OT: Potty training help; I'm at the end of my rope!

[*Toadstool*]

Update: After vacation, the doctor cleared DS to go on Miralax. So far, nothing.

He's visibly withholding stool. He sits on the floor and squeezes; gets red-faced and visibly distraught.

He's leaking around the mass and when I wipe him, I can tell he's got one loaded up and ready to go.

He still resists even sitting on the potty. Screams, cries, etc.....Ugh....

My DD does this when I don't give her a pull up to go in. Miralax definitely works for her though. She can not hold it in at all when I give her that though... its explosive.

 

[Kims09]

My daughter liked to hold her poo as well when we were potty training, which was when she was about 3 1/2 years old. She just turned 5 now and hasn't had any issues for well over a year.
At the time, I talked to my doctor about the issue. She did prescribe Miralax, which was OTC at the time, but she did have me fill it as a prescription so that I had the label on it that had the appropriate dosage for a child.
Basically, Miralax is a stool softener, as opposed to a laxative. The doc thought my daughter was going through some anxiety of feeling something leaving her body, especially if that something was hard. My daughter might have had a really hard-to-get-out poo at some point in time and then that most likely scared and scarred her from wanting a repeat situation occur- therfore the holding of the poo. Taking my doctor's advice definately resolved our situation and she was going poo in the potty within a few months.
I would definately talk to your doctor about it. This is definately an issue that could have repurcussions for the rest of your child's life.

 

[jpeka65844]

OP here with an update! The Miralax is working its wonders. We're using VERY small doses so so far, no explosions!

I'm still having to read his signs about if he has to poop but for three days in a row, I've gotten him on the potty and he's "let go"! Maybe we're making progress!!!

 

[Manda]

OP here with an update! The Miralax is working its wonders. We're using VERY small doses so so far, no explosions!

I'm still having to read his signs about if he has to poop but for three days in a row, I've gotten him on the potty and he's "let go"! Maybe we're making progress!!!

Yay! I'm so glad to hear it's working... I've been worried for you.

 

[miksilver]

I am another one who didn't read all of the poop replies, but I did read the updates.

I had a heck of a time with my DD when we were going through something similiar. Here's what worked for us -- fiber gummies and a poopy chart. I made a very, very, very simple chart for each day of the week and everytime she pooped she got to put on a sticker. I already had the stickers lying around the house and for some reason this method "got through to her".

Before that we would have full-out screaming matches with her on the potty and my DH and I begging her to go. And yes, we tried everything in the book as well, but the simple poopy chart did the trick.

When she regressed a little and stopped pooping again all I had to do was created that poopy chart and all was well again.

Now, at almost 4 1/2 she'll tell me when I've forgotten to give her those fiber gummies.

good luck and as they say -- this too shall pass.

 

[ruthfamilyvacationer]

We had a breakthrough yesteday. My dd Claire finally pooped in the potty successfully 3 times now Keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't go back to pooping and peeing in her pants No bribery needed she did it all on her own. I am thrilled because she starts k3 in the fall.

So did we!! My DD has been pooping on the potty for over a week now and she's not constipated anymore. We really had a break through. We didnt do anything just backed away from the issue. One day she was getting ready to poop in her pull up and I asked her *very casually* "wanna poop in the potty"? and she said "yes". We have been making a very big deal of it. She has gone almost every day.

 

[ruthfamilyvacationer]

OP here with an update! The Miralax is working its wonders. We're using VERY small doses so so far, no explosions!

I'm still having to read his signs about if he has to poop but for three days in a row, I've gotten him on the potty and he's "let go"! Maybe we're making progress!!!

Thats great news!!!! Keep up on the Miralax. My ped. suggested Activia. I buy the liquid one and tell DD she has to have her "milkshake" everyday. It might be worth trying. We just cut out the Miralax last week and things are still good.

Good luck to you.

 

[ktlm]

We had a breakthrough today! Since my last post we have had no more withholding problems, but she also has continued to refuse to poop on the potty. We keep suggesting, but not pushing so we don't create a problem again. Well today, she suddenly got on the potty and pooped!! She is so excited and so are we! We'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if she does it again, or if this was a one time accident, but I'm really hoping this is it!!

 

[ktlm]

So did we!! My DD has been pooping on the potty for over a week now and she's not constipated anymore. We really had a break through. We didnt do anything just backed away from the issue. One day she was getting ready to poop in her pull up and I asked her *very casually* "wanna poop in the potty"? and she said "yes". We have been making a very big deal of it. She has gone almost every day.

Yea!!! I didn't see your post until I had already posted. I hope everything is still going great with your DD!