How Do I Help My Son Get over Fear of Bowel Movements?

My aunts little girl went through a similar experience. She is three and was potty trained but once she got diarrhea and since then she has been afraid to go to the bathroom. Weird thing with her is that she didn't get it all over her but in the potty... so her fear now is going in the potty. She has a fit till someone puts a pull up on her and she will go in it. I am the mother of two daughters, one six and one three months old... I think that putting a pull up on her is the wrong idea in this case. But the doctors recommended miralax for her too, they tried it but it really didn't seem to make a difference.

My son had the same fear. He couldn't understand what was making the splash on his bottom when he pooped and it scared him...thinking something was coming out of the toilet and getting him. In my case, which may sound mean, but I sat on the floor with my son and if he tried to get off the toilet I kept him there. He would scream and throw fits, but finally when he realized that it was just water and nothing was going to get him he had no problems.

I have been going through this since my daughter was 18 months old or so. She is now 6 and still poops her pants. Give him the miralax. It is a wonderful thing and it definitely helps. We have been told that my daughter will have to be on it for at least 18 months before she might be over this, but we have seen a major improvement in just a few months. Don't make a big issue of it with him either. Just put the miralax in a drink either first thing in the morning or before bed (you can mix it with any drink and he won't be able to taste it) and it will work.

Hi N.,
I'm new to mamasource, but your message stuck out to me, so I hope that you don't mind that you don't know me yet. I have a daughter who is now 4 who had the same problem as your son about 5 months ago. (just before she turned 4)
Our doctor also recommended Miralax and I didn't want to use it either (I like the whole natural thing, too) ..but, since my mother-in-law had actually given me a container of it back in August, I decided to finally try it. It took about 2-3 days to start working, but once she got some in her system, it was great! She felt a strong urge to "go." And it didn't hurt her when she tried on the potty. This continued and since the doctor said she could take it for up to 7 months, I just kept her on it, and tried to slowly reduce the amount. (giving too much is not good! you may have to try different doses to see what works best for your child so you're not cleaning up wet poop accidents!) Anyway...now she is no longer on it, but all I buy is whole grain breads, whole grain poptarts, fruits, veges (which I have to remind her to keep eating, eat one more pea, etc.) and I even found whole grain pancake mix. Also, my kids drink more Gatorade now than apple juice and that seems to help, too. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. If you have any more Miralax questions, let me know. :)
Sincerely,
K. Bond of Rock Hill, SC

My daughter is on Miralax and I'm very grateful for the stuff. She's had constipation issues since she was a baby and now I only give it to her as needed. Her constipation delayed her in being fully potty trained, not to mention the pain, discomfort, and fear of bowel movements. I can understand not wanted to medicate, though I think the miralax could really help him. Have you heard of using mineral oil? I used mineral oil a few times with my daughter, just a little bit in her sippy, however many times a day until she had a normal bowel movement. you have to be careful when you give it, you shouldn't give it within 2 hours of eating a meal (before or after) if I remember correctly. If you choose to try that, the pharmacist can give you exact info on how much etc.

good luck

I went through the same thing with my son when he was potty training. He was fully pee pee trained when he turned 3 but would hold his bowel movement for sometimes 3-4 days. He was so uncomfortable and would say his stomach hurt all day because of it. I even went back to putting him in pull ups, and he would still hold it. We tried giving him more juice, and other foods that would help it come out no matter if he held it or not. He would finally go after the 3-4 day and it was so much pain for him to get it out. The pediatrician said to give him Miralax and it would help him get on a daily routine of going because he would not be able to hold it in anymore. After about 2 days it worked. I bought a treat bag and filled it with stuff under a $1 and that was the best thing I ever did! I only had to give him Miralax for a few days (which he could not taste) and it helped soften up the stool and helped him have a bowel movemenet on a regular basis. He was so excited to get a treat after he went on the potty that he wanted to go everyday. I don't know if the Miralax or the treats did it, but it is worth a try! He was fully potty trained after that with no accidents.

My toddler was potty trained a year ago, and having bowel movements were difficult for her at first too. (maybe not to the extent of your son, but I empathize with your pain) Our doctor too suggested Miralax (at the time prescription required). I used it - but not everyday and not the FULL recommended dosage - I was leary of relying on medication to induce the behavior (no matter how safe dr said it was). My little one was soon going on her on very well & because of the increased water - the finished product was not hard and hurtful to pass. I only had to use about 2-3 months. I do caution you to experiment with the amount of medication to give - (when I gave the FULL dosage at first - it was TOOOOO RUNNY and it may remind him of the diareah incidence all over again - not what you intend to do I am sure!!! Good Luck!!!

