Is there such a thing as being unable to tell when you have done a poo?

[ItalianDiva]

My DD is nearly three and we have been potty training for 8 months. She tells me when she needs to wee and does it in the loo. She is also dry at night. But she is really struggling with poos.

She never tells me when she needs to do a poo and won't tell me when she has done one in her pull-ups. (We put her in pull-ups in January as I felt she wasn't ready and I needed a break from washing poo-encrusted pants.) But I am tentatively trying again by encouraging her to poo in the loo or at least to tell me when she has done one, to no avail. We have a constant cycle of star charts, treats, sticker charts etc but no great results.

What normally happens is she will sit on the loo for a bit (I usually put her on there after meals), nothing happens, and then she will do a poo in her nappy five minutes later.

I don't think the issue is psychological or behavioural because it is not as if she hides away to poo in her nappy, or refuse to sit on the loo. She is not embarrased if i smell a poo and ask her if she has done one.

I literally think she can't feel a poo coming and can't even feel it when it is in her nappy. Does anyone know if that is a medical condition and if so what should I do about it? She is a little constipated but not all the time, so I don't think that is the problem.

Any advice much appreciated as I am so bored of wiping sticky poo of her bottom!

I don't think she can't tell. I think she likes the sensation of pooing in her pull ups. Ds did. Lots of children do. But they almost all get there in the end.

Hi Chubfuddler - how dd you get your DS to poo in the loo? Have heard of getting kids to sit on the loo with their nappy on, then cutting holes out of the nappy etc. Sounds like a massive palaver but willing to try if it works!

Just time I'm afraid, no secret magic I ever discovered.

You are probably right, sadly patience is not a virtue I am renowned for! I am wondering whether to try lactulose. Her poos are often quite dry and pasty, she will do little ones throughout the day, very rarely does she actually push a big poo out. She eats lots of fruit and fibre, although she could probably drink more water. Does anyone know of a reason not to try laxatives with children?