My Son is withholding his poo, can anyone help?

Question

I'm taking him to the health visitor on Wednesday, but would just like to know if anyone has had any experience of this or what the treatment of this kind of thing is.

He holds on to his poo for days, just releasing a small amount that he can't hold on to anymore. Until finally it builds up and becomes painful for him to pass. When he finally did it today, I praised him profusely and asked him if he wanted to see it but he ran away screaming so he's obviously scared of it.

Has anyone had this kind of trouble? How did you treat it?

Answer 1

My daughter and my son did this. Unfortunately in the end we went to the Drs and they prescribed a laxitive. Although I felt uncomfortable using it a lot so I limited the usage. It did work though and eventually they got more confident about going to the toilet.

It can be very stressful for both of you so try to stay calm when they won't go and praise when they do.

I also made a chart for my son and he got a star each time he went, when he got 8 stars he got to pick out a treat / toy from the shops.

Good luck

Answer 2

You don't say how old your son is.  In some children dairy products can be very binding and if he is not getting enough fruits and veggies his stools may be hard and painful causing him to fear going to the bathroom.  Your doctor will best diagnose this but this is my thought and I would share with you.  

Answer 3

hi ive had 4 kids and 6 grand kids o I'm in the know but kids cant hold poo if it needs to come out . he may be constipated also Urania give the same symptoms as what you say take him to the dr  

Answer 4

omg thats odd, sorry cant help but... gosh!

Answer 5

I've no insight into how this starts - I've no experience of it not becoming a long-term struggle (as child or parent).

In our family witholding was not tolerated - traditionally you were given a suppository if you hadn't "done" by the third day,  Maybe that's what he needs to motivate him to take charge of his bowel function?

Answer 6

It's really common for toddlers while they are potty training to not what to have a BM in the potty.  My nephew had the same problem, he had no problem peeing in the potty but wouldn't p**p.  For some reason it scars him.  You have to reassure him that everything is ok.  

Answer 7

My daughter is 4 and a half and starting school soon and has had this problem since she was 2.

I have been at my wits end she is seeing a specialist now cause it has become physiological and she refuses to poo.

She has been on medication for 2 years to make her poo soft for her to let it come out but to no avail.

I am hoping and fingers crossed that school sorts her out.

I have no advice for you cause I don't have an answer.

But she was clean at 2 and now has reversed back.

She goes to the toilst for wees but wont go for a poo its so frustrating.

My heart goes out to you!

Answer 8

i had the same problm when i was lyk 5 or 6 but not any more and im 18 ..i dont think i have any medication but i didnt hold on to it for days ..and i didnt release a small amount..try to talk to him about when to tell you if he wants to use the toilet and ofcorse he's scared as it will hurt him since he's holding in ..

Answer 9

Wierd...My girlfriend was telling me about her 4 year old who did this a few weeks ago.  It went on for weeks and eventually her daughter tried to also stop urinating.  It was awful she said.  They had to take her to the hospital and hold her down to allow her to urinate and then she had to have an e***a to help her poo.  I havent read the other answers, I can imagine though what some people have written.  I had never heard of this until my girlfriend told me about it.  Apparently its not uncommon the hospital told her.  I understand now she is "back to normal" but they have to continue to praise her for going to the toilet etc.  I am sorry I cannot give you a better answer.  I hope I dont have to go through this with my son, it does sound awful.  Poor little fella.

Answer 10

A friend of the family's son does this, he's two and a half and apart from going for a poo is very good at going to the toilet. He really doesn't want to go and will hold it in for days. His mum's sister is a child psychologist and says that a lot of children do this when they're potty training. The best thing to do is keep feeding him lots of fruit and vegetables so he gets lots of fibre. You're doing the right thing by praising him but I can see why he might not want to have a look at it. Why not try a rewards system, such as a star/sticker chart? Everytime he goes to the toilet successfully he gets a sticker and when he reaches a certain number of stickers he gets a treat (sweets, a toy, a trip to somewhere fun).

Answer 11

This is quite common with small children - he will grow out of it.

Praise is really good.  Try him on a potty if the toilet scares him, and start a reward chart with a prize at the end of every week.  If that doesn't motivate him, a more immediate reward like a few chocolate buttons might do the trick.  

Also, make sure he drinks plenty of fluids (not just milk) - water and fruit juice, which does really make a difference.  I never resorted to laxatives with my children, an increase in fluid intake helped, as did giving them fruit like grapes and raisins and jacket potatoes - anything to increase fibre intake.

My friend gave her son prune juice which worked well, but my children hated it!

edit:  From what you say it's not his diet that's the problem then, it's fear - so try the potty (or toilet with a seat if he uses the potty already) so that there is a change of scene and try the bribery/reward chart.

Answer 12

I have treated this problem a number of times with homeopathy - always successfully - despite conventional medical treatment (longterm laxatives) having failed. By all means take the health visitor's advice but I suggest you also take him to see a registered or medical (doctor) homeopath in your area.

http://www.trusthomeopathy.org/ has a list of medical doctors trained in homeopathy in UK & Ireland

http://www.homeopathy-soh.org/ is the body governing registered (non-doctor) homeopaths in the UK

http://www.irishhomeopathy.ie/ ditto in Ireland

Answer 13

Hi Sarah,

Sorry to say you should have thrown him away and kept the stork.

Give him some organic beetroot juice.

Answer 14

i came on answers to ask the same question as you and from reading the answers that u have received i am sooooo glad that im not the only one who has a child that does this....i was getting so fustrated my daughter is 3 and is starting nursery in a few weeks and wees on the toilet fine but refuses to poo there and is constantly stopping herself and gets poo in her pants. ive tried being understanding and reasuring about it and have tried stopping her treats but nothing seems to work. i sympathise with u so much. glad im not alone! sorry i cant be anymore help but if u have a magic answer please post it!

Answer 15

my little cousin has that same problem and his parents ended up giving him a laxative.  his parents tell him he has to go poo when he needs to, he tends to hold it in because he does not want to miss something.

Answer 16

hehehe sorry i couldnt help but laugh at that.. witholding your poo...lol that was too funny. I have NEVER heard of anyone with that problem...so what was he like before? when he could take a poo? when did this problem start? if you know when it started then think about and remember what he had been up to, what he had been eating and watever else u can think of.

go to the doctors!