My Son Holds in His Poop

My son (now almost 5) went through the EXACT same thing. We had the prescription miralax or glycolax. I believe it's now available over the counter. It didn't solve the problem but helped and he still takes a small dose daily in his juice. His preschool teacher (I asked everyone for advise!) said to refuse the diapers, get rid of them, and force the potty. I tried everything. Nothing seemed to work, but trust me- in time it WILL go away! Hang in there! I always told him if he held it in his tummy ache would get worse. He would scream on the potty and be grumpy all day until he finally went. I even got a "that was easy" button from staples for the bathrooom. I know I didn't provide with you any help, but just hang in there - it was months and months of this but it will go away in time. It's just a mental thing! Good luck.

My 4 year old started to hold his poop in for days about a month ago. He wasn't trying to keep it in, just feared it coming out. He was really backed up and had a painful poop after that he just wouldn't go. The only thing that worked was a glycerol suppository and you can only imagine how well that went over, however, the fear of needing another suppository has helped him to go. We have also upped his fiber to the point that going is not a choice. He eats "big raisins" aka prunes in the morning with a high fiber cereal and we slip some tasteless fiber powder in on those days that he doesn't want the big raisins. We have had some success with this and he goes fairly regulary now. Hope that helps.

My daughter was 5.5 and had been holding her poop for years. I finally had to resort to a prescription laxative and BRIBE her a $Disney dollar (I made "dollars with Mickey Mouse instead of GW) and when she earned enough I took her (and not her baby sister) to Disneyland. Even then it still wasn't easy. Just know you are not alone!

Same thing happened to my daughter. Doctor said to give him MIRALAX (it's over the counter), which will "force" him to go because he won't be able to hold it even if he tries. Give it to him everyday (at 2x) for at least 2 months until he forgets that it hurts to go. He's holding it in because it hurt to go at one point, and now it really does hurt for him to go because he's held it in for so long (catch-22). Miralax is natural and does not absorb in the body; simply makes the stool soft.

We just went through this with our 4 1/2 year old....he would hold it so long that he would become seriously constipated and painful when he would finally go...so after a couple of months of this---nothing worked. So, my husband decided to give him a dollar every time he went poop (emphasized that he needed to do it every day) and that worked. After he would earn a few dollars he could go pick out a little toy, or save up for something big. At times, he may have had $12, so when his behavior was not good, we would take a dollar away to get his attention.
Now, it has been a few months since we started doing this, he goes almost every day, and he forgot all about the money...

Good luck. You can always get advice from your pediatrician as well. I know how difficult it is!!

K.,

If your son's reason is that he doesn't want the poop to leave his body because when he eats food it makes him strong and he doesn't want it to come out, then you have to reason right back to him. Show him children's books about the human body and the importance of the body cleaning itself out. One good book is "Everyone poops." by Taro Gomi. Also, make pooping a regular part of his daily activities- so that every night (or morning) he has to sit on the potty with books or a toy or to listen to music. Make this a non-negotiable part of his day. Hopefully he will be more comfortable with it. There are also potty videos and DVDs like "Potty Power," that you can watch together.

By the way, with my son, I had to sing "You put the food in your hand, then the food in your mouth. It goes in your belly, then you POOP IT OUT!" We had hand motions and a little dance going!

Best of luck,
F.

Hi K.,

This is actually more common than you think. For your son to actually tell you why is amazing. Find a book to read to him on the subject, there are some out there. One is titled something like "Everyone Poos". Of course, all the action books with strong heroes never talk about them going to the bathroom so that doesn't help.

V.

Wow, My son liked to poop on the front lawn. Maybe showing him that everyone poops like animals and such might help. Maybe making a game of it for now.Getting a small reward for pooping. Show him his little sister poops every day.
Take him when you go poop and show him it has to leave your body because its old stinky food, and help him flush the toilet with you and wave good bye to his poo poo.
Give him prune juice so he has to go.
Hang in there.
N.

My son did the same thing...we ended up sitting him on the potty and forcing him to stay there by holding him there until he pooped. That lasted for about a week and a half and then it all went back to normal. I also gave him apple juice as a treat if he pooped...normally he just gets water and milk so apple juice in our house is a treat.

Good luck!

