Answer: Sometimes toddlers have what we call impaction with overflow and what seems to be diarrhoea or normal, soft motions is not. They can have an impaction of hard poo higher up in their bowel and the poo which they do pass is flowing around the blockage. When this happens they tend to lose the tone in their bowel and the normal sensations of urgency need to be relearned. I’m not saying this is the issue with your boy, though it’s always worth running this by parents as a possibility. I wonder if the tone of his anus is what it could be or does he have the sensation, but not the ability to “hold on” until he gets to the toilet. Is this a behaviou ral issue. Does he have the signal to go but can/won’t hold on or is it a mechanical issue where he can’t hold on?
I would think a chat with your GP/paediatrician would be useful. Getting onto pooing issues at this age is important, especially if it is a constipation/overflow issue.
The other option is to present to your local children’s hospital and if necessary, a review by a paediatric gastroenterologist may be necessary. Sometimes kids need daily laxatives to clear the constipation and time so that the tone and sensations of having a full bowel are restored. Check out this website for more information. http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=114&np=141&id=1709
Cheers
Jane