Daughter Wont Go # 2 - Palmyra,MI

I have been through this with my daughter...we give her 1/2 capful of miralax in her drink everyday and it helps a TON. She refused to go for days and days...good luck!

I will never forget that I had this "problem" when I was little. It was not that I had a constipation problem; the problem was I didn't like cleaning it up. Remember she's probably new at cleaning herself. You used to do all the work; now you're probably showing her how and she's probably grossed out.

Because I waited so long to go, yes it did hurt because I was holding it. After awhile you get a stomach ache and it hurts to finish the job. My mother then would have to give me an enema. Just keep encouraging her so she until she gets used to "cleaning up". That may be the whole problem in the first place.

Hi T.,

You've gotten some good advice here. One thing I would caution if you do start probiotics is that you ask her pediatrician first and then if s/he approves it remember to switch which kind of probiotics you use often. If you keep giving her the same ones all the time she will build up an immunity to them to the point they won't work anymore. In the meantime, I would suggest that with the prune juice you may want to be giving her apple juice, too. Lots of fresh veggies and fruits along with frequent trying until you find out what her schedule is for going. Use suppositories if necessary. You don't want to let her go too long with holding it or she may develop encopresis which is really no fun. Encopresis is when the child can't feel anymore when they have to go compounding the constipation issue and streaching out the colon to the point she can't pass it without medication.

Good luck - S.

I'd try acidophilus probiotic blend, I get one at Trader Joes for a good price. I would crush 1/2 a tab and it and mix it in rice milk for my daughter. But I'd also look at what she's eating and maybe eliminate some common allergy foods one at a time. Dairy can bind me up, I just watch not to have to much.
Good luck! A. H

Plenty of fluids and fiber. Don't pressure her. Make the setting as relaxed as you can and let her be in charge of it.

We are having a similar problem with my son, but the miralax works for us. Another thing that helped is a book we got for him called "It hurts when I poop" It tells him about letting the poop out and not holding it in. I got it on amazon.com

My daughter who will be 3 in November and has similar problems. We changed her eating habits. Eliminating excess dairy. She loved mac and cheese and grilled cheese sandwhiches, but now those are only once in a while things and we only allow her 1-2 servings of milk a day. I make sure she is eating lean protien with every meal. I give her about 2-3 ounces of prune juice (mixed with another kind that she likes) about 3 times a week, once a day. This has all helped, but there are still occasions where it hurts and she does not want to go. On those times I try something a little unconventional. I will put a diaper or pull up on her and let her run around and play in the back yard. The movement usually helps her push it out. It hurts her less and she is more likely to not hold it in longer, which can cause further problems. I think it is less stressful on her little behind when she is standing than when she is sitting. I know it sounds a bit strange, but it worked for her and I only use it as a last resort. We only used it once so far and as soon as she was done we put her panties back on. It did not cause her to be confused or to think she could go in her panties. She knew as soon as she was done it was time to put her panties back on. Hope you figure out quickly what works for your family. It is so hard on everyone.

T.,

My son when he was 4 had a similar problem. Here is what I did:

Changed his diet to include more: water, fresh fruits (limiting bananas as they can constipate) and vegetables, and changed his multi vitamin from Flintstones (found out they had biding ingredients) to a pure whole food chewable vitamin. Also, added Optiflora (probitic supplement) to increase the good bacteria (yes there is good bacteria)in his intestines. Right now your daughter probably has a good amount of bad bacteria which can affect her immune system and overall health.

My pediatrician actually stated that the Optiflora was good for my son and to keep him on it.

To go back a little...I had to take my son to the pediatrician to have them physically remove stool and then because he was so impacted (different nurses were giving me different advice which was frustrating) they also gave him a suppository.

Don't let your daughter go more than 2 days without a BM.

If I can be of further help, call me at ###-###-####.

I completely understand where you are coming from. My son who will be 3 in November is going through the exact same thing. I would also love some advice.

My grandson had that issue when he was under a year old. The Dr. told them to give him Plum Juice since it is easier on the system, which they did and they also started giving him Yo-Baby Yogurt Daily he hasn't had a problem since and he loves Yo-Baby Yogurt he wants that over every other food. I hope this helps.

Fleet makes a liquid suppository, put it up her, set her on the potty and she WILL go in less than 10 minutes, works everytime! my 3 year old went through the same thing and that what I did, after she let it go in the potty she never had a problem or fear again

T.,
I'd "second" the earlier Probiotics suggestion. My son would have urine accidents if he was constipated and his urologist highly recommended Probiotics on a regular basis. I know a lot of dairy products include them now, so that's what we use, along with lots of fiber, but you might want to check with her pediatrician for their recommended supplement form of Probiotics.

Also a nice warm bath before she tries to go might help and use either a potty chair on the floor or a step stool to rest her feet on, so her feet aren't dangling and she feels more comfortable.

Best wishes!

I did not read the other responses - here is what I had to do. My 3 year old would not poop or just did little poops. Well come to find out he was backed up - the ped said about 2 ft of poop in him!

I had to give him an enema. It sounds horrible but it worked. After that we did Mirilax for a month or two every day to get him regular. I will let you know he ate a ton of fruit and veggies.

Now he goes on his own every other day. I still give him some fiber because it is difficult to change his diet now that fruit is not as yummy (he won't eat it as much).

It takes a little bit, but your little one will be so happy after! We had a brand new boy after he was cleaned out.

You might try feeding her things that will help her go that are not constipating. Grapes, prune juice, veggies,raisins and plenty of water. All of that should help soften things up a bit. No bananas, cheese, milk...those are all binding.