Toddler will not poo

[Circleofflies]

Hi all,
Our toddler (almost 3) has nailed the weeing part of potty training but will not poo. He will run around for hours trying to hold it in.
Eventually a little bit of poo will come out but when it does, complete meltdown. He will not sit on the potty to poo. The only way he poos is when he is so desperate and we hold him down on the potty.
If we don't do this, he will go on for hours (record 6 so far) running around screaming and letting tiny bits of poo out.
He is on movicol to help.
Has anyone had a similar experience and know how to deal with this, please? Is it just a passing phase?
Tia

Yes I had this with my DD. Unfortunately nothing helped except time & her making the connection that once she does a poo her tummy will feel better.

Thanks Daisy, we imagined that might be the case

Can he have a pull up just to do a poo in and then take it off after? Gradually you get him to poo in the bathroom but in pull up and then on toilet and then cut a hole in it etc. Gradual steps that he is comfortable with rather than forcing the issue? We did this type of approach with DS and it took all the pressure off and also removed all the stress that I don't think helps.

Have you read the info on the ERIC website?

We tried pull ups - he's a very determined little boy who does not want to wear nappies any more. We got the nappy on, but still won't poo in the nappy

You could try the poo goes to pooland story from the ERIC website? I have been known to bribe with screens to sit on the potty. A book would be more wholesome. A high value treat basically. And lots of talk about how much better our tummy feels after a poo.

Mine was like this as well. Movicol worked once we got the dose right and then time (she was on it for about 3 years).

NB bribery also eventually worked but only after we got the movicol right

Poo goes to pooland

Although 4 months after using it with immediate success my 3 year old still says goodbye to her poos before she flushes them on their way to pooland

We have the app - poo goes home to pooland, both my little ones think it is hilarious and it definitely helped - this stage is the worst not as with everything else it to shall pass!

Have you tried getting him blowing bubbles whilst sitting on the potty. It's fun and the action of exhaling/blowing bubbles will relax and distract him.

Second Poo Goes To Pooland

And actually, I have had the ‘big boys and girls who don’t wear nappies, use the toilet or the potty. If you don’t use the potty, you have to have a nappy. Your choice’ Firm Chat on occasion.
It’s a total nightmare if you’re short of time. Sympathies. Also, once you’ve cracked it, you’ll probably get the odd relapse & have to do it all again. Sigh.

Thanks everyone, we are trying the poo goes to pooland and he loves the fart button...

Thanks everyone for your help with this! We eventually upped the movicol dose to 4 a day which got him started and he is now going regularly without significant fuss. We are now back down to 2!

We having same issue. Almost 3 and is getting on well with peeing on potty and toilet but is holding poo and won't go in potty or nappy now, don't know what to do. Using pooland but still can't convince her to go. She has gone once out of desperation but not in potty but don't mind once she stops holding it as we never had issues with her bowels and always fine b4 potty training