My mom got my son the book everybody Poops. it is kinda gross but it might help.

Congratulations on the early potty training! I know what you're going through with your son. My second son had the same issue of being scared to go #2. After trying all the fiber, more water, and suppositories (horrible experience), we took him to a specialist. She checked to make sure there were no serious issues and explained the whole process of how he holds it, it compacts, and when it finally comes out, it hurts so bad that it just reinforces the fear of going. She told us to give him a tablespoon of Phillips' Milk of Magnesia (cherry flavor) every night for several months. It is stimulant free. I was leary at first, but it did work, and the reason it had to be given for so long was because if he had one painful bowel movement after a month of going comfortably, he would be afraid and have to start over again. The Doctor (a woman) swore by this, and said it would not hurt him in any way. I kept it in the refrigerator so it would taste better. The Dr. also recommended I apply Aquaphor to his bottom on a regular basis as he was sore (would bleed sometimes)and this was soothing to him. After my son was older (5 or 6)if he was constipated I would do a little trick to help him go. I brought him a small cup of coffee (warm with sugar and cream) and some grapes to eat. He just needed to relax about going, and he really believed that this strange combination would magically help him go. (actually coffee and grapes don't hurt but they usually don't work instantly either!)
Hope you find a solution. Let us know what happens!

First off, congrats on the potty trained 2 year old. I'm expecting my 4th in May and my 2 y.o. is not even showing signs of desiring to be potty trained.

Okay, so he's probably getting constipated and he's started associating pooping with pain... My 9 y.o. did the same exact thing. He still gets constipated and holds it occasionally, but I can reason with him now and it has gotten a lot better. His issues were along the lines of sensory integration disorder - he did not like the feeling of pooping and therefore didn't want to. This caused him pain as well and it was a vicious cycle.

Fiber seems to help a lot. I make muffins and add Flax Seed Meal and Wheat Germ (that I buy from the organic sections at the grocery store). I add about 1/4 cup of each per 12 muffins. It keeps us all regular, believe me! It's more effective, I think than the Miralax because it really bulks up the stool. I usually make a banana muffin and add some chocolate chips to it to take away the texture of the flax. My kids eat these muffins like they are candy and I really have to watch my 2 y.o. (who has no problems with constipation) or he eats way too many of them.

That helps the fiber part. The fear part - he probably won't get over this completely until he is a bit older. You just have to be consistent in telling him that pooping is good for us and that everyone has to do it. That if you don't do it, it can make you very sick. By the time my oldest hit about 5, he had this part down.

Steph

I wound up giving my youngest son a laxative as well. He potty trained at 4, after a year of working on it (I had to go the long t-shirt with nothing underneath route to accomplish it). However, he held his bowels once he got trained, even though he had been very regular prior to potty training. He got to where he would complain that it hurt to go...I kinda think it started out as a control thing for him and then his body just responded and wouldn't loosen up. The laxative really helped, he probably had to use it longer because he has other issues as well, but after 6-8 months his body was re-trained and he no longer needs it. I would go with the laxative. My understanding from other moms is boys often do this...don't sweat it, don't make a big deal out of it. It is a season that will pass. Good luck! Hope this helps.

Hi N.,

I had a son with almost your exact problem. What I found extremely effective was glycerin suppositories. They are NOT medicated. It is just a lubricant. They are over the counter, though some are stored refrigerated, so you have to ask the pharmacist. My son had trouble with constipation, and developed a fear or going. Once you insert the suppository, try to keep him still for a minute or so, then sit him on the potty. He will go almost immediately, he won't be able to help it. We found that after 3 or 4 positive, painless experiences, he was no longer afraid, and the situation improved. Hope this helps. Good luck!

