Potty Training: DS has #1 down, but refuses to go #2...constipated now!? :-(

Ardmhs83 · January 2014

Repost from PT Board:

My DS is almost 3 1/2 and he's been pretty much pee PT for a couple of weeks. He refuses to go #2 though and I know it is normal that they learn to pee first. However, he has now gone 3 days without pooping at all. He just won't go and I think he may now be constipated . I always try to get him to sit on the potty to poop and I even ask him if he needs a diaper to go poop. Sometimes that works...I just don't think he is comfortable going to poop on the potty yet. I don't want him constipated either. I don't know what to do?? Do I just go back to all diapers since he isn't ready for #2 or do I just leave him constipated knowing he will eventually go?!? Sooooo confused!! Help! lol

jlpev · January 2014

I never went back to diapers once we started bc I think it confuses kids. Just keep pushing juices that help him go #2 like white grape juice, prune juice etc..
Eventually he will need to go. Will you have messes? Yes but he will eventually realize how yucky it feels & poop in the potty. For outings I used the training pants & would put the plastic coverings over the pants. They are thicker so makes less of a mess.
Good luck!

Piercingpixxie · January 2014

Mine is the same yay I tried everything and idk what to do he's 3 now and still won't poop lol

veetveet · January 2014

My daughter refused to poop on the potty for the longest time. We promised her that if she did we would go to toys r us and pick out whatever she wanted. I told her this every single day for probably a couple of months. When she finally did we had a big celebration and went to TRU.

Are you using some kind Of reward system? We used gummy candies- as stickers were ineffective. Maybe some cheap dollar store toys wouls motivate him?

Ardmhs83 · January 2014

We do tell him he can have 3 gummy bears if he poops, but it doesn't work. I've never tried the toy reward. I'll give that a try, for sure!

Thanks ladies!

robynj81 · January 2014

My 3 yr old is the same ! He's getting better now but he didn't eat barely any solid food for a couple yrs and got so constipated and would go hide and poo in his underwear or diaper but peed in his potty no probs. the poop that comes out of him sometimes just makes my jaw drop! I would be scared to poop that out too if I was him. I reward him with loud crazy applauses, candy u name it I've tried it....but he has started to poo better now I must say.

Ardmhs83 · January 2014

robynj81 said:

My 3 yr old is the same ! He's getting better now but he didn't eat barely any solid food for a couple yrs and got so constipated and would go hide and poo in his underwear or diaper but peed in his potty no probs. the poop that comes out of him sometimes just makes my jaw drop! I would be scared to poop that out too if I was him. I reward him with loud crazy applauses, candy u name it I've tried it....but he has started to poo better now I must say.

Thanks! Yea, it is the same with my little man. When he holds it in like that and then goes...wow! lol He has never been constipated and I know this is what is causing it. He did finally poop on the potty yesterday at daycare and I took him for ice cream and a little toy car. I was very proud of him! However, once we got home...he refused. I think it helps him to see other kids going at daycare. I guess I'll just keep asking, rewarding and praising until he gets it.

Houseofchaos · January 2014

This is my son! He has been PT for 3 months and refuses to go poop on the potty! He will only go in a pullup. If I don't give him the option of the pull up he will hold it for days and make himself sick. Then when I give him a pull up he'll fill 3 up! I've tried everything! I'm just hoping with more time, it'll happen.

Chuck1906 · January 2014

Try a stool softener like Lactolose. My son gets 7.5ml twice a day and it helps him go #2. Also load up the veggies and fruits. I give my son corn and thats a sure bet he'll go since corn has a lot of fiber.

Ardmhs83 · January 2014

Yea, I have upped his fiber intake. Although, we eat super healthy anyway, so that did take much change. I will only use a stool softener if all else fails. For now, I'm ok with he needing a diaper to poop. I won't rush it.

Thank you all!

InLovewSB · January 2014

My son held his poop for almost a week when we were potty training. He had the tinkling down pat though.

We worked hard to make his stool very soft so he just couldn't hold it. We did prune juice mixed with regular juice & diluted. We gave him apricots. We fed him whole grains and beans. Of course, the trick is to consume alot of water soluable fibers, not just fibers for bulk like bran because those lend weight but without the proper hydration and lubrication they just turn into concrete in the bowels. I also mixed in a small/child's dose of Miralax into his milk once per day. Miralax is not a laxative but is a stool softener, and it's non-harsh, non-habit forming and can be used with children - it pulls water into the bowels, into the stool, so it doesn't turn into concrete and cause tearing and mega-rectum. (I did clear using it with our doctor because of the constipation.)

After a few successful poops on the potty, my son never held his stool again.

Ardmhs83 · January 2014

InLovewSB said:

My son held his poop for almost a week when we were potty training. He had the tinkling down pat though.

We worked hard to make his stool very soft so he just couldn't hold it. We did prune juice mixed with regular juice & diluted. We gave him apricots. We fed him whole grains and beans. Of course, the trick is to consume alot of water soluable fibers, not just fibers for bulk like bran because those lend weight but without the proper hydration and lubrication they just turn into concrete in the bowels. I also mixed in a small/child's dose of Miralax into his milk once per day. Miralax is not a laxative but is a stool softener, and it's non-harsh, non-habit forming and can be used with children - it pulls water into the bowels, into the stool, so it doesn't turn into concrete and cause tearing and mega-rectum. (I did clear using it with our doctor because of the constipation.)

After a few successful poops on the potty, my son never held his stool again.

Very helpful! Thanks!

luvmygirlss · January 2014

We had the same problem. Try pears, they have a gentle laxative effect. We gave dd pears for the duration of training, and she learned pretty quick, as there's really no way to stop a poop like that from coming out

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Potty Training: DS has #1 down, but refuses to go #2...constipated now!? :-(

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