My daughter is 2 1/2 and recently started wearing underwear and using the toilet. She refused to potty train for a long time. However, it was finally her decision and she was very, very happy with herself. About a week ago she started complaining that it hurt when she tried to poop. She got herself all worked up and refused to go. Eventually she did go and she didn't appear to be constipated. However, this has become a 'habit' for her to complain, withhold and finally go when she's sleeping. (I do put her in a diaper for bed and naps.) Last night she was screaming about how bad it hurt. Earlier in the day I had started making her drink pear juice to help. She finally went on the toilet and it was normal. Then about a half hour later she starts complaining and holding herself and it was diarrhea. This continued for another half hour on and off. This morning she seems normal again, but I'm worried that she'll freak herself out about the toilet again. ANY ADVICE? My son never had these problems. He pretty much trained himself at 2 1/2 with no severe issues. My daughter is a whole new story .... Thanks in advance,
J.
Just leave the poor girl alone and let her be in diapers for a few more months -- do not pressure and force her, emotionally and literally with pear juice. 3 years old is average for girls to potty train -- and not being potty trained is not considered delayed until after children are 4 years old. So please relax and it will happen naturally in due time like your other child. You're 1 and half years early to be pressuring her...
J., I work in a children's hospital with a team of nurses and physicians who treat children with constipation. In my reading on the topic one of the things that most patients have in common is a painful first bowel movement which then conditions them to expect pain and start withholding stool. I think you should contact your pediatrician before that cycle starts. I think he/she might start on some stool softener to prevent that but I don't want to appear to be giving medical advice. Goo luck.
Any blood in the stool? What does her ped. dr. say about this? Nobody ever answers that and we all want to know. It would help others in the same predicament, and there's a lot of them with the same problem. Little girls are more drama queens but it's not always that, for sure.
J.,
My grandson had almost the same problem. He would hold his poop for days at a time. He would also poop during the night when he was sleeping. At times he would only poop in a diaper, not in the toilet. ( This happened when he was 5) My daughter's doctor said for her to make sure he gets enough fiber every day. Plenty of fruits, but not too much to give him diarrhea. When his poop stayed soft and came out without effort, he started going on the toilet. It took a lot of effort and patience over a few months. He is now 7 and everything is fine.
First of all, I'm sorry that mom is accusing you of "pressuring and forcing her with pear juice". Sheesh! That is the healthy way to deal with it! Second, it seems normal that if she was constipated, it would be followed by diarrhea. If the constipated stool is blocking the rest, then what comes after it will be over-processed. I think pear juice is a good start. Definitely make sure she's properly hydrated on a daily basis, not just when she complains of constipation. And, speaking as a mom of a chronically constipated child, it is normal for kids to have wacky bowels. Make sure her diet is fiber rich and cut back on binding foods like bananas, rice and too many carbs. The thing that's too bad is that kids get easily freaked out when it hurts, then they hold it and make it worse. It starts a bad cycle. I'd just make sure her diet is helping her and stay calm about it to help keep her calm. If she really is starting to have a problem being regular, talk to your pediatrician and ask about Miralax.
I also swear by Yo-Plus yogurt. It has probiotics for intestinal health, as well as 3 grams of fiber, which is about 1/3 of a toddler's daily recommended fiber intake (8-10 grams).
Good luck!
If you're a teacher.. you alreasy know that every kid is as different as snowflakes are. Never expect your daughter to follow your son's footsteps. Having said that.. the problem at hand.. Juices will loosen things up (like your pear juice did) but if she's in pain from normal movments..I think I'd talk to a Doctor. 2 1/2 year olds aren't into lieing about stuff like that yet. Good Luck though..It sounds like you're a great Mom.
Have you tried giving her "privacy"? My girls would use the bathroom great for both peeing and having BMs but then one day they refused to go. Sometimes it is a privacy issue w/ them even at this early of an age, they think they are doing something bad by having a BM. I would ask my girls if they needed privacy and I stand outside the bathroom door w/ the door closed. Sure enough they would usually release it right after I left the room and they would call me back in to wipe them. I think they felt better with nobody hearing them go. Still my 4 year old sometimes asks for privacy, if we are in a public bathroom I just turn around in the stall and not look at her so she has her "privacy". Good Luck!
