All Communities > August 2007 Babies > Question about Bowel Movements

Question about Bowel Movements

Breezy - posted on 03/01/2010 ( 4 moms have responded )

My son is still in diapers. The last 2 months he has been screaming when he's having a bowel movement. He cries until he's changed, I am confused by this because I have never encountered this? I guess my question is can he have painful b.m.'s or is it a sign of wanting to be potty trained? Another question, does anyone have an older child that isnt potty trained and feels that, that the older child should be potty trained first?

Join Circle of Moms

4 Comments

View replies by

Bonnie - posted on 03/11/2010

My son is 2 1/2 and the same way. He has had problems with constipation so I take it serious, but sometimes it's just because he doesn't like it in his pants.
If he is crying while he goes then he is most likely feeling pain, but if he only cries after it comes out then most likely just doesn't like the feeling.
I am expecting baby #2 and would expect my son to be trained first. But it also depends on how old the kids are. If they are close together the younger one may end up training first. I was told by a few people that their kids didn't train until they were 4 or 5, but also know people that had kids trained by the time they were 2.

Breezy - posted on 03/07/2010

Sorry, I probably should of been more specific. He cries if its soft, hard, loose, or firm. As for the other kid being potty trained at the same time. I have twins that are 4, one has been potty trained for almost a year, the other one is not at all interested. My 2 1/2 yr old that I am discribing, he doesn't show any other signs of being ready to be potty trained. He doesn't wake up dry, he shows no interest in the potty. I am mostly concerned at his crying out, when he poops and until he's changed....

Linda - posted on 03/07/2010

Perhaps its worth a try? See him starting, just put him quickly on his potty. Perhaps he likes it more? Some kids hate it to have all that stuff on their skin.

And why not potty train both kids? the older one with a toilet seat and the younger one on a potty?

I think every child will use the toilet when they're ready and if you have an older child that's not quite ready, then don't push it. You just create more problems by pushing the issue. My daughter was 4 when she was finally completely diaper free. My son is 2 and a half and he doesn't wear diapers during the day at all. He just won't poop in the toilet, which frustrates me, but I'm not sure what to do about it.

Are his BM's regular and soft? If not and he screams when he has one, it is possible that he is constipated and you should get that looked at right away. I had that issue with my daughter and it took more than a year to sort out.