4 year old and constipation

Kiera went 4 days without pooping. She was in so much pain that she couldn't walk or sit. She kept crying and it was just awful. We finally gave her a suppository yesterday (which I was hoping to never have to do again). She went and we all thought we were in the clear. Well now today she is looking like she is holding it in again. What the heck am I supposed to do? We've given her tons of fiber and fruit the last 48 hours. And now she is drinking a stool softener. But if she's refusing to even try I know she is just going to keep getting backed up.

I am so lost right now and I just want to cry. She's in pain and I'm getting upset because she is holding it in. I can't keep giving her suppositories because she is refusing to go. I just don't think that's a good habit to form. What should I do?

Re: 4 year old and constipation

My daughter is 3 1/2 and was a holder too. Her record was 8 days. She is on Miralax. Our doc said up the dosage until she couldn't hold it anymore, which made it soft and do that for awhile until she is over the fear. My daughter is still on it but doesn't have a fear of pooping anymore and goes every day or every other day.

HTH

Re: 4 year old and constipation

My DS had an issue with stool withholding and the best solution is to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. They are far more qualified to help than a regular pediatrician with what you need to do to help her. Like you I thought the fiber and such, but it didn't help they way I hoped it would. If you want the name of the one we used, FM me.

Re: 4 year old and constipation

My only hold up with it is that she never has problems. She is usually the most regular kid out there. I just think that with all the holidays she wasn't eating well and it caused constipation. But now she's so scared to go that I'm afraid she's going to get constipated again.