AboutDr. Tara Kompare, Pharm.D. Expertise I am a Doctor of Pharmacy and I am available to answer a variety of questions related to children's health and medicine ranging from the treatment of colic and cradle cap to allergies and acne. I am also the creator of the website "The Medicine Mom" at www.themedicinemom.com. Parents can e-mail me questions, read my monthly articles, and enjoy a laugh at "The Funny Farm."
Experience I am a Doctor of Pharmacy and mother of two wonderful girls. I work in a busy outpatient pharmacy clinic where I have the unique opportunity to counsel every patient that comes to my window.
Publications:
1)Drug Topics, Feb. 2006: "Why a Kiddie Corner Makes Sense"
2)Pharmacy Times,Date TBA, "How to Help Parents Cope with Colic
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Old Dominion University 1997
Doctor of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University 2002
Question My son is 3½ years old. We are in the process of potty training and he doesn’t have any accidents with urinating but he refuses to poop on the potty and will only do it in his underwear or diapers. A few weeks ago he agreed to sit on the potty and pooped 1 time. We were all very excite and celebrated but after that he would sit on the potty and not poop and started holding his stool for 3-4 days until he would do it in his underwear when we weren’t looking.
His pediatrician recommended that we give him ½ a tsp of mineral oil for 2 weeks and if that didn’t work a laxative (can’t remember the name but I think it was miralax) for 2 weeks so that he would get regular and have a bowel movement once a day. We tried the mineral oil for 3 days but I didn’t want to give it to him anymore because it made him cough when he took it and at night and I had read on the internet and the label on the bottle that its shouldn’t be given to children under 6 years old.
So instead we have been trying to change his diet and increase his fiber and fluids (oatmeal, prune juice, high fiber granola bars, high fiber cereal and water every hour). So far it has worked as long as we let him poop in his underwear/diapers; he has normal bowel movements every 1 or max 2 days.
I have the following questions:
1. Should we back away and let him poop in his diaper/underwear for a couple of months and then try again, force him to sit in the potty even if he starts to hold it again or what is the best way to continue potty training?
2. Can I add ground flax seeds to his diet and how much is safe to start with?
Thank you in advanced for your response.
Answer Hi Lina,
I totally understand your frustration! I am going through the same thing with my almost 3 year old. Potty training is not easy to say the least. With my first daughter, we never really forced the issue but made sure we had a reward system for when she did go like stickers, etc. She did great but was not fully trained until right at 3 years old.
I would let him be the lead here. Keep a pull up on him if you want and notice any specific times he tends to go. Constipation is often seen when kids are pressured to go in the potty. They feel so pressured that they just don't go at all. I wouldn't worry about adding flax seed right now. Just give him a normal diet, filled with lots of fiber and think of a good reward system to use when he does go in the potty. With time, he will learn!
