My 3 yr old is holding her bowel movements and refusing potty training. I am using suppoitories to clear her.?

Question

I am also using a stool softener..Any ideas as to how i can encourage her to go.. She is a twin and her sister is doing fine.

Answer 1

I hope you have the doctors okay before giving such a small child two medicines. ( I am sure you do, just saying, not making a comment on what kind of parent you are).

My nephew use to do this same thing; his Mom took him to the doctor ~ the doctor said when he really has to go he will, let it happen, well he would still hold it. So one day, I could tell he had to go, so I told him, "Justin, I will race you to the bathroom, whoever gets there first and goes potty wins a prize." The first couple of times he would just pee, but then after that, I told him now you have to poo poo to get the prize, worked like a charm.

Answer 2

"Holding" bowel movements isn't really that uncommon.

I would start feeding her a much higher fiber diet - nature has a way of forcing the issue when enough pressure builds up.

Artificial stool softeners are a bad idea, as it is possible to get adicted to them. Suppositories sound like a hassle, and should only be used if the bowels become impacted.

Also, try your hardest not to make a "big deal" out of it. If it devolves into a power struggle, it will only take longer.

Bribery, by the way works. My youngest was potty trained in 3 days by the simple formula: 1 M&M for trying, 2 for making pee, 3 for making poo.

Answer 3

The best thing you can do is stop pushing her. Every child is different, including twins.

I highly recommend not using suppositories or a stool softener without the emphatic recommendation and supervision of your pediatrician.

All children go on the potty when they are ready. Your daughter will not be an exception to this. Be patient and encourage her. If she isnt interested, save it for another time.

Answer 4

This is quite a common ailment in potty training toddlers, really. My son was so constipated for a time that he actually prolapsed. VERY scary. We were told to use suppositories and laxitives, but what really worked was keeping him REALLY hydrated and also we mixed prune juice with apple to make it more palitable.

Basically, it will pass and she will potty train when SHE is ready. It does no good to force them, just makes every one frustrated. I would also let go of the potty training until the BM's are under control. She may feel like the 2 are intertwined and that going on the potty hurts and diapers don't.

Answer 5

Do not use suppositories and stool softeners!!!. Try prune juice and more fibre in her diet. stool softeners and laxatives will only cause her pain, and she will equate BMs with bad. Take her to a doctor and find out if there is something physically wrong with her. And don't force her to go on any schedule. some people just don't have a movement every day. as long as her stool is soft, leave her.

Answer 6

She just isn't ready. I wouldn't use softeners or meds to make her go, that is just encouraging the behavior. She will go to the potty when she is ready. I am a twin and me and my sister didn't do everything at the same time...each child is different.

Answer 7

no no dont use stool softener, or suppoitories, she can depend on that later on and wont be able to go without it.
My 3 year old had the same problem...I just waited....they eventually have to go...if you see that she has not gone to the bathroom for more that 3 days talk to your doctor, and only he can tell you what to do.
Don't give her bananas too much...give her lots fluids...Give her fiber every day. Try whole grain cereal, including bran cereal; brown rice, dried fruits like raisins, apricots and prunes, and raw, washed fresh vegetables and fruit and nuts.
Encourage her to BM...at the same time, and tell her is alright...DO NOT GET UPSET AT HER OVER THIS
...I think my daughter was embarrassed and afraid...she used to wait for me to put her nighty diaper to go on it...so I didnt put it on and when she was very tired, and knew she had to go to sleep...she used to go in the potty...she closes the door when she BMs hee hee so I think it was an embarrassment issue

Answer 8

My son was like that, the pediatrician said to use colace. That stuff is nasty. Needless to say he would not take it.

I mixed up Grape Koolaid with some prune juice. Gave it to him in small amounts. Then I made brownies, instead of water again I used prune juice.
In no time, he could not contain himself and was going on his own.

Make sure you are using a proper size potty, she maybe scared or take her to the store, let her pick out her own. Don't pressure her to go. It will just make it worse and don't compare her to her sister.

Also, when she does go, she may feel uncomfortable, you sticking something up her butt is not going to help. It is just going to traumatize her.

Answer 9

Be careful with suppositories and stool softeners unless your pediatrician told you to use them. My grandson had the same problem and we were told NOT to use them. He eventually outgrew this 'phase'. It took taking him to the doctor a couple of times, he finally listened to the doctor explaining 'why' it was bad to hold it in. Good Luck.

Since they are twins, their systems will be similar. When the first one goes, the second would sit until she goes. Try a book or sitting next to her.

Answer 10

I even have an identical difficulty i attempted the potty education back whilst my son jsut became 2 and no success he cried evrytime i sat him on the toliet like it became into going to consume his butt lol, i offered the little potty ha he used it as a hat, he in simple terms became 3 in nov, nov seventh to be suitable, i convey him interior the bathing room with me and so does his father yet now each and every of the unexpected as some days in the past whilst i circulate interior the bathe he desires to take a seat on the potty and sing to me whilst i'm in there lol, attempt to maintain your son int he bathing room as lots durning the day to teach him sitting on the potty could be exciting, then optimistically you will get him to take a seat on there without diaper and he will sense the urge to circulate.