Chronic diarrhoea and potty training panic...

[justleaveyourshoeson]

My daughter was 3 at the end of December and has had chronic diarrhoea (up to 4 times a day) on and off for around 5/6 months. I would say during that time she has had diarrhoea for a least 60/70% of the time. We have kept food diaries and she's had stool samples tested. The GP generally seems to think she'll grow out of it...

She also has new baby brother who came along in October and though she is doing much better now she did struggle a lot with this at first. She 'regressed' in several ways including waking in the night and really struggling to separate from me for nursery etc.

I don't think she has any additional needs, but she has not been the speediest in area areas of development (walked at 17 months, only recently talking in sentences). She is also very 'busy' and changing her nappy has always been a complete pain as she cannot sit/stand/lie still for more than about 5 seconds... Before the diarrhoea began she had happily peed in the potty and on the toilet several times, but did not seem to be able to tell when she needed to go (or really notice if her nappy was dirty).

We're currently trying an elimination diet and I'm hoping and praying we can find a cause.

If I'm honest I just can't face nappy training at the moment. She has become very self conscious about having done a poo and will flatly deny when she needs a nappy change. It's freezing cold and staying in the house with her is almost impossible as she will be climbing the walls by about 10.30.

I would like to wait until the weather is warmer and her diarrhoea has at least stabilised, but I feel very aware that she is already over 3. I'm very stressed and self conscious about it and the anxiety makes it even harder to face. Am I a lazy, irresponsible parent? Should I just get on with it?

Can anyone offer any tips for potty training a busy, easily distracted child with diarrhoea???

I am not an expert but you don’t need to potty train her and you are not lazy and irresponsible. I would definitely wait until the weather is warmer and she has settled down a bit more with her sibling. Good luck.

I would sort the diarrhoea out first before our even think about toileting .

I guess I'm worrying that the diarrhoea won't be sorted out any time soon... And I just can't see how we're going to train until it is. She's just moved to the pre-school room and seems to be the only child who's still in nappies. Also, not wanting to make this a TAAT, but judging by the posts on the other potty training thread, it is pretty unusual for a 3 year old to still be in nappies...

It isn’t unusual. Both of mine (who were admittedly VERY resistant to potty training to the point of insanity - mine that is) were in nappies beyond 3. Of course all the perfect parents on MN baulk at the idea, but in the real world it’s fine.

Sort out the diarrhoea before you contemplate potty training. It will be foul if she is pooing 3-4 times a day, and you cant predict when it might appear.

For us, we had to seriously cut down on fruit. So, yes. I was THAT mother. No, child. You can't have apples/oranges/grapes. What about a biscuit?

If you want to try, put her in pull ups, and get her to pull them down and sit on the toilet. But I wouldn't go I to pants.

There is a thing they call "toddler diarrhoea" (my DS1 had it). You can Google, but it's basically sloppy poo thought to be due to immature gut with no other problem, and children do grow out of it. Doctor may be thinking this if your daughter is otherwise thriving & not unwell. It is a messy pita!!

(My Ds1 is now 10 and I think was a lot better by the time he was school age, though still has a tendency toward loose bowels rather than constipation - doc did tell me better that way round )

I know that doesn't really give you all the answers, but hope it might give a bit of reassurance.

I’m in a similar position. Dd (3) really struggles with constipation so has days where she gets overflow diarrhoea up to five or six times then a painful motion. We just can’t seem to get the dose of movicol right for her and I’m so conscious of not wanting to create more issues around the toilet I don’t push it.

No idea on solutions really but just wanted to show some solidarity!

@Cornettoninja Sympathies. I spent a long time trying to get the Movicol dosage right with my DD. It’s very much trial and error. I’d advise it’s best to overmedicate than undermedicate.

Actually, it sounds like the disimpaction regime might be worth considering. You increase sachets x2 daily until you reach 12, then gradually reduce until you get daily bowel movements that aren’t too liquid. If she’s suffering from lots of overflow then it’s probably worth clearing her gut completely.

Check out this website too: www.thepoonurses.uk

@haworthia, thank you! That’s really helpful. I think you’re into something there.

*onto

Thank you Greggs I think that probably is it as she is not losing weight etc. and is otherwise thriving. Can I ask how you tackled potty training?

Cornetto solidarity is always good!!

I just keep telling myself you don’t see adults walking round Tesco’s in pampers - they all get there in the end!

I though this today. DS was 3 in Sept. also have Ds12 (potty trained at 3.2 and DD9 (potty trained at 2). DS3 just doesn’t get it. V reluctant to sit on potty/toilet , yet generally a v bright child. Am going to bite the bullet with him in half term...maybe. Anyway my point is I’ve learnt over the years they are all different and I would suspect that by trying to train her whilst she is having diarrhoea issues may cause lots more problems in the long run. Don’t give the tiniest little f* what anyone else thinks. Plenty of children are not trained even by 4 and then get it in a couple of days. No one will remember how old she was when she mastered it. Good luck x