Help! three-year-old with potty problem!

[Anonymous]

Our son has been fully potty trained since he turned 3 about 4 months ago. Within the last month, he has become increasingly resistent to pooping. He puts it off and puts it off until it is absolutely necessary...sometimes going 3 or 4 days without a bowel movement. When he needs to poo, he becomes increasingly cranky, runs around holding himself, lays down on the floor or asks to be picked up a lot (walking seems to stimulate the urge to go...). I've tried to explain that everyone has to poop every day (or whenever they feel the urge), but he's not buying it. Now he's started wetting his pants because he's not fully emptying his bladder when he needs to poop. It's incredibly frustrating. We haven't gotten angry with him, but try to just say "you need to go poop. let's go." Then he tantrums and runs away. We are at a loss as to A) why the sudden change of heart about pooping and B) how can we help him get back on track? Any advice?

For what it's worth, we haven't offered using a diaper or reverting to that for poops...I don't want to go down that road.

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like you might have a constipation problem on your hands. All it takes is for one large bowel (or single case of constipation) to stretch out the muscles in your son's lower GI tract. That stretching then leads to constipation more and pain when pooping and thus the desire to not poop at all. I'd suggest you purchase some Miralax and start giving your son a little bit everyday. Our ped recommended that we start with 1/2 capful. That was too much for our son so we cut the dose in half. It worked well for us and got potty training back on track. You need to give the muscles some time to recover so you need to use it for a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

Hmmm; I'm not sure that's the case. When he goes it is generally quite soft-looking (sorry to be so graphic). Can he still be "constipated" when the poop isn't hard?

[Anonymous]

My mom told me that when I was little (not sure how old but probably around his age) I went through a stage where I refused to go. I would stand with my legs crossed hold it in and became so constipated she and her friend had to give me an enema. She told me that little kids can get it in their heads that poop is a part of their body and not want to let go of it. If you haven't already, maybe try asking him why he doesn't want to go poop. Maybe the reason he's "not buying" your explanation that everyone needs to go when they feel the urge is because he thinks he's losing part of himself -- you never know...