4 Year Old Son Refuses to Poop

[Hunters_mommy29]

I read some of the other questions, but think this is a little different.
After an incident at daycare that is still unclear, my son now refuses to poop after being fully potty trained for about 6 months.  We know that he went in his pants and some comments were made such as "That's icky.  That's gross."  He will let a little slip and then hold off--causing him to need multiple underwear changes throughout the day.  He has now started going in his sleep.  I have watched him and he is truly unconcsious while pooping.  He doesn't even wake up when his pants get changed.  To make matters worse, he is also refusing to eat anything but bread and butter, apple juice and milk.  We have tried suppositories, laxatives, bribery, and nothing seems to be working.  Please help.  He is not the same child.  All of his energy is spent on holding in his bowel movements, so he refuses to play.  He only takes part in sedentary activities so he can control himself.  When I ask him why he won't go, he has told me everything to that his tummy hurts to he is scared.
We have been encouraging him and asking him every day if "today is the day?".  He always says yes.  Lately, he has begun ignoring us any time we bring it up.  I have not made a big deal out of him going in his sleep.  I am just happy that he is going at all at this point.  What can we do to help get him back on track?  Thank you!!!

[koom]

I forgot to mention that I heard through the 'grapevine' that dad this too when he was little and outgrew it when he was almost in his teens!

[koom]

I'm an educator in a daycare.  I work with the preschool (4 and 5) year olds.  I am stumped with one of the children in my group.  He will soil his pants anywhere from once to three times a day.  When he soils his pants at school, mom is called to change him.  Everyday he comes in from school smelling and the other children say he "stinks" and do not want to play with him.  I encourage him to wipe himself and offer wipes to get the smell off of him however, he will still have more 'accidents'.  I asked him if he knows he's pooping and sometimes he say's no and other times he say's he doesn't know.  I've seen him sit, playing with a toy and suddenly he smells.  I've tried not making a big deal of it to offering stickers for jobs well done (using the potty).  At times he gets so frustrated and cry's but when I encourage him to clean himself up, he complains he hates to bend down (to take off his shoes), to why am I alway's checking him.  I know his self esteem is affected and that's what I didn't want him to have to go through.  Mom is aware obviously and I think she is frustrated but how do I deal with this problem?
Help!

[Lori5]

I read that honey is a natural laxative and was wondering if anyone has tried that.  I don't know if it's enough to do the job but I feel much better giving my child something natural...let me know of anyone has had success with it.

[Lori5]

In response to Koppadopa - I read this in another website - the reason our children have such huge bowel movements is because the instine actually streatches because they are holding so much.   Once our issues are resolved and they start pooping on a normal schedule - they will shrink back down to size -

[Hailey'smom]

I gave my 4 yr. old the new concentrated strawberry Milk 0f Mag. I gave her the 7-11 age dose and 6 hours later she pooped. she usually spits it out...I bribbed her with a can of soda..she drank her medicine, though. The milk of mag. always works if I give her the biggest dose, but she hates the taste. If she would just take it everyday pooping would not be an issue!!!It is the only medicine her doctors recommend. You can safely take it daily for at least a year. when she was on Enulose, Lactulose, etc. she had "failure to thrive". she is now healthy and has energy.

[molly's mom]

I have 2 questions for Hailey's mom...did you try Miralax and if so, what were the results?  And does she have diarrhea or solid poops with the Milk of Mag?  We're on Miralax and her poop is usually pretty soft.  I'd rather her have more "normal" ones.  Thanks!  Amy