My daughter is two and we started potty training. She has done well and only having one accident a day. Yesterday she started crying when she needed to have a bowel movement. She was really scared and would not go on the potty. It ended up on on the floor! Today she keeps saying she needs to go to the bathroom and won't go. She will sit on her toilety but nothing happens. I am worried she is going to get constipated. Is there anything different I can do? Did I start potty training to early?
Thank you all for the great advice! I ended up giving her a stool softner because she was frightened and hurting. Which was not a good cobination! The last two days have been great and she has gone on her little potty with out crying! Thanks again!
It might help to just back off for a bit, unless she wants to. That might help her get ready for the idea of pooping in the potty in her own time. Good luck!
Here is a link from MamaPedia, yesterday, for a similar question:
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/12719430554177568769
When a child is constipated, it does hurt. Then they get afraid of pooping because of the pain... and constipated poop gets hard in consistency and is hard to come out.
All the best,
Susan
Hi M.,
How old is your daughter? Usually girls will potty train around 27-32 months. Girls usually can potty train early, 27 months.
Pooping on the potty is the hardest to learn for all kids. Did she have a hard poop recently? She may be scared. Does she go potty ok? If not, she may be scared of the potty.
As for constipation, is she pooping daily? Also, what does the poop look like, well shaped and solid, or pellet like? If her poop is pellet like or it is not regular, she is probably constipated. If not, she's probably scared.
I hope she feels better soon. And isn't motherhood great, where you can talk to strangers about poop and not feel weird = )
R. Magby
You did not start too early! Pooping is the hardest part of potty training. I have been exactly where you are. Start by telling her and showing her that everyone poo poos in the potty (I know that sounds gross, but if she can "see" that you go in the potty, it will help her. I promise). As she is on the potty, contstantly tell her that it is okay to poo in the potty and that is what you are supposed to do. Also, while she is still training, help by making her poo poo soft and make sure she gets exercise to help it move through the intestines. I just went through this with my second child. I know you or other may not agree but only in the beginning, I gave my son Miralax to help him "learn" how and get the skill of going in the potty. I makes the feces very soft so he wouldn't be afraid (background info.. my 5 year old still has pain when poo pooing. We found medical reasons and potty training was painful in that area. To avoid this with my son, mainly out of fear, I did Miralax only 2 or 3 days until he knew what the feeling of poo pooing was and how to do it. If you feel comfortable doing this you can try if not you can try apple juice or drinks with fiber.
You are doing a great job. Don't get discouraged. Everyone has some experience with potty training. Just tell your daughter she is such a big girl and you are proud of her. When she does go make sure you make a big deal out of it. And tell her it is okay to go in the potty. When my son says, "ouch." I just tell him it is okay and that everyone poo poos. That is when he begins to name everyone he knows (its funny :) Keep up the good work and try some of these suggestions. Peace.
Sounds like maybe that last b.m. was a bit difficult for her (maybe she was slightly constipated, and it was uncomfortable), and now she's scared. Be patient, keep taking her to the potty, and provide positive, upbeat chatter while she's sitting there.