B. S

Hi N.,
First of all if your doctor says this is just a fear and he will get over it...ask again..and again. If you still get that response, get a new doctor. Or at the least, a second opinion. I went through the same thing with my daughter. She is now 22! I dont know if there is any connection but I too breastfed till later than most. It started at a very early age and progressed till she was 4, with some side effects till even 6. She would fight having a bowel moverment. Potty training seemed to go well and all of a sudden she was terrified to go. And yet sometimes she would soil her underwear or "leak" a little. We would be up at 3 AM with her on the toilet...crying and holding her stomach saying "no mommy, please dont make me, its hurts!" She would literally scream, cry and wiggle trying to stop it from coming out. Talk about breaking your heart. Meanwhile I would fluctuate between praying, crying and getting mad. (not really proud of some of those moments). Finally after a second opinion we found out she had Encopresis, a condition in children. My suggestion would be just to have him checked for this before doing anything such as "ignoring it till it passes". I tried this at first and am so happy I decided to take my little girl elsewhere. It was one of the most trying times of my life! I had 2 little boys just a little older than her, and with the teasing from them that i was constantly trying to stop, the lack of sleep i was getting, frustration, I was extremely stressed. All the while people making me feel like it was my fault, that I was doing or did something wrong potty training. Everyone had their 2 cents! Finally after the diagnosis, she was admitted to Rainbow Babies Hospital in Cleveland overnight (I stayed with her) and she was "cleaned out", (IV liquids, diahrea, etc.No pain) The blockage taken care of I could start over. She then needed daily enemas, strict fiber diet, bathroom time consistancy,daily mineral oil (after the fact) and lots of patience! And the whole "yay!" treatment again when she would go. It took a while. I am not telling you this to scare you simply check it out as an option. It can be dangerous if ignored. And it can develop from a situation such as yours.If everyone says Miralax works then I would try it. I would imagine if they had it 20 years ago I would have used it. Because they didnt it progressed to a blockage. They informed me to add fiber etc. but that is not always a good thing if you dont go. It was contributing to the blockage. She got to the point where she couldnt go and no longer got the "urge". To this day I still remember all those late nights and tears and feeling terrible in the bathroom with her! Try the Miralax but I always still suggest checking for the blockage. If you lived through it you would suggest that to everyone! Encopresis is not uncommon and it can develop from this situation. Unfortunately...at 25 and 27 her brothers still feel the need to tease her! ;) Hope things get better soon. check out this website
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcome/conditions/encopre...

Hope this helps...G.

There's a book, I'm a librarian by the way, called:

"It Hurts When I Poop" it's in picture book format and talks about a little boy who had a belly ache one day and a painful bowel movement then he goes on to "hold it" ergo making himself constipated. It's nicely written and I think would go far to help ease his fears. Check at your public library to see if they'll get it in. If they won't order it for their library ask them to interlibrary loan it they can get it from my library that way.

When my daughtr was 2 years old I had to take her to a specalist in Virginia because she was having this problem. It came down to that she could not relax and I had to reprogram her into thinking bowels movement will not hurt. 3 months on Miralax helped big time. They told me that everychange in her life might make her regress but so far everything has been fine. and she is 8 right now.

My little girl had the same problem for a while. It started when she got constipated once and it hurt pretty bad. After that she would hold it for as long as she could because she was afraid of the pain, thus causing a cycle of painful BM's. She also started having accidents because she would hold it to the point that she couldn't hold it anymore and it would happen really fast. So I had to help her for a couple weeks with suppositories, (yes, she hated them and I did too!)until her BM's were soft again and I never said a word about the accidents. I wanted her to go however she was going and not hold it for ANY reason. It took about a month for her to not be afraid anymore, but we kept close watch and if she went 1 day without going we started pushing juice and prunes etc. to help things along and keep it from going too long. She is now on a daily schedule and going on the potty every time.

My son experience rectal prolapse when he was 3 because he was holing it in. If you're not familiar, rectal prolapse is when part of the intestine comes out with a bowel movement. It wasn't to serious, but the doctor at the ER recommended Miralax to soften his stools which would alieve his fear of bowel movements. Guess what? I listened to the doctor AND IT WORKED! Get your son the Miralax. One dose in 8 oz of water per day is all it will take. It's not super stimulating. It just helps regulate bowel movements. My son will be five next week and he only uses Mirilax periodicaly now, but if I see that he is holding it in or hurting I am sure to get him back on it for a while. Medicine isn't a bad thing if used properly.

My daughter did the same thing. She would hold it in and her tummy would hurt because she had to go. We would make her sit on the potty, she would scream and cry. Then when she finally went, the BM was so big it would hurt her bottom. The Dr. told me to use Benefiber. I use the adult dosage in her juice 1 time a day. It made her have to go and it also softened the stool. She could not hold it. The bad news..it took 4 month for her to get over this. The good news..this too, shall pass it is just one more phase. My daughter just turned 3 and has no problems at all going now.
Hope this helps!
S.

