2 Yr Old Bowel Troubles

Does she drink enough fluids? Lots of water along with the fiber might help a little more??? But I also agree it might be time to move up the doctor chain because it sounds like you are doing everything right.

I would say you definitely need to take her to a specialist. My guess would be to start somewhere with a specialist in Gastroenterology. But bowel troubles are nothing to play around with. Our neice had bowel issues and finally had to have emergency surgery when she had been given some of the same answers you have been given, and they found out it was actually something more serious.
So please go get answers. You might need to demand action, we have to be our childrens advocate sometimes!

Has there been a change recently (babysitter, home, etc.)? A scare of some sort? Anything that may have stressed her out? Control issues are usually in response to some change they didn't like.

Kellogg's makes a FIBER (not the protein one) drink mix - in Pink Lemonade, Iced Tea and Strawberry Kiwi, I think. You mix it into a 16 or 20-ounce bottle of water and let it dissolve. It contains more fiber than what you would get out of some fruits and vegetables in a day's time. Fiber adds bulk to the stool (and the water helps keep things moving smoothly). You might give her some of that every day. AT the very least, she won't be able to hold it as long. My daughter also likes the Fiber One cereal or pop tarts - they contains 35 - 55% of the recommended daily requirement for fiber. They don't taste like tree bark, either! It might cause a little gas, tho.

Years ago, doctors used recommended and mothers gave their children a teaspoon of Karo syrup in water, even add a little honey and lemon if you want. I don't know why it works, but Karo will definitely loosen things up and set her on her way.

Good luck!

My 3 1/2 year old has been battling this as well. We took her to a gastroenterologist specialist at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis (referred from our family pedicatrician). They did an xray to see how far backed up she was, boy she was backed way up! She's on 2 tsp of Miralax (but a prescription, not OTC), twice a day (so 4 tsp total), put in 4 oz of juice each time. They want her bowel movements to be pudding consistancy, because she can't hold it in that way. They also explained to her exactly how she needs to sit ont he potty. Feet flat on the floor, knees spread apart, hands on knees (so that she can't squeeze her butt cheeks together, or lift up to hold it in), and told her to make a grizzly bear sound (puts pressure downward in abdomen). She goes back in a couple of weeks for a follow-up.

I suggest you get her seen by a specialist or stick to the Miralax for a long period of time. Giving it to her for a few days and then stopping isn't going to help. The doctor wrote the prescription for 12 refills on ours, and we haven't finished 1 yet (bottle is size of a spaghetti sauce jar). My daughter will be taking it for a while.

I hope things get worked out for your daughter.

This sounds exactly what my oldest did (16yo now). He held his poop for days and knew exactly what he was doing. There was no medical reason, he did it for control. Think about it, this is one thing kids have the control over. We can't make them do it, they have to do it on their own and they control when they do it. She isn't old enough yet to understand that if she holds it, it's going to only make it worse when she finally does go. My son (actually stepson and his parents divorced when he was 2 and it was the only control he had, this is from doctors)got to be old enough to understand and he still did it. So, I would not "freak" out just yet and pay all this money to go to specialist. Make sure she is drinking plenty of fluids and I would do the Miralax and give it to her as much as the doctor says too and don't make a big deal about it because it is only giving her the attention she is trying to get. Be it negative or positive attention she's getting it. Personally the meds that are in benafiber can cause bloating, miralax doesn't. I know it's hard and concerning but she will grow out of it and the bigger the deal you make out of it the more she'll do it. There's a reason she feels the need to control this, so think about what you think it could be and try to fix it. Goodluck

I have a friend who just went through this with her daughter. They gave her Miralax which helped and when she would poop they gave her a small reward and she is doing just fine now. They had also taken her to her pediatrian. Does she have her own little potty at her grandpartents as I know this does make a difference.
Like I said they went through excatly what you are dealing with, but there little girl is doing great.
Good luck and let us know how things are going.

Ahhhhh haaaa just another one in the line up .... dont feel like the world is coming to and end ... I have delt with this since my son was born he is now four 1/2.

We have gone to the cleveland clinic and had all kinds of test done, one thing we learned is to start a daily training to the potty very important to make sure it is at the same time everyday.

Usually 1/2 hour after they eat have your daughter sit on the potty no more then 15 mins though . have her blow bubbles or take toilet paper and blow it, we mad a game of blowing the ghost .. or get a pin wheel make blowing games he learned to whisle on the potty , the blowing helps the bowels relax and keeps there minds off of it ........ fiber fiber fiber very important find foods high in fiber spinach , raisin , plums , granola bars the higer the fiber the better, but do not over do it casue it can cause them to be blocked also.

but make sure it is in there diet daily . the other thing the doctor gave us is a power called glycolax you can buy it over the counter at the drug stores we started everyday with a cap full in his milk or juice there is not taste but make sure there is enough liquid casue it can get thick .. give it to her every day untill she start a soft bowel and when she starts with a soft bowel cut back to a half a capful. they say they will mostly grow out of it but my some still needs help with the meds good luck I know what you are going through......the other thing that helps also is a warm bath let her play and then have her go on the potty during or after the bath .. good luck

PS a note : if you want a good doctor she is at cleveland clinic her name is Dr Rita Steffen,MD her number there is ###-###-#### she is a pediatric gastronterology very nice and they are very helpful they will check them out throughly,,,,,, but remember to much fiber can cause the same problems.......