. He used to have two or three poops a day up until a few weeks ago. I haven't changed anything in his diet so I am not sure what the culprit is. He would go a day without pooping and then when he finally did, it would be hard and painful and so big I actually had to pull it out for him! (sorry for the graphic imagery) Well, he would get to the point where I would think he was over it, but then he would get backed up again and repeat the process for the last three weeks.
Now just this week, he went three days without pooping so I finally called the doctor. They asked me if I had tried juices, fruits, extra fiber, etc and I told them yes. They said the next step then would be to try Pedialax, which is an OTC stool softener. They also suggested that I add Benefiber to his diet, they make a children's version of this (of course). I tried the Pedialax and within a half and hour he was going. It was still hard and painful, but he went a few times. I gave it to him the next day as well, and the quality of the poop improved some, but it was still a little painful for him. I also gave him a little benefiber yesterday. I might give him one more dose of the Pedialax today and hopefully it will get even better.
The doctor said I might have to deal with issue for quite some time. If that's the case, i am considering supplementing his diet with probiotics, which promote good digestive health and good for the immune system. I recently started them myself.
This came out of the blue for me, I really hope we can both find a way to give our little ones relief! I am beginning to wonder if he remembers pooping equals pain and if that's the case, oh boy! It's a vicious cycle. Good luck!
Hello J.,
This is a typical set-back during potty training. When there is a painful experience children are scared to try later.
I suggest you acknowledge her fear ask her why she's scared and allow her to talk it out. Next talk to her about what makes pooping hurt, like keeping it in and that eating "good foods" makes it not hurt.
Lastly, the next time it's time to poop, go in with her and hold her hand, support her during the event and then talk to her about how it felt that time.
You'll need to start the discussion before she needs to poop, so it's more of a fact basis and no pressure.
I hope this helps.
R. Magby
Oh my goodness, this was my daughter about a month ago. SAME EXACT thing... I posted on here. What ended up happening was that the doctor put her on Miralax - not necessarily because she needs it, but so that she just plain can't hold it in. She went on being scared like your daughter for over a week after the Miralax and we just gave her more, making her poops very runny. After a few weeks, she seems to have forgotten about that hurt. We did a suppository one time and that seems to freak her out more than the constipation itself - it was completely counterproductive for us to use suppositories.
I just thought I'd share our story. The Miralax is so very mild and it draws liquid into the stool, it's not a stimulant - this is per our pediatrician plus lots of research. They have a generic, OTC brand at Fred Meyer. Good luck!
i don't know if you're alreadly doing this(if you are than keep on,don't give-up),constantly remind your toddler that it's ok,keep assuring her that it's alright,that she has nothing to be affraid of and that you are there to help her
You may very well have figured out what's going on, but just in case, I'd get her in to the pediatrician to be sure she doesn't have something like spastic colin (Colitis), Crohn's disease, or any other undiagnosed bowel issue.
I guess for me, the concerning thing is she apparently has so much pain.
I just read an article in the Parent's magazine April edition about constipation and dealing with the "hurt" part. You might check that out, even though really it might not be constant constipation, it might provide some insight.
there is a good article about this in parents magazine this month..
but you probably need to see your pediatrician and get her on a "program" they recomend miralax laxative to be given daily for 2 or more months..
basicly the kid has one scary poop experience and they are scared for a long long time.. so you have to do the laxatives for a long long long time till they forget about the bad experience and can only remember that poope doesnt hurt..
so call your dr.. and see what they say.. you might want to pick up a parents magazine too..
