1 year old keeps holding in poo and is so grumpy!

[hol92]

My little girl is 16 months old and hates to poo, as soon as she needs one she does a yoga looking pose to suck it back in and screams until it goes away she goes days and by day 3 she’s awful, she won’t eat which makes her more grumpy and just rolls around crying and it all in all just in an awful mood, when she does it it doesn’t look like a constipated poo just normal and she’s so happy after, I have no idea what to do 😫 has anyone got any tips?

My youngest was the same! She would cry for days on and off, eventually do a poo because she couldn’t hold it in any longer, and then be a completely different happy child when the poo was out. Then the cycle would begin a day or two later.

It didn’t improve consistently until she was potty training, and used the potty really well quite quickly. It might be the position for sitting on the potty that helps. The nursery recommended some kind of kids laxative which we didn’t explore but could be an option. You have my sympathy though, it’s really frustrating and sad to see them so unhappy.

My son does this and has done all his life. He’s six now. It stems from having a touch of constipation I think. We now give him movicol regularly to support him. Otherwise the stool becomes incredibly dry and is harder to pass. Might be worth speaking to the doctor depending on how long she is holding it in for.

Have you tried warm milk? Apricots or raisins? Help it along a little!