Stool for 3 year olds?

[SuzySunshine]

What is normal for a 3 year old? Is he going to have a dirty diaper after each meal? I'm starting to wonder if he doesn't have a digestive issue. He'll go several days with one stool, not hard but definitely formed. Then he'll have several runny diapers in a day. No other illness symptoms, no cold, no fever, nothing. He has excema and we never did find out what caused his allergic reaction at Thanksgiving 2010. Of course he just had his 3 year check up and I forgot to ask about this but now I'm wondering if I need to make another appointment. We're going to try to potty train after the holidays and if these stools continue he's going to have a hard time...

[GrayMatterWife]

I don't know the answer, but I am super impressed that you know your three year old's stools! As soon as the kids become potty trained, I refuse to investigate!

[SuzySunshine]

He's not potty trained - that is the problem! I want to start after the first of the year but I'm afraid with these loose stool issues all we'll have is accidents!!

[Thirteen]

Wheat? Possible dairy sensitivity?
Or, it could be a control issue (with poop).


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[ladymoreta]

DS usually has one poop per day, but sometimes he skips a day. In diapers, it was 1-2 per day. Have you noticed a correlation between the runny poop days and something he's eating? Could you keep a food log to try to look for trends?

[SuzySunshine]

I think a food log is going to have to be next, his diet is pretty consistent but I think I'm going to have to try that.

[MrsK]

DS usually has one poop per day, but sometimes he skips a day. . .

K1 is a couple months younger than R. He also goes 1-2x daily but skips a day now and then. We've had significant trouble with "stool holding" though which the preschool teacher tells me is very common for little boys. Since boys can pee standing up, that's a relatively quick process. But it's hard to persuade a 3yo boy to undress and sit still long enough to poo so they hold it. As a result, K1 was having a lot of, um, discomfort. Constipation, hard BMs, etc. BTW, sometimes constipation can cause runny stools. I know that sounds weird but basically (really gross) only runny waste can get around the obstruction.

[Michele]

Consider constipation. K and D poop daily normal stools. P has constipation and we have to make sure to watch her diet (minimal cheese, lots of fiber rich foods) and give her Miralax to make sure she goes daily. If she skips a day, she ends up with either the runny stools or the straining and passing a rock.

[Pollyanna]

Yes, I will third constipation. I might also suggest you try and get it under control before potty training because if he starts to withold during training when he already has a tendency toward constipation it will not be fun for all parties involved (I speak from experience).

[MrsK]

For the constipation, our ped recommended 1/2 doses of Mirilax at breakfast and dinner until the stools softened. Then 1/2 dose at breakfast only until the stools became watery. In the interim, we've had lots of potty accidents bc K1 doesn't know how he's supposed to feel when it's time to poo.

[Deebs]

I could never get the Miralax dose right for DD. she would alternate between constipation and blowout. We do fiber vitamins, and they are a miracle for her. I also had my youngest take them while she was potty training because high fiber =easier training. When she was down o very minimal accidents, I just weaned her off.

[houseelf]

Wait, Wait, R is three? How did THAT happen?

[Michele]

Where do you get fiber vitamins? They make them for kids???

[HouseofWool]

And are they chewable? Because I don't really like giving S something that is just one step away from anti-freeze (chemically speaking) on a daily basis. I really have a hard time trusting that it really that inert in the body.

[SuzySunshine]

Wait, Wait, R is three? How did THAT happen?

So I'm TOTALLY confused - what is normal for 3?

Like the other day he had a normal, formed stool when I changed his diaper after breakfast. That is is his normal dirty diaper, right after breakfast. Then after snack AND lunch he had dirty diapers again, the first was not as runny as the 2nd but they were both definitely not formed.

I'm so confused! How would giving him fiber help if his stools are already runny?