Waking up Early Because She Needs to Poop

Prunes won't hurt. :) You can up her fiber intake (prune or pear juice, prunes, whole wheat bread/bagels/pasta, etc.) and it won't hurt her (though it might make the poops bigger in amount).

Don't feel selfish--imagine if you woke up in the morning, earlier than normal and woke up feeling like you needed to go--not the most comfortable feeling in the world, no doubt!

I would say to try shifting her dinner later in the evening, or earlier in the evening, and see what happens. I also suggest changing to 5 or 6 mini=meals per day (which might actually be better for you anyway, being pregnant)--for each, try to include a protein, and a fruit or veggie, or a carb and a dairy, etc. That might also help change her body's processing.

Her diet has changed, so her pooping will change. Thank goodness she's regular -- can you imagine if she was waking up constipated too?:) I poop more when I eat salads (lettuce or raw foods of any sort) and oatmeal. Maybe try cooked greens, green beans, as uncooked makes more fiber. She's old enough to eat dry cereal for breakfast as well, or have your husband make boiled eggs early for the week so you don't smell them?

But, I would only try one of these options at a time to see what changes because going 3x a day is so very healthy for her, if not great on your sleep:) Also, for you, sleep whenever she naps when you can and go to sleep when she does for the next few weeks until your energy gets better:)

Best of luck Mama!

My two and a half year old has the same issue with having to poop waking her up from naps or even in the middle of the night. I have just learned to live with it. It used to be pretty crazy in the beginning when she started having solid poops after about a year or so but it calmed down. I do sympathize about the pregnancy part b/c I'm 7 months along now and pregnancy without a toddler is tough enough. I think that it may have to run it's course and I wouldn't suggest shortening naps b/c if she's anything like mine then waking her from a nap makes for one cranky toddler. Best of luck!

I don't think there's much you can do about nature and I'd not force a poop time by giving her prunes. It sounds like she's going just not when you want her to. Her schedule will change I had an early morning pooper with my youngest. It changed once he was at a mothers morning out program at 2 yrs old.
It will get better being prego with a small one isn't easy I have a 10, 8 and 7 yr olds. I remember when very well. Promise it all gets better and easier (well kinda) you just move to other challenges on ea age.

Hi K. :-)

Hmmmmm... the funny thing is, according to Chinese Medicine and the internal clock, your daughter is pooping RIGHT at the highest energy flowing through her large intestines which is the best time for pooping!

Giving prunes and adding fiber is not going to change the timing of her poop, just make it a better quality poop. Don't feel selfish about changing her poop time, you need your rest.. but the question is... why all of a sudden has she changed her habit?

Sit and investigate what has changed. You mention her meals being different lately. You didn't mention what you have left out, but you do say she is getting a good amount of fruit and veggies, these two things are great for poop!

What time did she previously have her first morning poop? There are lots of questions I have before I can give some feedback :-)

hugs,
A. R.N., Energy Medicine Practitioner

No advice for you, just to tell you that we've had the same problem on and off for over a year. I've tried everything with food that I can think of, and nothing has changed. My son is day potty-trained, but it's rare for him to have to poop during the day, and he's decided he'd rather wait for a diaper than go in the potty, so it's usually at night when he's supposed to be going to bed. However, we go through weeks when he does the same as your daughter. Ugh. I know it's rough. At some point, they'll grow out of it (and then we'll have the second kids doing this!).

My son (who turns 2 this week) went through a similar phase about a month ago. I have no idea what started it. I'm also pregnant and feel your pain with being sooo tired, but I just tried to be patient, and his sleep habits have returned back to normal. I usually would try to get him back to sleep atleast once and sometimes it would work. On days when I was super tired I would put him in his highchair in the living room with some breakfast and an educational show or movie on, and snooze on the couch right next to him to get a little more sleep and that seemed to help me survive the day.