Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Toddler refusing to poo

3 replies

AverageJoan · 05/06/2025 19:01

My DD has been potty trained for a little while but recently has started refusing to poo, to the point that she purposefully holds it in and stops herself from going. It creates a cycle of it hurting more when she eventually does go then refusing to go again because of the pain. We are in the process of trying to establish a routine of having 10 minutes sat on the potty after our evening meal but she doesn’t really respond to rewards (stickers for her reward chart, a sweet treat, anything really) and she’s so strong willed that when she’s decided she doesn’t want to sit down I don’t know how to get her to try without putting pressure on her

i don’t know what we can do to help her, she must be so uncomfortable sometimes she goes days and days without going. I have an appointment for us next week to talk to the GP about laxatives to help eliminate any pain and hopefully that will change her psychology around going but has anyone been through something similar and can advise what worked please?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Springadorable · 05/06/2025 19:27

Yeah you need movicol really. Get everything flushed out and back to normal soft poo and then the fear will gradually subside (but may take a while) once she realises that a) it won't hurt and b) she can't hold it forever (as the movicol bulks the poo and makes it want to come out for want of a better phrase). Good luck.

AverageJoan · 05/06/2025 22:32

Springadorable · 05/06/2025 19:27

Yeah you need movicol really. Get everything flushed out and back to normal soft poo and then the fear will gradually subside (but may take a while) once she realises that a) it won't hurt and b) she can't hold it forever (as the movicol bulks the poo and makes it want to come out for want of a better phrase). Good luck.

Thank you, I did think that would be the case and I wish we could get in sooner with the doctor 😫

OP posts:
Downbadatthegym · 08/06/2025 19:38

I’m potty training my nearly two year old at present and using a syrup by pediakid called transit doux that really encourages her to go, it helps keep things soft so fits not so scary for her to use the toilet. I picked it up in the pharmacy from the shelf if you want to try something before your doctors appointment. I have also made a prune cake for her to have a bit of. Psyllium husk is also a great bulking agent and recommended by our paediatrician for constipation but make sure you add it to something liquid if you decide to use it.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page