2 yr old will not poo! Help needed.....

[lizbet316]

My 2 yr old DS had a bout of constipation some weeks ago and had a few painful poos. We now have him on 5ml Lactulose twice a day plus loads of water, fruit etc etc. The problem now is not that he?s particularly constipated but he just won?t poo!
When he feels the urge to go he clenches his buttocks together and will not let it out. This can go on for 45 mins at a time. We?ve tried everything to get him to go ? offering chocolate/sweets/stickers for pooing, offered the potty, toilet etc (he is still in nappies)
Any advice???

A nappy laid in the potty? Less pressure? Be a bit more laid back about the whole thing before it becomes a power thing? I have a friend with a DD with similar probs age 4 so I sympathise.

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He's probably trying not to poo because he remembers that it hurt him when he was constipated. It's also possible that he may have a small anal fissure caused by the constipation, which could mean it's still painful for him.

Have you seen the GP about it? Maybe a different stool softener or a higher dose would be useful, so that he physically can't hold it in - but with the GP's guidance.

I have been going through the same problem with my dd who is also 2 for the past few months. We give her a powder called paxabel ever other day or so which make her poo so soft that she just can't hold onto it. Have spoken to our Ped many time regarding the problem but so far things are still the same. At the moment I have stopped the potty training and just trying to encourage her as much as possible. To be honest I am not sure what exactly to do next. Everyone keeps on telling me she will eventually get over it. Fingers crossed.

Make sure he's eating lots of fibre. Porridge for breakfast or weatabix, brown bread, lots of veg and fruit. Where possible put oil on his food. Avoid too much dairy and things like eggs, bananas.

Would he eat dried prunes etc.
Or maybe chop them into his cereal?

Senocot is a natural laxative you may be able to give to a 2 yr old.

hot baths
tummy rubs, start at on his left hand side, work hands up over and down on his right side, following the bowel. Play game where he lays on his back and you cycle his legs round in the air.
Sit behind him while he's in bath or watching TVa nd rub his tummy.

Once his poo softens and he learns not to be scared he'll start to relax.

How long has he been on the lactulose?

Thanks everyone for advice - managed to get in at the GP who has given us movicol and said to keep upping the dosage until pooing regularly
didn't know about the bananas and eggs thing though - thanks - will try and avoid them a bit
difficult to get him off the milk if I want any sleep at night (we have major sleep problems - we just won't go there....!)