Toddler not pooped in ten days

[alixxx1]

Hi

My 2 and a half year old hasn't pooped in ten days. I have been giving him laxido for ten days (even longer) as this issue has been going on since around February. He is holding in his poops.

I haven't even started potty training yet because of this ongoing problem. He is still in nappies.

Anyway, he just stands straining and whining all day. I took him to a and e the other day due to vomiting which I thought might be linked to this, maybe he was in pain? But the doctor felt that the vomiting wasn't linked to the lack of pooping and suggested he wasn't in pain.

He is now not eating (past 3 days), is miserable all day. The doctor said to continue says as normal, so yesterday we went out for a walk, which he'd normally love but instead he ended up standing, refusing to move and whining. The day ended in me actually shedding a fair few tears as I'm at a loss.

He has a poor diet. He doesn't really eat fruit or veg, I try blending it or hiding it amongst other foods but once he gets a taste that it's in there, he will stop eating. Ive had to resort to buying baby fruit pouches on occasion I.e. ellas kitchen prune pouches etc.

His diet consists mainly of toast, beans, weetabix/porridge, crisps, mushy peas, fish fingers and pizza. I know this might be making his stools hard and painful. The doctor suggested I make him eat fruit and veg, that I just 'make him' - but other than actually physically ramming the food down his throat and force feeding him, how do I make him?

I'm at a loss now and at my wits end, I'm sick of seeing him upset and in pain. I'm sick of the GP just suggesting that this is basically normal and that the laxatives should help - clearly they're not.

I just don't kkkw what to do to help him? He's leaking brown water - clearly this is the poo which is around the stool that needs to pass.

And when he eventually poops I have that moment of relief, almost crying happy tears but then the cycle starts again a few days later.

He is a very defiant child at the best of times. He is always the child having a tantrum or misbehaving when we're out. So I am challenged but I am absolutely trying my best.

I'm just sat here feeling miserable and useless and feel like he's never going to poo.

I would be really worried about it being this long. I agree call 111 for advice.

Have you tried making him toast with the
Hovis seeded bread? It’s actually really nice toast and my kids all loved it. The reason I ask is, my toddler used to have it most days and I actually realised it was giving him really runny poo so had to change him to white bread, it must have been too much fibre - but probably just what he needs!

Not sure if it's the same for your son but milk allergy can lead to constipation in young children - my daughter was like this and we gave her rice milk instead - it was like magic so I thought I would pass it on just incase

Thank you for the suggestions regarding milk and bread - both good considerations. X

That sounds horrible, I'm glad he's pooed. My dd (nearly 2) also has a fear of pooing and she is slowly working through it and now goes every 2-3 days.

In terms of diet I've found that encouraging her to drink more water, juice etc really helped. I realised that I don't generally give her free access to it because she often makes a mess, so am making more of an effort to offer it to her and not rationing juices anymore.

AFAIK veg that is blended will still contain vitamins but the blending will break down the fiber. Wheetabix has a cement like quality and I think it can start to stick together in the bowls too.

In terms of eating more veg, I sometimes mix in tinned tomatoes, sweetcorn and chickpeas to her baked beans to up the veg content. I've found that the biggest trick though to get her to try something was saying 'Soandso (her cousin) loves broccolli'. I'll give her gentle encouragement at the dinner table but not push it too much. On day 2 post poo I'll start giving her grapes and encourage lots of liquids and if she starts farting or hasn't gone by the evening will start poo coaching/cheerleading. Adding pooing to her favourite songs also has worked a few times, so 'this is the way we do a poo' and 'the poo on the bus says I'm a poo' followed by various relatives on the bus saying 'time to poo'.

Sorry, there's a lot of poos in this that I'd normally edit a bit, but I'm tired and going to bed.

*bowels not bowls

@alixxx1

Is there any reason weetabix isn't good? I've seen this mentioned a few times Now?

Nothing wrong with it, but it's high in fibre so too much of it will cause issues. No need to ditch just watch how much you give him/how often. Lots of water helps too.

My son had this the longest he went was 18 days. It was awful. We found an osteopath helped as well. As soon as she gently manipulated his lower back he passed wind and then by time we got home he was ready to poop. It worked every time.

I was advised to try a few drops of orange juice (not squash) in my DS milk when he was a few weeks old and hadn't been. It was like a poo-nami !!!
Have you also gone down the "there's no weetabix because the shop had run out " lie ?

You don't need gastro

Eric and movicol disinfection regime. Offer only healthy food choices and plenty fluids

Disimpaction

@alixxx1

Hi, I'm aware this was posted last year but going through a similar time with my daughter. How are things going since you last posted?

Xx

www.eric.org.uk/pages/category/bowel-problems