4yo - poo skids and running to the loo all day long!

[L0zza]

The title says it all! I apologise in advance to the more delicately-minded readers.

DD has been potty-trained for a year, but in the last week or so, there seems to have been a problem with the old number twos. She does succeed in going eventually and when she does, the poo looks normal, but this is after a whole day of urgent toilet dashes where she sits on the toilet and then says she can't do anything. She usually ends up needing a change of knickers cos a tiny bit of poo came out en route to the toilet. TMI I'm afraid, but the skids are not liquid. Anyone seen this before? She seems healthy in every other respect. Surely she cannot be constipated and still produce a massive log (LOL! Sorry) at the end of the day? Any thoughts appreciated as this is beginning to take over our lives!

Hi,
I would say this calls for a chat with your health visitor if it's getting that bad and i know what you mean, our 5 year old has started soiling himself again mysteriously and it's so stressful!
It does sound like she might be constipated and they may recommend a small does of laxative to see if it helps, if she's feeling the need and then can't go, that's what i'd think. When you're constipated and straining too, it's common to leave skid marks, my partner's poor little girl had it at one point too, she'd just sit there straining and nothing would happen and she was 8!
Let us know what happens!
Sarah

Thanks for the reply Sarah. I have no idea what caused it but it has stopped now, and she has had clean pants for a week. But if it happens again, I will probably talk to the public health nurse about it. Best of luck with your 5 year old - I agree, it is stressful. I know it is ridiculous and her soiling was no doubt just a momentary kid phase, but in the back of my mind I worry that she will develop encopresis and have a terrible time at school - eeek. Take care.