Hi K. -
We had trouble with our son holding his poop that long too. Because it becomes dangerous at a certain point, we had to use suppositories. My son hated it, but after a couple of times, all we had to do was tell him he either had to poop or we would have to use a "cheesapoz" (as he calls them), and he gladly had a BM on his own. Hope that helps.

Good luck, L.

My pediatrician recommended pure corn syrup, 1 tsp 3x a day. It helped a little, but not enough. My mom recommended mineral oil. I'd give him 1-2 tbsp in the morning and within a short amount of time, his poop would literally almost slip out. I only did this for about a week.
My son was just over three years old when this happened. Once he started going regularly, he was completely potty-trained within six months.
good luck

K.,

I've been through it with my daughter. She started holding her poop around age 2ish and we just got the problem fixed at 5 years old! You are lucky to be able to get on top of this now. My daughter had a painful bowel movement or several at a younger age. Most likely, she remembered this and just started to hold her poop - you think 5 days is long - she went 18 till we took her to the ER. With a hospital grade enema, she still wasn't able to poop! She was so backed up it wasn't funny. Did a ct-scan on her because the dr. thought the mass she saw on an xray may have been a tumor, holy cow, it was just POOP and a whole lot of it. OK, too much info. Anyway, we saw a pediatric dr. that had specialties and holding poop is something she deals with day in and day out. The diagnosis was Encopresis. My daughter did not have one hard/painful poop from age 2ish to this day. She eats very healthy and I knew her body was making the poop, she just wasn't pushing it out. I didn't seek help sooner because it seemed like it was a power thing. Little did I know that when this gets this out of hand, a person cannont push the poop out anymore. The muscles get so stretched that they have no control, it will come out when it comes out. Eventually, just squirts get by and the occasional huge poop. It takes 3-6 months to get the muscles/colon back to normal size. My daughter went on a 5 day cleanout. Followed up taking Miralax on a daily basis (which I've stopped giving her - she is finally going everyday!!) In the toilet!! She went in pull ups until last Decemeber (a month after turning 5 years old).

You should see a Dr. before doing anything this drastic, but I'll at least let you know what Dr. Hurwitz had us do:
For 5 days we did an enema or suppository (enema one day, suppository the next) same time each day (usually in the morning). Each night before bed, she got 2 tablespoons of mineral oil in a milkshake and once a day she got a half of scoop of Miralax in a drink. As soon as the 5 days was up, she was pooping on the toilet daily. We've had no setbacks since.

A lot of well meaning people will tell you to up the fiber, plenty of water, fruits, veggies, flax oil, prunes, etc.. my daughter ate incredible, I wanted to scream when my Dr. would say to give a little more flax oil, etc.. I finally kept a log for the months of November/December with what she ate and when she pooped/how much, etc.. just so my Dr. could see that we had no problem making the poop, we just couldn't get it out!

Hope this helps. I know how you feel, I was there for so long I thought she'd be in pull ups forever. Since pooping daily, she is a new kid. I mean, can you imagine how that would feel to not poop for several days? It effects so much. I hope you find relief soon for your son. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me.
M.
____@____.com

Hi K., my daughter did the same thing! I too struggled with it for years! I never found anything that actually worked. My daughter would hold in in for WEEKS almost. I tried every laxative, took her to the Dr so many times, endless time spent sitting on the potty! They even did an enema in the hospital when she was three to look at ther insides and make sure everything was ok. It limited her activity, becuase when she would get active, her body would want to go to the bathroom naturally, but she would hold it in with all her might. I wish i had some awesome trick to share. But know that your not alone! She did until she was about four, and it subsided on its own. The only thing is now she is almost niine, and she clogs the toilet everytime she goes. I feel like her bowel was stretched out to far...and now when she goes (she goes regular) they are huge and sometimes painful. I have been giving her fiber every daynow for a few months and i belive it is helping. Good luck!

My son also withheld his bm's and our ped finally prescribed a laxitive that got us through it. I can't remember the name but it was fairly miled and you could sprinkle it on food etc. It did the trick because my son would still try to withhold but he would do it as long as he could then run to the bathroom and go. I weaned him off the lax after about 2-3 weeks because I didn't want him dependent. He also was pee trained for a long time. Full #2 training wasn't complete until between 3 1/2 and 4. Hang in there! I also learned no pressure is the best so you can give him the lax and then tell him "I know you'll go on the potty when you're ready."

Good Luck!
K.

