My 3 year old has some real issues with pooping. We are pretty sure when she has the urge to poop she squeezes to hold it in. I have tried pretty much everything to help her go and soften the poop. So far nothing has really worked. Any other good suggestions to help her poop? We have talked to her about the importance of going and we have tried to not make to much of issue about it. The last 2 days she has started saying her tummy hurts. I plan to call the dr tomorrow, would a specialist in digestive issues be a better way to go?
I have her drinking pear juice, apple juice, water, I have tried prune juice but she refuses to drink it, the dr in the past has suggested miralax (it doesn't help) I have tried karo syrup. We have limited big time her dairy in take. She's a weird eater and just picks a lot. I have gotten her to eat corn and broccoli. She has had issues with pooping but has never gone this long before. She had a pretty bad poop at the beginning of year and we think she's afraid to poop. Potty training is non existent right now
Took her to the dr, only told to keep giving miralax and if she hasn't pooped in 24-48 hours to try a suppository. They didn't seem concerned and they didn't suggest X-rays or that it could be impacted. Thinking its related to fear cause she had a really bad BM one time and since then it's been a struggle.
My daughter is 4 she has always had a terrible time with pooping please if she hasn't gone to the doctor please take her now! She needs an enema! I use miralax every other day but if she doesn't go after 3 days max I give get a suppository not fun but very effective .
Has she always gone and noe in the last 2 weeks she hasn't? Maybe she is constipated. If her stomach hurts, that is likely the problem. At this point, she should probably go in to see the doctor. Two weeks is a long time not to go poop.
Seems like she needs some stool softener or that powder than you mix with water that is for constipation. My grand kids have to take that and sometimes they take it for several days at a time.
This is not good for her and she should be seen by the doc and possibly even X-rayed to see if there is a blockage. If there is she may need surgery.
According to my uncle who is a psychiatrist/counselor/psychotherapist....I forget what the right title is...this is common in kids as a coping mechanism for something upsetting. They hide and squeeze in their poop and refuse to go. If they really feel the urge to go, their diet is probably fine, but they can still force themselves not to go. As they get better at it, they can ALWAYS hold it in and never go! This can be trauma from a death or divorce, or "trauma" because they don't like pooping, or anything in between. I'm not suggesting you look for deep dark roots to psychological problems, but be aware in case anything is troubling her and MAKE her go. When you see the signs she's holding it, really, force her to use the potty. Keep it light and cheery, maybe offer rewards, but apply pressure, lock yourself in the bathroom with her and don't let her refuse to poop for days on end. And then if you must, do an enema and explain that's what happens if she won't just go because you don't want her to get sick from not pooping...hopefully it won't get to that point but enemas are harmless and sometimes necessary for people.
If she's still potty training, I'm a big believer in "making them go". I know all the new books say never scold and let the child lead, but kids are like 4 now and still not potty trained! I had to get stern with a couple of my kids when they were well past the ability to be potty trained but still refused. It worked. One hated to poop and I'd sort of "hug" (restrain her) when it was seriously poop time and she wanted to run away. There was crying. There was waiting in the bathroom until the next cycle of urges came around. There were firm directives given. But she got over the psychological hurdle after a few successful poops with celebrations after. Sometimes you gotta push through the trauma rather than avoid it.
get some cherry juice. the pure juice "juicy juice" works fine. my son had to have mineral oil. he would take about 2 tablespoons when he got backed up like that. and yes stuffed up the toilet. but it worked.
Am on the tail end (no pun intended!) of this with my daughter. She was constipated in December and had some really painful bms and that turned the bathroom experience into one of anxiety and fear. I took her to the dr and we did the following:
Miralax (full capful)
Exlax (they have them in little chocolate chews that my daughter will eat)
I let her poop in the tub a couple of times as the warm water helped relax her. She seems to be coming out of the woods, but my dr said to keep on the regime for about 2 weeks until she's going every single day.
Good luck!
I think you're past the point of using juice and karo - I'd say suppositories and stool softeners at the very least. I hate to see you get her more upset by taking her to the doctor, but this is serious. Two weeks is WAY too long. You may need an X-ray to see if she's so impacted now that you're going to need medical intervention. Please get seen right away. I'm not an alarmist who says run to the doctor at every juncture, but I've seen kids have significant problems when they wait this long.
I think you need to take care of this immediate problem, but then I think you need more strategies to keep it from happening in the future. There are probably a number of things you can try, but I think you have to pick one and stick with it. The "hugging" technique below is one, putting her on the potty as a no-choice decision (like carseats and toothbrushing) is another, take your pick. Just don't keep jumping from one technique to another.
Has she always had difficulty pooping or is this new? What have you tried? There is not enough information to answer this question in a helpful way.
I wonder why you have let this go on for 2 weeks. If she wasn't before, she is constipated now. What have you tried in past 2 weeks? What does she eat? Have you increased fiber and fluids? Have you not given her cheese, milk, and other dairy products as well as bananas and apples? Have you given her prune or grape juice. Have you tried any OTC products to help with constipation. There are laxitives for toddlers. I would recommend giving her a more natural product such as psyllium seed or . I can't think of name. Glycerin suppositories work in my family.
Her feces by now may be impacted in her bowels so that she may need medical intervention. I suggest not waiting 2 weeks to get help. Good you're calling the doctor now. It would help to know what you've tried these past 2 weeks.
Hi L.,
Google the term encopresis. this is more common than you think. there is information out there and i would encourage you to take her to her ped as well. sorry you're having this difficulty. keep on loving her and things will get better. S.