My son to was fully potty trained and then suddenly at 4 yo we began to have accidents. We have been battling this problem now for about 4 years. I too tried everything I could think of and everything that everyone I knew recommended. Nothing worked. I took him to counseling and tried many things. I did finally follow my pediatricians advise to put him on Miralax and he has been on it now for 2 years. I really wish I had started him on it earlier. We are now turning a point. We have meny more days that we are clean than not. It is gentle and we have cut back on it we do not take it everyday just a couple of times a week to keep him regular.

I am sure you are concerned about putting him on medication as I was as well. But I can tell you from experience thee longer you wait the longer it takes to clear this up. I assure you this can develop into a very real "physical problem" no matter what anyone tells you.

As you can imagine I was terrified of sending my son to school with this problem.

I also had a nephew with this problem around 20 years ago and have consulted with my sister-in-law several times and she has always stated that she wished she had responded quickly to it like I did.

Please now that I know exactly what you are feeling. It is a very hard process for everyone, but the earlier you address it the less of a problem it will be for him in the future.

Hope this helps.

I also have a son that does or did do this exact same thing. We did the diet change and all. Still he had issues. He wouldn't even think about going to the potty. And still has no desire, but he'll go in his own time. But that's a whole different subject. Anyway his Dr.gave him a prescription of GlycoLax, but she did mention Miralax before she wrote the script. And she did that because he hadn't went in three to four days. (I guess the script works faster? Not sure) Let me tell you it works!! I give it to him and he goes with ease. We were giving him supositories and the Dr. said that would make him go, but the reason he didn't want to go is that it was too hard and hurt. But he goes like he should and isn't grumpy or doesn't always have a tummy ache. Hope this helps.

My daughter who is now 5 1/2 had the same issue. I used the Miralax for a short time to help her get over her fear. It makes the stool alot softer so it is harder to hold it in and it does not hurt when they go. Now I have found that really watching her diet - more fiber, less cheese helps. Also, we started using Juice Plus Vitamins about a year ago and I really think those have helped keep her regular, because when I give them to her consistently she is more regular.

make sure he is not constipated and then holding it then hurting so he won't go. If he is.. give him a little bit of miralax in his milk or bottle or drink. That will help a little if it isn't hard, then he won't be afraid.

My older daughter does this too. Miralax really does help. It's NOT a laxative, as the name may lead you to believe. It just softens the poop so that it doesn't hurt coming out. The idea is to break them of the idea that pooping hurts, b/c it's mostly psychological. It's not some kind of crack he'll get addicted to. What's worse- giving him a stool softener for a few weeks or dealing with the drama?
The other thing that helped my daughter (who will be 4 in May) is straight up bribery. We posted a piece of paper in the bathroom and gave her a checkmark every time she pooped, and 3 Pez every time she TRIED. After 3 poops (eventually moving to 10+) she earned a new My Little Pony or something. You have to have the present already so it's immediate gratification. Saying "oh good job, we'll go buy you something this weekend when we have time" isn't going to motivate the kid.
Fruits and veggies are hugely important, but so is exercise. Make sure he's running around outside, feed him well, and put him on the potty after every meal.
This too shall pass.

PS. We put Miralax in my daughter's morning juice every other day or every 2-3 days. She doesn't even know she's taking it.

Hello, I have a two year old son who also has a fear of having a bowel movement. He is not potty trained, and it is difficult to try b/c of his poop issue. I am using Miralax, it just softens the stool so it is easier to pass. He was always screaming when he would go b/c it was so hard (from him holding it) and would end up with anal fissures. I went to the dr. a few days ago and she recommended mineral oil. 2 tbs a day (you can put it on whatever he will eat it on). This will help it come out easier. Also, yogurt (like the activia) will help the bowels also. Personally, I did not want to use the Miralax either, but it has def. helped him use the bathroom. You can use it for a few days and then stop once he starts going regularly. I know I didn't help out much with the getting over the fear, but hopefully he gets better soon. Take care!

