Hello!

I’ve tried rewarding, taking away privileges, talking, laxative, videos and songs, and sitting there for extended periods of time with her. She will hold her poop until she’s in her bed with a nighttime pull up. She’ll per on the potty every time. But she wont poop. Any advice or suggestions?


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  • I had a lot of trouble with my daughter she would hide behind the lounge and do it and it took a lot to eventually go on the toilet which had one of those little toilet seats that fits in it and I would just say big girls go on the big toilet. Of course she didn’t do it before she eventually did it. I felt she was just lazy and I had to keep on especially after a meal.


  • Potty made it less scary for my daughter. We kept up praise and eventually she gave in after a few weeks. I agree, things like iPad to keep her on longer


  • Is she using a toilet or a potty? I found that my daughter had a fear of the toilet so I got her a potty that was sat on the ground. Best thing ever. If you know she is waiting until bedtime and a pull up, before she goes to bed put her on the potty with a book, and just tell her to hang out for a bit. Hopefully she will forget she is holding it in, and go. I did this and then made a HUGE deal about how proud I was of her etc. Haven’t had an issue since.


  • Ipad helped my son…and games


  • Sit her on the toilet with her pull up on an see if she will go. Over time cut a hole in the bottom (small to start with and get bigger over time). It might be the splash she us fearful of so out toilet paper at the bottom on top of the water. Good luck


  • My friends little girl wasn’t ever using the toilet always waiting for the moment to do it in her undies or pull up at night.
    But one day me and my little girl went over for a play (they are best friends) she saw my daughter using the toilet and doing a poo and since that day my friends little girl has done her poop on the toilet ????
    I don’t know if that helps. But give it time don’t make her to stressed as that might make her hold on more.


  • keep in mine she wont do it forever even though it might feel like it at the moment.


  • Also when there is a need for laxatives I wouldn’t just give them unless advised by the GP. Also make sure to chose a type of laxative that helps restore the body’s natural rhythm and that help attract and retain water in the stools, making them softer and easier to pass, thus reducing constipation. These types are less harmfull and you don’t get used to it as much, Movicol and Osmolax are a good example.


  • Sounds she may have some fear to let it go.
    As stool sits in the rectum, water from the stool is reabsorbed, making the stool harder. It also becomes larger as more stool enters the rectum. When it does pass, a large, hard stool may cause a fissure, anal tearing or rectal bleeding and additional pain, leading the child to be more afraid of bowel movements.
    Withholding often happens after an attempt at toilet training when children just aren’t ready, emotionally or physically. The age of readiness for toilet learning is anywhere between 18 months and four years in normal circumstances. So it may be that simply backing off a bit and giving your child more time will relieve the problem.
    Let go of rewarding, talking, videos and songs, and sitting there for extended periods of time with her and certainly stay away from the punitive approach like taking privileges away !
    When the poo gets to dry increase water water water


  • Had a daughter who did this holding it in for days. She had undies no nappies and she would hide behind the lounge or in her room stopping the poo situation. Keeping her hydrated was the key plenty of water and ice-blocks in summer. The night pull-ups could be stopped and a vinyl bed saver put in place under her sheets. Have you bought a toilet step and a smaller toilet seat that fits inside or under the fitted one. Kids think they may fall in there. I made a small table of books next to the toilet where she could read on the toot! Eventually it was just not a issue. Give it time. A sticker system will be encouraging 5 days of stickers the sixth day a TREAT and the next 5 days and the sixth day a bigger TREAT. Visual stickers/rewards do work a treat. Best of luck.


  • I know of another girl like that. They did away with nappies as soon as there was no wet ones overnight. She hung on until she couldn’t hang on any longer (for 3 days then it was really hard and hurt a lot). I have been told by a medical professional if you hang on for too long the moisture leeches out of it and makes it hard to pass. It is one of the issues that cause constipation


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