If you have dealt with toddler constipation PLEASE HELP (TMI toddler poop)

Ktwo09 · April 2012

DD decided that even though she was all about potty training and LOVES peeing in the potty, when she had one difficult time pooping in the potty she wasn't going to do it anymore. Long story short, she is stubborn, we have had to do suppositories, we have had to go to the hospital (per the dr.'s instruction for fear of blockage), and now she is on mir.a.lax daily.

She is back in diapers and is afraid of pooping in the potty and cries every time she poops. She does her best to hold it in, but because of the mir.a.lax she is no longer constipated and goes at least once a day.

How do I make it less traumatic? We have tried sticker charts, praise, all kinds of positive reinforcements but after the trip to the hospital and the suppositories (which were traumatic for her and I both!!) I can't make her comfortable with going.

Any advice is welcome, what can I do to help her out?

ETA: I KNOW that it is not painful for her to go anymore, just the first one or two times when she was potty training.

LucyPevensie · April 2012

Keep her on the miralax. Does she cry when she's pooping in a diaper? Will she let you hold her while she's pooping? So you can tell her "you're doing a great job, your body is doing a great job, everything is OK, you're OK, nothing is hurting you, nothing is going to hurt you. I'm so happy your body is doing such a great job of going poop!" All this while she's in the diaper. And then slowly transitioning to talking about the potty - and how big girls poop in the potty - and when she's ready she can let you know. Giving her some control back. Because her body was so out of control and she had no control over the hospital experience and getting suppositories (my son now freaks out if I put anything on his butt, saying "not IN my butt!!" Makes you feel like a real creep, I know!! And we only did the "butt medicine" twice.)

It's taken us a long time to get to where we are - but Jack is now pooping almost exclusively in the potty. So she WILL get there - it is just going to take time. But the more she poops with no pain - with the help of the miralax - the better. And keep praising her and her body - even for the diaper poops. Telling her how her body is working to make sure she poops and it's doing a great job and she's doing a great job and keeping herself healthy.

Good luck and hang in there - this too SHALL pass!!

LucyPevensie · April 2012

I have no idea why the fonts in my response got all weird!

debdebtx · April 2012

I am getting some good ideas, thanks for posting this question. DD is always so constipated, we are trying mir.a.lax since we are on day six of poop watch 2012. We are not potty training, but she is withholding because of pain. We tried a suppository last night, but she got it out. Ugh, I hate agonizing over this.

KYRN · April 2012

We had trouble initially b/c of some hard painful poops. We used candy as reward for the potty and increased it for poop vs pee. Maybe let her pick out a new toy for going on the potty a few times? Once she gets used to it hopefully she learn it doesn't hurt anymore.

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If you have dealt with toddler constipation PLEASE HELP (TMI toddler poop)

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