Oh my gosh! This sounds like MY life 9-10 years ago! Our oldest, now 11, had the very same problem. With him, though, we eventually figured out that because he loved his milk so much (even after going off the formula and drinking whole milk from a sippy), he just got constipated. From the time he turned a year old, he would only 'go poopy' every 3-5 days, and by the time he couldn't hold it, he was trotting back and forth, telling me to walk him around (walking helps with anyone, as you may have noticed) and holding my hands and SCREAMING til we were both crying! a few times, we even had to 'help it out' with a q-tip - which is not recommended and should be done VERY carefully! but when you are desperate to help relieve his pain, you will try anything. when we tried suppositories, they just usually came right back out and didn't have time to help. the doc helped me figure out that as much cheese as he loved to eat, and he refused almost every kind of veggie and not a fan of many fruits, that it was due to his milk intake and not enough fiber. also, the vitamin drops i was giving him in his milk had iron added, and that constipates! so i was doing this to my baby!

We cut out as much dairy as we could (he would not drink much juice or water, though) and started adding a children's version of Senokot liquid (not sure if they still make that) to his chocolate Ovaltine milk in the morning. It was kind of chocolate-y tasting so it blended in well. It really helped. He resisted the #2 part of potty training because he was used to being up and walking around to get it going. He had the hardest time just learning to sit down. We didn't like giving our kids anything medicinal long-term, but with this we just had to for a while. I think there are lots of herbal treatments you can try that are safe for kids, but what I have found is that with extreme symptoms, the herbal stuff just doesn't cut it quick enough. That stuff has to be a regimen and works more gradually most of the time. You may be able to find one that is more quick-acting. If you Google "children's laxative", you will find TONS of choices.

Another note - he is now almost 12 years old, and if he doesn't eat his Frosted Mini-Wheats EVERY single day, and eat a spinach salad once or twice a week, he still has a constipation problem. It may just be his body, or what foods he prefers, more than a mental thing, but it quickly becomes mental. Once when he was 4, he actually had something they can a rectal prolapse, where he felt the urge to poop so badly that he just kept pushing and he actually pushed his rectum outside of his body! It was horrifying, but when I called the pediatrician (of course, it was after hours!), he said to gently push it back in and not worry about it unless it kept happening.

And another note, my second son hated milk (except for mine) and loved juices, and even though we watered them way down, he started having "toddler diarrhea" at age 15 months til he was 3 and a half - he would have 7-8 dirty diapers a day and rashes to go along with them! I had a daughter born right at that time, and you can imagine how much fun all those diapers were! Amazing what moms will go through, huh?!

Best of luck, and I hope you find something that works for you and him!

A. V

Don't be afraid of Miralax or Glycolax--they are a godsend. My son used to hold it 3-4 days at a time, then would struggle mightily. Miralax is gentle, and doesn't send them into fits of diarrhea, just loosens everything up so that he doesn't get blocked. The gas pains will go away and a healthy routine will be established. I highly recommend following your doctor's advice--the stuff works.

I had the same problem when my son was 2. We worked on potty training and he seemed to be doing really well. Then he would hold in his poo until he was in pain. He would wait until naptime and then have very large, hard BM's in his diaper.
I did some research and what I found is that the child feels anxiety from the whole potty training process. And gets constipated. Then when they do finally go, it hurts. And the cycle begins.
What worked for me was giving him peaches and pears to soften the stool, then I explained to him that his Tummy hurt because the Poo needed to come out. I told him his Tummy would feel better if he put the Poo in the potty. You explain it a few times using different words to make sure they understand.
Another thing to do it to take the pressure off them. Tell them that it's their poo poo and they know what to do with it. (IE put it in the potty) and then leave them to do it. Sometimes having an audience is causing anxiety. Yes there will be more accidents that way, but when we did these things combined, my son (Also named Jack) went that very day and came to show us his accomplishment.
In fact this worked out so well that whenever my son has to poo now, often he will come tell me that his Tummy hurts. So I take him to the bathroom. This works out really well when he has diarhea. We've been spared a few floor clean ups this way.
Good Luck. I hope this helps.

I'm not sure about Miralax but I had the same problem with my son. I was told to use another, I believe Metamucil which I tried the fiber wafers too. I discontinued use when I noticed it had artificial sweetners. I chose Benefiber which you can get in powder that completely dissolves either in juice or you can mix in with their cereal...or oatmeal. I regret to say my son is now 9 yrs old and still tries to hold #2. He has some other issues which could stem from that...a control thing....he is autistic...the high-functioning form which is called Asperger's Syndrome.
Hope it helps, I have to cut this short, I'm at work!
I'm 38 yrs old, married almost 18 yrs, son 9, daughter 7.

I also give my son Miralax. He started having bowel issues about 5 months ago. The stuff is great.

