Potty Training and Constipation

I can totally relate! My 4 year old (at the time he was not quite 4) didn't go for 4 weeks this summer. I think he was just too afraid to go or something. I took him to the pediatrician when it had been almost 3 weeks. She gave me a prescription for polyethilene glycol to give him every night in his juice for a week. It works by keeping water in the stool and not letting it absorb back into the bowel. After a week, still no joy. I called the doc again and she said to try milk of magnesia. Well, about 2 days later he had a humongous BM and I think it hurt so much that now (almost 6 months later)we are still having issues with him sitting on the toilet to go.

Is she truly constipated or is she willfully holding it in? Either way it is not good. Ask your pediatrician if there is something to give her to soften her stool. Good luck

B.,
As harsh as this sounds I guess I would tell Grandma your daughter cannot stay with her or visit at Grandmas house anymore unless Grandma can listen to and follow your rules and instructions. I would try to slip in some prune juice, maybe in like some oatmeal or something of that sort. My daughter has only been constipated a few times, and it was scary for her she would tell me her poopie was pokey and hurt. I would sit in the bathroom with her and rub her hand or hair for awhile if she still couldn't go I would go in the shower with her and hold her with her back to the water to help her relax and then try again. Keep working on it and try not to get discouraged. Also maybe try to feed her whole wheat bread, pears, peaches and pineapple are good too.
Good Luck
Bethnay

My daughter is always constipated. Started with her having alot of accidents and thought she may have a bladder infection or something. After a xray we soon found out she was very backed up and that was pushing on her bladder so don't be surprise if your little one starts to wet herself too. We have a prescription powder but I try not to use it because I hate being dependant on medications. I'm wondering if gum would really create constipation I know a one year old and a two year old that have gum on a regular daily basis and swallow it with no problems seems weird I know. I know cheese is a problem with my daughter. My daughter loves mandarin oranges and will scarf an entire can down and that works like a charm. As far as Grandma goes, I would try and tell her for medical reasons your daughter can't have gum at all, even if you don't mind a piece here and there tell her the doctor said NO gum at all. If grandma watches your little one maybe pack her a lunch with exactly what you want her to eat. I do that when I don't want my daughter eating a bunch of junk at a sitters or families house.

I would just explain to the grandmother that there is to be absolutly no gum per the dr, if she can not stop, then stop taking her there. My daughter had the whole constipation problem also and she was prescribed Miralax ( a stool softner) that was a powder that we mixed with her juice in the morning. It softened her stools and made it easier for her to go poopie. She also held it in, and sometimes for so long that when she did go she wouldnt make it to the toliet. Also try putting a little vaseline on her butt before she goes #2. I know that that is gross but it does help a lot. I would stop gum all together and start giving her stickers or another treat. They really should not be chewing gum yet anyway. So by providing another treat you would be helping the problem. Also when she does go #2 sit in there with her talk to her read her a story try to get her mind off it some, hold her hand. Try giving her prune juice or dried prunes and rasins and try cutting back even further on the cheese or stop the cheese till you get her pooping on her own where she is not affraid to go. These things all helped my daughter. Good luck I know that it is really hard and very frusterating.

That's horrible that the Grandma is not listening to your wishes and is not willing to help her Grand-daughter. Can the Grandma still give those things but you use some sort of stool softener during those times? My daughter suffers from constipation and we have a prescription poweder we give to her a few times a week. I guess the other thing would be is having visitation restricted or supervised only. If the Grandma gives those things you up and leave and explain to her why you're leaving and why you are always around during the visits. I'm not sure how direct one needs to be or what will get the point across. I'm sorry that she won't respect what you, the parent, are trying to do.

I can think of two great things for constipation - bananas or drinkable aloe vera. You can find flavored drinkable aloe at your local health food store. It has over 200 nutrients as well as being a natural laxative. It can also cure sore throats and acid reflux. My 6 year old drinks it all the time and has for almost 2 years. I would only suggest 2 oz a day at first.

Good luck!

Sorry to say this... but Grandma needs to be told that she has to follow the rules or she can't visit with your daughter unless mom or dad is around to watch. Make sure grandma understands that the dr said no more gum, this is in the best interest of your daughter, so hopefully grandma will understand. Since this is your MIL, maybe your husband should be the one to make sure the point is made.

I would have a talk with the granparents and put the foot down. They are causing harm to health, and the little girl is suffering!!!
Dr's orders, so your not being the big meanie, they don't respect your wishes its time to take action and stop visits over there alone, intill they understand and start working togather with you...
Poor little girl, hope she feels better :)

Hello, thiis is a really sticky situation. My son has been constipated (severly) for most of his poor lil life. As a baby (he is now 3) they told me to push the foods that started with a "P", such as, peaches, pears, prunes etc. The baby prune juice really seemed to work. (Apple juice also seemed to work back then for my son). As he got older it started not working, and after some x-rays, they found out he was severly backed up. His doctor started him on a daily laxative. It is called Miralax, the generic form I believe is Glycolax. It is a powder that I put in my sons sippy cup. I believe it is tasteless (thats what I was told). The reason I say this is because if it were not, my son would not take it. He had no problems drinking it. I gave it to him once a day and after a few days he was having loose stools and he was feeling much better. I have stopped giving it to him for now cause we are potty training and I did not want to his stools to be too lose and go in his pants. His stools now have been fairly loose. I hope you find something that works for you and your family.