Ok.... Really Personal Question About Boys!!

Yep---the erections are very normal, so don't worry! :)

As far as the constipation, my son gets the same way when he's not getting enough liquids. Increase his drinks and find a yummy fiber-filled cereal for him to eat once a day and he'll do fine :) Fruit also helps with constipation. Smoothies are easy to make and delicious! Hopefully--it'll get his intestines moving enough to where you don't have to encourage him verbally much LOL!

Good luck!

I wish I could tell you something that may help. I know when my son who is 5 doesn't go my husband checks his stomach to see it its hard and will massage it try apple juice to relax his stomach and good luck.

Unless I'm totally missing something here, an erection has nothing to do with holding back urine. However, you cannot urinate while having an erection... Having said that, I know from experience that little boys have erections--that's not unusual. And little boys also "wait" to urinate for many reasons including because they're having too much fun to take a break. As for the BMs, give him some Miralax. It's safe and non-habit forming, and is not absorbed into the body. hope this helps!

Apples. An apple a day is a healthy way to help keep them regular, especially if he is a picky eater with a limited diet, also make sure he is drinking enough. Have a set time to take a potty break. They do this at preschools when they transition from one activity to another and it works great.

My oldest son has been having erections since he was an infant; he's nearly 7 now. His pediatrician (when he was an infant and she was doing a physical exam he was having one) said it's perfectly normal. But I haven't seen my second son having any, though I'm sure he's normal too. My second son became constipated when my husband (who eats large quantities of fresh fruit every morning) was gone for 4 months this year. My son would sit at breakfast with him and "share" his fruit, so while he was gone he wasn't eating as much, and then it hurt him once when he had a BM, so then he was holding it, which made it all worse. I took him to the doctor, who noticed a small hemorrhoid, and his little anus was very red and sore. He prescribed some miralax (I think) and some cream for his bum. I beefed up the fruit he was eating, and in time it cleared up. I only buy whole grain breads and such anyway, and really limit junk food, but fruits really help.

Also, "normal" is different for everyone in the BM department. For some, normal frequency is once a week. For others, normal is three times a day. My boys pooped five times a day in diapers, but now not nearly as often.

Well, my almost 3 yo son hasn't been having problems with the BM, but yes, he's been having 2-3 erections a day and he's completely fascinated by it. (Suprise suprise). I try not to make a big deal out of it. It's not preventing him from urinating (except for the time he has an erection) and everything else is normal. He has a doctor apt soon, so I'll bring it up then, but I'm thinking it's completely normal and the last thing anyone should do is freak out and make their little boy think something bad is happening to them. We've started having the talk about "privates" and so I make it a point for him to see me NOT looking at it and telling him "it's private". Daddy's had a little talk with him about how it's normal and happens to boys. Just check w/ your pediatrician to rule out any bladder issues or something like that.

my son is 3 1/2 yrs and does the same thing. I just encourage him to go potty. I have no problems with pooping. But sometimes, my son will hold his pee until he is dripping running to the bathroom! As for erections, my son has them often. More often at night. He normally has them if he has to go pee. Sometimes when he wakes up from nap, it will last several minuts. My hubby tells me this is normal - even for a man. My son has begun to notice and play with himself more. I just tell my son to do that in the bedroom when he is alone! From what I have read, it is all normal. As for holding his poop, it may be a control issue. I had this problem with my daughter and it caused her to be very constipated and as a result pooping hurt. I have had to use laxatives on her to get her to go. She finally realized, at 5 yrs old, that she needs to go when her body tell here - otherwise it wi get hard and hurt!

Sarah~ that is cute. You sound like a good mom, a little surprised however by the erections. All males that hold their uriine will do that because of the tubes in the bladder. Girls are shaped like a "y" but boys are just a straight tube. So if it backs up, it fills up. He is very normal. If he is holding by himself praise him. You know the big boys (daddys) do the same thing every morning. Just a nurse's point of veiw. Not intended to be gross or sexual in any way. But, does that help?
A.

All boys have erections of varying frequency. Even infants. You just don't see them as much when they're tiny because they are covered by a diaper. Don't worry about them as they are likely not related to "holding it".

The poop might be something to worry about if it's going to less than once a day. You can give him grape juice and increase the fiber in his diet to encourage him to have more regular BMs.

I have 3 boys all under 6 and having an erection has nothing to do with urinating. They are just like men... they all have several erections a day and night. Nothing you can really do about it... its natural and will happen. It is also normal for kids BM to change. Their "regularity" will change time to time without any major problems. Unless he is complaining that his tummy hurts, I would not worry about it. You seem to have a very regular little boy in my opinion.

I have a 5yo son that I am really having trouble with. Sometimes I have to practically chase him to the bathroom to get him to go because he's "too busy" doing other things. I have noticed also that when he has to pee really bad he will become "erect" so to speak. My mom works in the urology dept. and says that it's kind of like when any guy wakes up in the morning after holding it all night. You could try a reward system and not necessarily use candy/junk as rewards. Think of something he really likes and go with that.