Holding in her poop

ashley0616

My 2 year old holds in her poop. For days at a time. It's incredibly frustrating in that I have no idea how to tell her to just let it out.

When she was younger, she had a real problem with constipation and impactions. Our pedi put her on a regular Miralax regimen a while back and said that it would probably get better when she was potty trained. I think she is still afraid to poop, though, because it used to hurt so much. It wouldn't hurt now because she's on the Miralax, but she holds it in for so long that it causes a problem. Because of this, I can't wean her off the Miralax like I'd like to. It's a never ending cycle that I don't know how to break.

How do you explain to a 2 year old that holding it in makes it worse and that she just needs to go? She's not potty trained yet, we are working on it but she's not incredibly interested. I give her tons of praise when she does go, and we have a chart and rewards and the whole bit, but I just can't convince her to sit on the potty most of the time. I know she'll be ready when she's ready, but in the meantime I've got to find a way to get her to poop.

Any suggestions would be incredibly welcome. Thanks ladies!

marie&david1028

I don't have a lot of advice, just wanted to let you know you're not alone!  My DD is the same way, she can hold it for days!  Usually, if we're home, she will go once a day, but if we are running errands all day or doing anything that takes us out of the house for the majority of the day, she will just hold it.  Then the next day (or after a few days!) when we're back home and in our normal routine again, she'll go.  I call her a "nervous pooper" b/c she will only go at home and at MIL's.  She also tries to hide behind a table or in a corner when she needs to go.

Potty training has been a real challenge.  She insists on me leaving the bathroom when she has to go, so I wait just outside the door.  I can tell it is uncomfortable for her and there are times when she will try to stand up and get away from the potty - so the poop falls on the floor instead of the potty.  But when it does make it in, she is so happy and proud of herself.

We just try to pump her full of lots of high fiber foods, and she has at least one cup of apple juice each day.  Grapes also seem to really help. 

Sorry I don't have any better advice.  Good luck!