Child Holding Her Poop In

Have you asked her why? There may be a reason why she is not wanting to go to the bathroom at day care and that is holding over to home.

Perhaps a teacher standing there or something... or someone got in trouble for pooping in their pants- something is up with that.

Might explain to her also that going to the bathroom is what everyone does, we are supposed to and if not then it can make her sick. And you don't want her to be sick.

Hope she does better.

It's normal for children to try to control things. Don't worry, it won't last.

Miralax is the best... I have been constipated all of my life, due to my bad childhood habits (just like your daughter). When we didn't go to the bathroom grandma gave us a suppository. We hated them, and would lie and say that we went just so we wouldn't have to get one. Now I take miralax and life is so much easier. I wish she would of used that (I am sure it wasn't around back then, but I wish it had been). This is the easiest and painless way to stop it before it gets out of hand... there is no taste and she will never even know you added it to her drink. Just mix it in anything that she likes to drink and get her to finish the cup (I mix mine in coffee and tea or water)...Good luck...

check out Dr. Greens website he has a article for poop with holding.
M. Greene

ask her (and her daycare people) if there is any reason why she is holding it in. Did the daycare people ridicule her for an accident? did the kids or anyone tease her about it being so smelly or because she emitted gas loudly?

Ask her if it always hurts for her to go. Maybe her anus is too small (not uncommon I'm told). Ask her pediatrician how you can determine if she is doing this on purpose or if she is getting chronically constipated and should she take stool softeners for awhile.

We have had this same issue with my 2.5 year old for 10 months now. It's awful how she holds it until she is so whiny and miserable. Our pediatrician recommended Miralax. You can buy it over the counter at Walgreens, Walmart, etc. It has completely helped us! I give her a tsp a day in her juice and it forces her to go every other day. My daughter still kicks and screams on the potty because she doesn't like the feeling of poop coming out.

Not to scare you but get Miralax right away! My son did the same thing. He would go once a week, it was like clock work. Every Sunday night he would go poop and the poop was so big it always clogged the toilet. Our Dr told us not to worry, said it was just his "schedule"! Well it got so bad that his bladder was blocked from his constipation and he couldn't pee. He was in so much pain! We rushed him to the hospital and they took him immediately! The Drs there said this is very common. My son finally went poop at the hospital but they took xrays and I was amazed how much poop he was able to hold. I never thought I would have to worry about poop! Or that poop would cost me so much money! We had to cut down the milk to once a day and he still takes Miralax! I wish this experience on no one. Please get her on Miralax.

My DD had some problem with this and our Dr told us Simply Apple juice. She had to use it while she was pregnant and it works great. It's in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. Good luck!

Miralax can be bought over the counter and makes the bowel movements softer.

We are having this same problem and it's gotten pretty stressful. My pedi just put her on Miralax. I would call your pedi and see how they treat it. Apparently, it's pretty common so I'd say she's normal. Miralax is OTC and is a tasteless powder that you add to her juice every day. It should soften the poop so much that they will be able to go #2 pretty easy. The dr. did say this problem takes a long time to get over. I'm really hoping it works! We are at our wits end!

Mine is 7, but that seems about the age we started having this problem too. Prune juice works when you can get it down them, really that and drinking lots of water are the number one thing to do. But when you just can't get them to drink any more prune juice Karo Syrup (brown, in the syrup aisle) also work great. We'd give her toast, veggies, whatever, and let her dip it. Get creative. Good luck!

We use a capful of Miralax daily and a fiber yummi bear supplement to try to combat this issue as my three-year-old duaghter does it as well. I hope it gets better soon! T.

The exact same thing happened to my daughter when she was about 5. She was constipated and it hurt so she was afraid to go. Then she would hold it and make it worse. Her pediatrician had me put 1-2 teaspoons of mineral oil in her drink 3 times a day. Sounds disgusting but it worked. It makes it so that after a day or two she will not be able to hold it. Then keep doing it for a little while until she gets over the fear of it hurting. It is tasteless, but you have to shake up the juice or whatever drink you give to mix it in.

I had a friend with a similar problem. Some things they did were...

Miralax (safe to take everyday)
Flax seed (sprinkle on food, bake with, etc)
Straight prune juice (half apple half prune works too and doesn't taste as bad)
Flax seed oil (comes in different flavors - add to oatmeal, etc)

We have the same problem with our 3 1/2 yo son. I even called his doctor to get advice, because he would hold it 6 days! We give him fiber fiber fiber FIBER, and lay off the milk and cheese. We give our son dried prunes too. He likes them. Make a routine of making him sit on the potty at the same times every day, no matter what. I have tried giving him a little Miralax in his juice, and he also eats fiber gummies every day. If it gets past 3-4 four days, I give him a glycerin suppository. He HATES that, but it works every time. Sometimes all I have to do is threaten to give him the "medicine in his bottom" and he'll go. I have learned in the last few months that you have to actively maintain it, or it gets out of hand. I wasn't paying attention to how long it had been since he last went, and I would be shocked when I realized it had been so many days. Maybe the daycare can work with you on making a routine for her and making sure she is comfortable going there, ie enough privacy and time. Good luck!!