3 year old holding bowel movements

[ttab]

My son is almost 3 and a half and has been urinating in the toilet since two and a half.  When he needed to have a bowel movement he would ask for a pullup and go.  However in the past couple of months he has been holding in his bowel movements, I could tell by his actions he was doing so.  I tried stool softeners, adding fiber to his diet. They would help in making him have to go more frequently, but nevertheless, he would still hold it.  I tried taking the pullups away and making him sit on the toilet at regular intervals, but he is really adverse to that.   I feel all I am doing is making the matter worse.  Please help!

[clairewigham]

My son done exactly the same thing at about the same age!  he sailed through passing water in the potty / toliet but bowel movements was another story!!!  i'm also a childminder and in my experience, bowel movements can come last...  its almost as if the child feels their insides are falling out down the toilet, it's probaby a really weird sensation when they are used to doing it in their nappies and not really thinking about what they are doing!  My son also held on to it and after a week or so I had no choice but to take him to the doctors.....  he became lathargic and his tummy always hurt because he was too scared to do it in the toliet.   In the end I got tough, which made me fee awful but it seemed to work!  I made up a chart in the toliet and my son help me make stickers (blue tack and cut out shapes) he got one sticker for urinating and two stickers for emptying bowels!  If he done this for a whole week he got to choose a toy of his choice...... it really worked.  I hope it can work for you! Let me know I would be interested to hear! Good luck! x

[lovemykids2]

I am having the same problem with my three year old. I feel guilty for not attempting potty training earlier then three years. Right now he goes pee well in the toilet with no help. He will walk around stressed when he needs to do a bowel movement.  When I encourage him to sit on the toilet he will cry and hold it. He finally gets to the point that his body can no longer hold it in and goes where ever he is at. It has become a stressful event and I have noticed he is not eating as well either. I hope someone has some tips in comforting my son. Please any advice is wellcome. Thanks

[klamberson]

My son turned 3 in March. He has been going pee pee in the potty for a year now. He basically has been holding his poop since then. He is getting good at it. Like you eventually a little comes out at a time. I know the fustration and I came on here to get some help. I tried everything. He tells me that the poopy is suppose to stay in his butt. I'm sure sometimes it hurts coming out, after all it gets pretty big after holding it for days. I tried the rewards, the poopy chart, putting on pull up ect. Nothing intices him enough. I tried being relaxed about it because it was making me crazy. I felt so bad for him and can't understand why. Eventually when it becomes to much to hold, I see that he is ready to burst I run him in the bathroom and he goes. And he tells me he feels better and it was no big deal. I tell him how proud I'am of him and he is so proud of himself. However, it doesn't seem to matter for the next time. We start all over again.