Super Poopy!

[LukasMom]

I guess this question belongs in Eating for Toddlers, although what I'm about to describe is not very appetizing.  YOU HAVE BEEN FOREWARNED!

My 17-month-old is pooping numerous times each day.  It was better today.  I think she only did it about 4 times.  But for the previous 2 days, she pooped, I swear it was 8 times or more each day. 

It is not diarrhea.  She also does have an allergy, since I introduced all her foods quite carefully.  She eats quite a lot.  Every time she even has a snack, she poops.  Some things she eats that may be causing it: chocolate, raisins, beans, fruit, milk.  Today, I did not give her any fruit or beans. Instead I gave her cheese, meat, rice and corn tortillas.  Also some yogurt.  That seemed to help. 

Anyone else have this problem, and what are you doing to combat it? It's quite serious because her poor little bottom is very sore.  Otherwise she is healthy and happy, with good energy and a good appetite.

One other thing that is weird: when we travel, she won't poop.  Before this happened, we visited some relatives for 2 days.  She didn't poop practically the whole time.  Then we came home and it's poop galore.  Could this be it? Is she "catching up?" If so, I didn't know that was possible.

Sorry if this has been a gross post.   

[LukasMom]

I made an error above, I typed "she does have an allergy" and I meant to type "she does NOT have an allergy."  My bad.

[tylersmommy]

Tyler has done this. He's a holder...when the mood strikes him, he'll strain to hold in whatever's coming out for a couple of days. It's awful. Then he'll have a banner day of 7 poops, then go back to his regular 2-a-day self. So from our experience, it does seem like he "catches up." Tyler also won't poop if we aren't at home. If we visit someplace he's familiar with, like grandparents, he'll poop there, but anyplace else, forget it.

Is she uncomfortable on the days that she's hanging onto it? Is it uncomfortable when she goes while she's catching up? If so, there are ways to help her out, like mineral oil (our absolute last resort, but boy, does it work). If not, then I wouldn't worry about it.

Oh, and on Tyler's multiple poop days, I don't use commercial wipes because his bum gets irritated. I just use regular wet paper towels and slather him up with cream. HTH!

[LukasMom]

She seems comfortable.  You wouldn't know anything was wrong. 

She's gone back to more normal habits now, but she scared me yesterday with something that looked like diarrhea. 

She has always pooped quite frequently, probably 4 times at least in a normal day.   I guess that's normal for some kids?  :?

It seems to have helped to not feed her any beans and to lay off the fruit and juice for awhile.  She was also eating chocolate and cookies (Christmas, you know) and that was making it worse, I think.

I hope this problem will taper off now that we are at home. 

Thanks for sharing that your ds also does this, doesn't poop away from home.  I guess that must be normal for some kids.

[Mel55]

My 18month old dd has the same "frequency" problem.  She doesn't hold it in when we're at the in-laws out of town.  But she does have a bm at least 5-8 times a day.  She's a great eater too and poops after every meal.  She has a really sore bum too, I have to change her immediately or she gets terrible diaper rash.  I tried lessening her fruit consumption (it's her favorite food) and that seemed to help.  She maybe had 3-4 poops a day instead. 

Good luck!