CM - what would you do if child refuses to poo

[Strictlyison]

I look after a little 3 year old, potty training has been a struggle and now, his parents told me that he hasn't had a poo all weekend and all day with me today he has been unsettled, saying he needs a pop but crying and not wanting to pool. Bribes don't work! He complains of a tummy ache. I am supposed to have him tomorrow and Wednesday too. Thanks for advice!

He's had lots of fruit - I will try orange juice he usually has just water. He needs a poo though, he tells me every half hour but he clenches his bottom when sitting on the toilet, he cries and is clearly scared. I true to give him hugs, sing silly songs, let him watch a ceebeebies show on my tablet. Hasn't worked so far.

you dont want him to get constipated, tho also nor to get into bad habbits, but maybe try putting nanny on him and see if poos in that

some children go through the no want to poo stage when pt in a toilet, tho happy to wee there

or do you mean been pt for a while and just doesnt want to poo

prune juice, maybe check bum to make sure no fissures/tears so is in pain, hence why doesnt want to poo

I'd ask the parents if you could put a nappy on him to poo in. That's what we do with just turned 3 DD, and that's what we ask of nursery too at the moment. Not a CM btw, just someone having the same problem at home.

DD went through a phase of this and did it in her nappy at night.

She got a fissure and had to have glycerine suppositories and lactulose. This seemed to cure her in the end! The doctor insisted that she didn't go because she was sore, but it was definitely the other way round.

I would give him juice and drinks and a calm, quiet environment. He will have to go in the end. Maybe it will happen if he has to wee a lot. Then a hug and a treat.

His parents need to take him to his GP, ideally. It's very common for children to get stuck in a cycle of being constipated, then withholding (because it hurts to poo) which only makes the constipation worse. Something like Lactulose will soften the poo so he isn't able to hold it in. It will also break the association of pooing and pain.

It may be he is withholding through fear of it hurting where the poo has gotten hard. The best advice i've been given is not to give this kind of behaviour attention. Give fruit and juice and remove focus from the toilet, as it could be a behavioural issue

I did put a nappy on him for his nap this afternoon and told him that it was OK to pop in the nappy, but he didn't. Now he asks me every 15 minutes to go! He doesn't cry anymore just say it won't come out. Anyway, nearly pick up time maybe it will be more successful when his parents try!

nappy not nanny, obv :)

hope he poos later but def get his bum hols inspected incase of small tears

I am sure you are all dying to know what happened in the end I put him on the loo with a foot stool to raise his feet, said I was going to tidy up the bedroom and left him for about 2 minutes and he had a massive poo... I think he was too self conscious to do it when I was there, and it was behavioural rather than a physical problem. Another one sorted by super child minder!

The poo physio I saw (sorry won't go into the details) said that peace and quiet and privacy are essential (as well as the foot stool)

I like to poo by myself so quite understandable :)