Poo related - apols if TMI ahead but really need to hear from others

[LadyRabbit]

DS is 2.5, and we are currently potty training slowly. He's getting there and today has been a good day.
However, for the last few months he has taken to pooing at night, and night only. He has a few 'escapees' sometimes during his daytime nap but he has never ever pooed in his potty.
Is anyone else going through similar?
Also, since he acquired his new nocturnal habit his stomach appears quite bloated, although GP checked him thoroughly and didn't think it was anything to worry about.
I'd just be grateful to hear from anyone whose DC did this and when it stopped. My instinct tells me it's potty training related but I do find it weird.

Hmmm, don't want to concern you, but my little girl did this when she self potty trained for wee's (at about 2), we had8 months of it, which slowly descended into full on withholding for up to 10 days at a time, resulting in traumatic pessaries and various medications. A year on, we are slowly getting on top of it, but only with daily movicol. If we stop the movicol, she starts withholding. I would be wary about continuing potty training of this continues

Most of my DD2 (similar age) poos are at night, probably as she relaxes into sleep, she relaxes... She still had toddler-out-type tummy so I can't comment on bloated.

DD1 did something similar with her poos at night and daytime poos still caught her by surprise at 3.5 years old. I think it was months after being dry that she got the hang of going to poos in the toilet. I kept putting then down the toilet and we would wave them goodbye (stealing hints from 'Mr Poo goes to Pooland' story that lurks around Mumsnet) saying 'bye bye Mr Poo'.

Chestnut, when it first started GP advised lactulose which made no difference because he poos every day without fail and isn't constipated, it's just that it only happens at night. So did your DD effectively make herself constipated through withholding? This is what I'm concerned about.

Hmmm maybe I'm going to introduce DS to elfycat's Mr Poo and see if that helps.

I've also noticed - dear lord there is no dignity left by the time you get to toddlerhood - that he never ever farts in the day - this only happens at night too. Does this sound familiar?

Yes, she 100% made herself constipated by withholding. She had never been constipated in her life before. We had lactulose in the early days, like you it was a pointless exercise and didn't help. It has been a distressing experience for both of us. Her will to hold it in became unbelievable. It worried me sick. Movicol has been a lifeline for us. Hope it doesn't get to that stage for you

I should add, it started where she would do one each night, but as the months progressed she held on longer and longer. She could go 10-14 days before it would get the better of her

We had this and linked a reward structure to a tv programme that she had just discovered and adored. We made a huge fuss if there was a successful poo in the loo and allowed her to watch lots of 4 min episodes on youtube when she delivered. The clincher came when we started to rein it back in when the poos stalled at 1 per day usually overnight. We pointed out that if she did lots of little poos she could watch more telly. The light dawned and then she started to count the plops !!

My dd did this for a few months till she was ready to poo on the big girl toilet! Started potty training at 2&1/2 and she's now 3 and pooping fine - could just be a phase hers was embarrassment as she doesn't like people to know she's pooped!

Maybe he doesn't like to poo on a potty? With everyone watching? We basically took to putting the potty in the bathroom or in a corner and not watching him. (he used to hide when it was poo time). Also bribed him with chocolate buttons

So go with bribery and privacy.