Hi N.,
My son has problems with having large stool that causes him to hurt when he has a bowel movement from time to time. My mom suggested that I put 2 teaspoons full of mineral oil in a 6 ounce glass of water or Kool-Aid and have him drink it once a day. Granted my son is older at 9 years old but it should work for your little one. My son does not have problems as long as I daily dose him with the mineral oil. It does not give them diarrhea but it softens the stool to where it will not hurt when he goes. This may work for your little one as it will help him to have a bowel movement even if he is trying to hold it he will not be able to. I hope this helps. It is not medication but a natural way to enhance his having a bowel movement..

I went through the same thing with my son. He had one difficult bowel moevent and then refused to go for a few days (which only makes it worse). And my daughter went through a phase where she would only go to bathroom at our house. (Needless to say, we didn't go too far for a while). All I can say is that he will grow out of it. I'm sure you keep hearing things like "it's a phase". I would say to keep doing what your doing with his diet. To make the toilet seem more "friendly", maybe go in to the restroom with him and try to distract him with a book or a simple conversation. After a while, he will relax. You can also try giving him a watered down cup of chamomile tea to calm and relax his stomach muscles. That works on tummy aches for my kids. Hope this helps.

This is a case where I'd say medication IS necessary. He is clearly having issues that are sustained and may have implications beyond his toddler/preschool years if left unattended.

I am glad to read you are adding fiber--but fiber takes liquid to really work so I hope you are also giving full strength juice, which acts as a laxative, and some prunes, too. I rarely meet a kid who doesn't like prunes and they are great at getting things moving. :)

Giving him medicine for gas pain (just make sure it does not also cause constipation!) may be a very good idea, too.

I'm sure he is in a good deal of pain and I can't imagine his mood is very pleasant because of that. I'd encourage you to try a mix of juice, medication and talking to specialist about what else could be done. Maybe even just plain glycerin suppositories would help. If he could make some non-painful BMs then he'd get over his fear, stop holding it until it becomes a hard, compacted mass and causes pain upon elimination.

Good luck dear!

N. - I had this problem with my daughter when she was the same age. The doctors did the same for her...Miralax. My daughter did not like taking the meds but I was in fear that she was going to make this problem worse by not going. I had several discussions with her about how what goes in must come out and there was nothing wrong with a bowel movement, that it was a natural process that our bodies require. The Miralax helped some but I found as she got older she continued to hold it in. This will sound harsh but it works...I used a suppository. She really did not like that because it was very uncomfortable and she couldn't control it. It helped in the future - I would tell her she knew what we would have to do if she didn't go on her own. I also give her apple prune juice to drink when she is not going regularly. GOOD LUCK!

Hello,
my son had the same problem but he couldn't go at all. he was allergic to regular milk products which caused this constipation problem. from just a few months old to about 24-30 months old, when he went poop in his diapers it was hard black pellets, they would litterly roll out of the diaper. He was terriably allergic to all formula's projectial vomiting would occur so and finally eneded up on isomil for a few months then then vomiting would happen again. We had to switch him to regular milk. come find out is was allergic to it as well.

He had what the doc called dry bowels. he was always gassy and was scared to go the bathroom because it hurt him to. the doctor checked him and he was packed and dried up so for a week solid everyday i had to give him medicine and enema's. then when he needed it. He would bleed and developed hemmorids from the strainning and the pain would causes him to cry aweful. I was willing to try anything to help him go witout pain. and what the doc had me do worked like a charm.

the doctor had me change his milk, to sweet acidalphilis gave some gas meds and I had to help him by giving him those little bottled emema's you can buy them at the rx's store they are in a green box, can't remember the name. he accually welcomed them, he would ask me for them when he needed them, by telling me mama bottom medicine and touch his behond and I would know he was contipated. I forget what they were called, as he is now 20 yrs old. but it was a big issue from just a few months old even now he still will have the same reaction to milk products if he is not careful. it is less painful for him if he drinks plenty of liquid and lots of water.

don't know if any of this helps, but I thought I would input it anyway just in case.

my daughter takes miralax also for constipation. i know that giving meds can be hard to do, but let me assure you that miralax is so incredibly safe, and almost not a med. it actually just draw water to itself, so in the bowels, it draws in water, softening the stools and encouraging them to move without the effort of pushing. it has no taste and no color, so you just mix it with a daily drink. i mix it with a juice and water mix for my daughter.