How do we get my 4yr old granddaughter to push to poop? She had several months of constipation and pushing it out hurt so now she is afraid it will hurt even though she's not constipated anymore. She holds it in for a week or more and refuses to go

I don't think it's very possible to hold it in for a week. If she's not constipated it's going to come out at some point whether she pushes or not..

My daughter used to do that too. I would give her prune juice just to make her feel like it would come out easier even though I knew she wasn't constipated, then I would have to sit there and talk her thru it and just keep telling her to push it out and it won't hurt cuz of the prune juice and rub her back and stuff. Just basically reassure her. Sometimes it took a while and it also helped her to drink more water. I told her if she drinks more water it will be easier to poop. And it was and she was all excited. So now she likes to drink water.

my nephew used it have problems with constipation and now doesnt and he would do the same thing, hold it in crying refusing to go, its not good for them at all, we just used to have to sit with him down on his level with our hands on his knees explaining over and over that it wasnt going to hurt, then he would finally go and it finally got through that it wasnt going to hurt everytime he went ...... poor baby good luck.

I would take a careful look at her diet. Water should be her only, or at least primary beverage. She should not have any white/simple grains, and she should have 3-5 servings of whole grains a day. She should be having 7-8 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, in at least three different colors - this means fruits and vegetables, not processed crap claiming to provided a serving. She should be having 1-2 servings of legumes a day (like beans, lentils, tofu, peanuts/peanut butter). An egg a day. No dairy or bananas. Cut way back on, or eliminate meat.

Purne juice, but becareful not to give her to much you could give her diareah. Also manderin (sp?) oranges work wonders as well. If she is eating tons of cheese that will do it so watch what she is eating. Good luck.

a week sounds serious, go to the doctor too.

My dd's doctor put her on mirilax, it has worked wonders for her! I would talk to your dr about doing something like that.

My 3yo son had the same issue a couple months ago. He would get himself so worked up and then pooping would be a horrible 2 hour ordeal. I tried children's laxatives, prune juice, my husband gave him some kind of oil (can't remember the name). I finally cut back on the amount of milk he drank and started giving him more water. I reuse the little Bug Juice bottles and have gotten him his own "special"water bottles and keep them in the fridge. When he asks for a drink I tell him he can have a water bottle. he loves being able to get it himself and have his very own and he drinks so much more water. It's done wonders.

That can be dangerous. I would call her doctor and make an appointment to let him know what's going on. He may have some suggestions.