Stool withholding in 2 and half year oldhe

[AmLou]

Hi, hoping someone can offer some advice and reassurance. I'm desperate for my girl to get through the issues she is having with withholding her poo for as long as possible. It totally transforms her. She's tired, wants to curl up on sofa all day, doesn't want to do anything independently, Is constantly whiney, starts to hit her sister because she's frustrated, resorts to her dummy for comfort. It makes me so sad as it's taking over her toddler years and affects the whole family. I suspect it all started when she had hand foot and mouth and she developed blisters on her bum hole which created a painful poo, it's been a downward spiral from there. She's had the Movicol regimen and and is now on one a day but this does nothing. Her stool was already soft before she was prescribed this. I just want to feel I'm not alone with a child who is miserable because she's uncomfortable all of the time, it's draining!

[Helelelee]

I can't speak to whether this will solve it as we are very early on in our journey but everything I've been told revolves around not giving them the option of holding. So for us, this looks like 4 Movicol a day, 7.5ml of Senna (stimulant laxative) and two toilet sits a day. My son still does a poo in a nappy so we have to do toilet time, which involves having loads of fun, making the toilet process a lot less scary, blowing bubbles, playing games.

Stimulant laxatives are very important for withholders because it means they can't ignore the urge.

Like I said it's early days, but is working a treat with my very strong willed withholder.

Everything we've done is down to the book 'Stool withholding - what to do when your child won't poo' and the Facebook Group 'Movicol Mummies'.

Good luck!

[14crosstitch14]

Thats good advice, don't give her the option to hold on. Lots of fluid and fibre. Toilet time as a routine and use a dolly on toy potty or bear on toilet. I have fidget toys and show her she's ok now and the more she witholds the more it will hurt. Lots of movical will help.

[Cemmm]

We are going through exactly the same situation here and it’s heartbreaking. My daughter who has just turned 2 started doing this when she decided to no longer want to wear a nappy a couple of months ago. She’s not had a wee accident since but started withholding poo to the point of making herself ill. She will not go in a nappy, we have tried letting her do that. She was prescribed lactulose which means her poos are soft when she finally goes after a few days, but it’s making not a blind bit of difference to the withholding. We’ve been trying every trick in the book and got lots of tips from the ERIC website but seeing no progress at all. The impact that this is having on her, her sister and me is huge.

[14crosstitch14 in reply to Cemmm]

Exercise and plenty fluids so she can not withold if she's moving about dancing or doing a light exercise, childrens 1s on you tube. Get her playing dolls on potty. Its what i did involved both my gils. Fig biscuits and fruit for snacks. Watch for the signs of stopping herself. Also got alexa to do timers which actually help. Instead of me. As kids seems to listen to other people.

[Cemmm]

Hello, I just wondered how you are getting on with this now?