31/2 yr old's bowel problems

[laurieann]

my son is potty trained. he has had problems with hard stool in the past and it was so painful to pass it that using the toilet became a traumatic experience. now he holds it for as long as his body will allow and will only go when his body "makes" him go. any ideas on how i can make it a positive experience again?

 

[AngelAmidala]

Moving to the Parenting forum since it's a subject better suited there.

 

[~PICKLE~]

I posted something like this a couple of months ago, my son is 4 and has the same problem, he holds it til it's so big and it hurts when he has to go. I called my doctor and they gave me a precription for miralax it's a stool softner/laxative. They told me to mix in his drink once daily, but I only do it once a week. I don't like giving my son laxative. It's a powder and can be mixed in his drink without him knowing. It has helped alot actually, not only does it soften the stool it make him go at least everyother day rather than waiting a week. My son just gets to busy playing and so he holds it. We now sit him on the potty twice a day, even if he doesn't go. We read, and sing, and talk about our day. I hope this was helpful, I know what your going through, it's hard to watch a little one in pain.

 

[E-beth]

My sister had an awful time getting my neice to go. She would hold it and hold it until she couldn't get it out if she wanted to.

My sister got her a subscription to a kid magazine and she would keep it in the bathroom and my niece could roost in there "reading" until she relaxed enough to go. I believe she also used a laxative or an enema when it got impossibly hard.

One parent at a school I used to teach at give her son a suppository when he got himself all plugged up. After she did it twice, all she had to do is say "If you don't go today, I will have to give you the poop medicine." and he would always go.

You might also try giving him lots of grape juice and applejuice. That always cleans my son out.

 

[faith177]

read up on fiber, most people do not get enough. Apples are really good they should eat them everyday. really any fruit or vegis, bread, beans.....

try to limit processed foods, white bread, white pastas, dairy is not always tolorated very well, cheese bungs them up......

 

[koppee1]

actually, apples cause constipation. At least that's what my doc tells me. Prunce juice would help bowel movement.

 

[HeatherJay]

actually, apples cause constipation. At least that's what my doc tells me. Prunce juice would help bowel movement.

Apples and apple juice were also recommended to me by my doctor as a diarhetic...because of the amount of water contained in the fruit. And very good luck getting a child to drink prune juice.

Although, apple juice contains A LOT of sugar, so I always watered it down first. Didn't want to rot their little teeth in the process. But it did help to cleanse their systems.