Helping a 3yo poo?!

[HarrysMummy17]

My 3yo has been toilet training for 3 weeks. He wees on the potty and toilet fine but is struggling with pooing.

I need some help on how to get him to go.

He's been holding it in for 4 days now and is now scared to go I think. We've spent most of our time in the last 2 days in the bathroom which isn't ideal as I've got a 3m old that needs attention too.

I've tried putting him in a pull up but it makes no difference.

He won't do it on the potty

Hes now just crying that it hurts and telling me I need to get his poo out because I'm big!

I've been feeding him grapes and plums in the hope that it will help but nothing.

Any tips?

Movicol from gp worked for us. Dd had to take one sachet a day for two years but is fine now.

Dd also wouldn't poo in a potty for ages-we had to keep putting a nappy in for a poo for about six months.

Treat it as two issues;

Current poo - food won't change a poo that is already formed in the bowel. The poo he has been holding is getting bigger/harder every day so you need to shift that. Go to the chemist and get some over the counter suppositories asap. Let him poo in a nappy or wherever he fancies as withholding poo causes other issues

Future poos - he's anxious about pooing on the Loo/potty and just spending lots of time on/near the loo won't help him. I'd let him have a nappy or a pull up for poos in future - and let him forget about the anxiety for a while. Then, gradually ask him to poo sitting on the Loo or potty while wearing the nappy. Again, give him time to get used to this. Only then, when he's comfortable pooing sitting down, should you think about removing the nappy

The trouble with toddlers and constipation is that it can become a viscious circle. They ignore the urge to poo because they are scared, and then they get constipated and pooing hurts more, so they get more scared and ignore the urge to poo, and then it gets worse etc etc

I would second the suggestion of movicol, but it can take a day or so to work. In the meantime try a suppository, as merkin suggested. Try to sit him on the potty regularly through the day, normalise it and give him lots of reassurance. Don't get him to strain too hard though, because he could end up with a fissure and that is really painful and will put him off even more. Good luck!

Thank you. I've been trying to get him to go in his pull up but everytime he feels the urge he want to sit on the toilet!

Will get dp to pop into the chemist on his way home

Movicol for children is prescription only.