Hi K., I read about your son and my heart goes out to you, My daughter has been going through the same thing. She started this when she was about 3 and is now going on 6. Its been a hard road, from bladder infections to the emergency room.There were times when my daughter would not a bowl movment for a whole week. and it is very painful for them and for that fear of pain they will refuse to go. And Ive, tryed everything from stole softners to laxatives. The only way to go in my situation was to completely changed her diet,no cheese,I've cut back on the breads,No juice,more water,More Veggies and furits, No more whole milk , soy milk now or low fat milk . You need to watch everything they eat. I had taken her to the doctor so many times trying to figure out what was going on.Once the doctors had even given her a ultra sound on her kidneys,Because of the bladder infections and the bladder infections were caused because of the old stole that was pressing agasnt the bladder.Its a very serious situation. It was till I began my own research,That I read about other children with the same situation.
"Irregularly Bowl Syndrome" aka IBS is what this situation is called. My daughter and I have now learned how to work with her IBS. Im proud to say that it has now been over 4months she no longer needs to take Glycolax or in that matter has needed a suppositorier. I have put her into sports and she is now have a bowl movement from one a day to twice a day! Another thing Ive started is a note book with dates of her bowl movements and how many times in a day. So everytime she has a movement I have her call me so that I can note it.Even the size, to see if it was healthy bowl movement.I know it sounds gross but rather that then haveing her get sick.If you have any questions please feel free to email me. My advice do not let him go longer then 3 days with no bowl movement.Give him a suppoitory right away.

My best guess is to try and help him associate the pain he is feeling when he has to go with how he has held it in too long. You could write a social story...there is also a book out about how everybody poops...animals, birds, people etc. Go at it from that place too. When you go for walks, show him the droppings and let him see that all animals and creatures poop. Dogs, Cats, Lions (who are big and strong). My sense though is there is another issue...maybe it will surface in the process of exploring how everyone and every creature poops.

I can't say it any better than these articles do. Take your time and don't push him.
http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Potty-Training-Resis...
http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_btrainin_hhg.htm

My son is two and he also holds in his poop. We have gone back and forth trying to figure out if he truly has constipation issues or not, because there are times when his poop is very soft and he still holds it in. The only thing that has worked for us so far is giving him Miralax (which was recommended by our pediatrician.) I keep track of the last time my son has gone poop and if it has been a few days I will give him some Miralax. Then we are able to avoid the painful crying episodes. However, I am still very concerned because of course I would like my son to be able to go poop on his own and I just haven't figured out how to convince him that it is a good thing to push out your poop. Have you trying natural dietary things like adding flax oil or fiber to his foods? Besides the Miralax, my pediatrician has been unhelpful. She thinks my son will just grow out of it. I wish I had a solution, just like you.

Hi K.,

I read once that some kids think it is part of them that is going down the toilet.

Just a suggestion, maybe daddy needs to take your son in the bathroom when he has a "movement" and have him watch him flush it away each time. Then daddy should pick him up and swing him around and show him how he is still strong as ever. Maybe daddy has to say when your son wants him to play is that he can't because his hasn't pooped yet and it makes him tired and weak. You all may have to adopt this exaggerated attitude until he unlearns this falacy. Also, make sure he is eating high fiber cereal and lots of veggies and fruit so it can't be a painful experience when ever he decides to go. Yes, he may have accidents, but at least his BMs will be painless.

My company makes a variety of healthy high fiber cereals, snacks, and cookies. Give me a call and I share all the info with you. F. ###-###-####

My oldest just turned 3 and recently potty trained so he is my only experience, but I have found with him that distraction and trying to make something fun are both very effective. I heard that many kids have trouble pooping in the potty, or switching from a potty chair to the toilet, so the first time he sat on the big toilet to poop, I told him to listen for the "plop" and tried to make it a big deal like it was the most fun thing in the world to hear that sound. Then I made a real big deal when he did it and I tell him as often as I can how proud I am of him. I don't know if it helped or if it would help anyone else, but he has never had an issue with pooping in the toilet.
It sounds like you did a good job of explaining to him why he needs to do it. Other than that, I would just suggest making sure he has plenty of fiber and liquids so his bowels move as smoothly as possible when he lets them. And I hope other moms who really know what they're doing have some good suggestions!

