By: The Good Juju
Once upon a bum, in a diaper far, far away, a toddler decided she would not poop.
Not couldn’t.
Would. Not. Poop.
And thus began our epic two-year saga of constipation, drama, dietary interventions, and enough doctor visits to qualify me for a pediatric GI honorary degree.
Chapter One: The Great Clog
It all started innocently—a skipped poop here, a skipped poop there. Nothing Google couldn’t fix, right?
Wrong.
What started as “maybe it’s just bananas” turned into fecal impaction (yes, that’s a real thing and it’s just as terrifying as it sounds).
One fateful afternoon, she hadn’t pooped in 6 days. She was in pain. Crying. Screaming. Holding her bottom like it was about to explode (because it kinda was).
We rushed to the doctor. And by “we,” I mean me carrying a rigid toddler doing the toddler plank, shrieking “No poop! No poop!”
The diagnosis: impacted stool.
The solution: manual evacuation (don’t Google it) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), also known in our house as “the magic potion.”
Chapter Two: The Constipation Olympics
You’d think that was the end, but nope. That was just the opening ceremony.
This monthly poop strike became a regular event for the next two years.
We were told:
- “Give her apple!” (Didn’t work.)
- “No, banana!” (Also didn’t work.)
- “Rice causes constipation.”
- “No, milk does.”
- “You should try raisins.”
- “Try homeopathy.”
- “Try black magic.”
At one point, I was feeding her a plate that looked like a fiber fiesta while praying to the digestive gods.
Chapter Three: The Core Memory
Some kids remember their first ice cream. Mine remembers her first successful poop post impaction.
She developed poop anxiety.
She’d hide behind furniture, cry, and scream like she was being exorcised by the power of fiber.
We tried stool charts, rewards, dance parties, sticker stars.
We tried gentle conversations like:
“Poop is natural.”
“Everybody poops.”
“Mama poops. Daddy poops. Even Bobi the cat poops.”
Still—fear. Trauma. A core memory etched into her being.
Chapter Four: PEG, Patience, and Pureed Pears
Eventually, the combo that worked (ish):
- PEG 3350 every day for soft, daily poop—prescribed by our pediatrician.
- Cutting down dairy, especially cheese.
- Sneaking fiber into everything—Oats! Chia seeds! Pears! Papaya!
- Staying away from trigger foods: white bread, processed snacks, and “no-fiber” snacks.
- Water. Water. And more water.
- Letting her sit on the potty just to chill, no pressure.
And most importantly—backing off emotionally.
We learned not to say “Did you poop today?” like it was a math quiz.
Chapter Five: The Plot Twist
Somewhere between turning three and conquering the potty, her digestive system matured.
Now she poops.
Daily.
Sometimes twice a day.
And guess what?
She’s finally interested in food. Like, genuinely hungry.
Turns out picky eating isn’t always about being stubborn—it’s often about being full of, well, poop.
Tiny tummies have limited real estate, and if it’s occupied by last week’s stool, who’s hungry for dal chawal?
The Takeaways (aka the Poop Points):
- Chronic constipation in toddlers is real and common.
- PEG (under medical guidance) can be a game changer. Read more.
- Diet helps, but every child’s trigger foods are different.
- Poop fear is real. Don’t dismiss it. Validate it.
- Regular poop = better appetite, better mood, and better sleep.
Little Note:
I’m just a mom sharing our poop battles, not a doctor handing out prescriptions.
Before trying anything mentioned here—especially meds—please check with your pediatrician.
Every tiny tummy is different!
And remember:
If your toddler’s poop can bring the household to a standstill—you are not alone.
This too shall pass.
Like poop. Eventually.
Coming up next on The Good Juju:
• “What’s in My Toddler’s Lunchbox: Fiber Edition”
• “Picky Eating or Picky Pooping?”
• “Toddler Tummy Troubles: What We Wish Our Pediatrician Had Said”
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