Consolation with my 2 year old boy

[Cara92]

Help! My son who is two and a half has been potty trained from April of this year, he’s now over this past couple of months started holding his poo in, his belly is massively bloated and won’t eat, I feel horrible but I can’t remember when the last time he actually done a decent size any help greatly appreciated..ps we’ve just started him on Monday past on 5ml twice daily on lactulose

[Anacha]

Hi, I had a lot of withholding trouble with my daughter from the age of 1 and 1/2 years due to an episode of stomach bug...she was scared of the pain so would withhold. We didnot think about it much and thought it would resolve after a while. But it became a vicious cycle of withholding and constipation and pain.

Lactulose didnot help a bit...wasted a full year trying homeopathy etc.

Then after a year we took her to another pediatrician, who gave us a course on infant suppositories and E-zlax for 2 weeks. He said this is habitual constipation and the child needs to know she has to go everyday. So after the initial clear out. I would monitor the days and not let her go past day three. Past day three would be suppository. On some days she would go by herself...progress is slow but sure

Almost spent half a year that way. She hated the suppositories, so I found castor oil also helps. Once in a week it would be castor oil.(2 tspn)

Castor oil is sure shot poop within 5-7hrs.

Find castor oil that has dosage written for appropriate age.

Basically the idea is get them to poop atleast once in three days initially

Dont let it go please...if it hardens it will be painfull and all the hard work will be wasted.

Now she goes once in two days by herself, with little reminders that its poo poo day.

I still use castor oil once in a while.

Lots of warm water, pears, watermelon, prunes to help.

Hope this helps...I can go on and on when!!

Best of luck.

[Msarg666]

Hi Cara, it’s important to stop him from getting to the point where it’s too painful to poop. I would ask yr Doctor for movicol if the lactulose isn’t working. Insist your son sits on the toilet once a day (same time every day), eventually he will stop avoiding. Do a reward chart, he gets a sticker for sitting on the toilet, even if he doesn’t go. Try making it fun, bubbles relax them and make a little time to have fun with his toys. A positive relationship with the toilet really helps. Good luck.