HI K.,
I would take him to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Ron Bahar in Tarzana helped my daughter. He prescribed Miralax and my daughter is still on it after more than a year. However, the dosage we give her now is minimal. Also, we changed her diet. Eliminate all cheese, use soy milk more often. We mix it with fat free organic milk. Also, I still give her gerber prunes every other day. Also, she has fruit before or with each meal. Apples, oranges, blueberries, strawberries are good. Good luck, I've been there and know how hard it is and how painful it was for my daughter.

I am actually going through the exact same thing with my 2-1/2 year old daughter. I just tried explaining to her that her peepee and poopoo are friends and they want to be together in the toilet (I know it sounds ridiculous but at this point I'll try anything). In the meantime, I look forward to the responses you get with the hope that I'll benefit, as well! Good luck!

http://www.mamasource.com/request/208239518912872449
Hi, hopefully you can open the above link. This was my searching for help with the same thing for my daughter. This way you can see what people said to me. She isn't even potty training and was holding it 5-6 days too! The doctor insisted we do Miralax for two weeks, we did and thought all was good but she ended up going back to holding it after a while. The the Dr. insisted we do the Miralax for a month!!! Which we reluctantly did. All was well for about a month and it started again. We had the ugliest experience after 6 days, finally gave a suppository, and nothing....next day a baby enema (sheer torture) and then she went. It was ugly and if you mention either of those things she flips out. Sometimes we say you better go poop or we are going to get the suppository or enema, and she will try to go out of sheer frieght.
Just a fluke, I found this Pro biotic Bug Kefir at Legoland of all places. I had never bought any food there before and bought her this and she loved it. I hunted it down and bought it for her and called it a very special treat. Then I realized she was pooping every day or every other day and I was sure it was the "Bug Juice" as we call it. So far so good. We gave up the Miralax and have Bug Juice every other day or if she holds it once a day.
Here is the link, we live in San Marcos and I have been buying it at Ralphs on Twin Oaks Valley and also Sprouts in the Las Posas Center. They have a list of stores on the site. Our first was Orange, but once she had the blue she didn't want the orange anymore. Then I found the pink at Sprouts and I think that is the favorite and probably tastes the best. Good luck this is not fun!!!
http://www.lifeway.net/product/probugs.php

My neice is going through the same thing and she is 2. She's been having problems for so long that she's lost sensitivity and most of the time can't get it out on her own anymore. It is very important that you try to get him to go every day if not every other day, whether it's by a laxative or what I found works well and fast is Fleet Liquid Suppositories. Fleet also has chewable tablets Peida-Lax and another one that works well is Fletchers- Root beer flavored. Have him drink a lot of fluids and eat things that will make stools easy to pass. Don't let him go more than a couple days with out going because the painful stools can lead to him holding it in more and lead to more serious problems including loss of sensitivity. There are a lot of articles if you google constipation. Talk to your doctor too! This is pretty typical of this age group to go through constipation, but it's important to try and get them to go as much as possible. Good luck!

My grandson did the same thing and we tried everything and he now is 4 and still does it if he is playing and doesn't want to stop to go. We use the stool softener too and know we try to sit in the bathroom and read to him to try to make him relax and go and then we say bye poo poo Good lick

will you be sending him to preschool? most preschools require that kids are potty trained. if he's excited about going to school, you could tell him that he can't go unless he poops on the potty all by himself. another thing that worked for my daughter was big rewards and tons of praise. she would hold it in for a few days, making it more painful to go. then i'd have to use those glycerine bulb syringes (functions like a suppository but much faster), and she'd go almost immediately. we'd go crazy with praise and she got a real kick out of it.

Hi K., talk to your doctor about giving him Miralax. When he goes, tell him the poop is so happy to go bye bye and now his tummy is very happy too. In addition, make a chart and a treasure box with little prizes. Every time he goes poop, he can put a sticker on the chart and after getting 3 or 5 stickers (is up to you), he can pick up something out of the treasure box. You can use your imagination and offer better incentives as he gets more and more stickers (something like going out for ice cream, getting a special ballon, etc)
I hope this helps. Good luck!

Have you explained that pee and poop are the result of eating more than our body needs nutritionally? Pee and poop happens when our body needs to let go of what we don't need or what is bad for us. This information may help him. Have his teacher, pediatrition or other respected adult tell him this if he doesn't believe you.