22month old scared of pooing

[Pam0077]

Hi DS1 has started stopping himself from having a poo after being constipated. I guess this hurt him so now he is scared, but he holds and holds and gets so upset. We have been giving him lactulose as he is only going about once a week now when he can't hold it any longer. He has fibre and I know this isn't the problem it's the fear of going. It's so upsetting to see him distressed and at 22m I can't reason with him to not be scared. Anyone else experienced this? I'm worried it will go on for ages and I hate to see him like this. X

I'd go to the GP and ask for some movicol. It will help any solid poo become softer so it won't hurt. I'd up his fibre too so he gets used to going no more often.

This is so common.

Agree that Movicol is much better than Lactulose. You'll need to give him a daily maintenance dose for quite some time, to break the association between poo and discomfort.

If necessary let him poo in the bath to get him over this difficult phase. It can all be sorted out afterwards. The important thing is he doesn't associate pooing with pain.

I agree with previous posters, you need some Movicol and pronto. Give him enough to get him going once a day. My DD had the same problem around the same age, we weren't given great advice and without wishing to worry you we are still dealing with it now 2.5 years later. It's a habit thing and after a while holding on becomes a reflex - it will take some real perseverance to break it but the sooner the start, the better. The usual dose for Movicol is one sachet a day, at one point my DD was on 4 just to make her go once a day. But it's fine for long term use, we got a lot of specialist advice on it.

Thank you, he is literally going once a week and crying, I don't think it hurts now due to the lactulose but it's the fear I think. Poor thing it's awful to see him anxious.