DS1 (3 yr) has always had 'sloppy' poos - should I be worried?

[Ceebee74]

To be honest, I thought this was normal but Ds2 is nearly 8 months old now and has probably had more solid poos so far since we started weaning 6 weeks ago than DS1 has ever had - which has made me realise that maybe it is not normal!!

DS1 poos regularly (at least once a day) and they are not runny/loose - just not solid lumps iyswim (sloppy is the best word I can think of to describe them) and it has been like this ever since he started weaning. Can this be normal?

[meemarsgotabrandnewbump]

Do you mean they break up quite easily rather than hold together?

DS1 has poo like this and his younger brother is much more solid.

[ThePhantomPlopper]

DS also 3 always had sloppy poos, I've noticed since he's been toilet trained that they are more formed than I thought, it was just mushing up in his nappy.

My DD has much more solid poo than him and she's 17mo.

[Ceebee74]

Meemars no, I don't mean that. He is still in nappies and when he has had a poo, it is literally like slop in his nappy (but quite firm slop as in that it doesn't spill/run out of the sides etc) - I am not describing it very well at all.

Phantom that is what I am thinking - that when I eventually get him toilet trained, it might be better than I thought.

Plus nursery have never commented on it (and the staff must have seen hundreds of toddler poos )

I think it is just the fact that DS2's poos are very solid already that has scared me a little.

[nigglewiggle]

I think it's one of those things that can vary from child to child. But, my DD1 had recurrent diarrhoea until we discovered that she reacted to grapes. It is such an easy fruit, she was having them quite often. Apparently it can be a reaction to fructose (fructose malabsorbtion). It can be in high levels in grapes, clear apple juice, honey - to name but a few. We've cut these things out and she's been fine and more "solid" for about a year.

I tried her with a few grapes again the other day and the same thing still happened. Something to consider and not too limiting diet wise.

Is he gaining weight ok and otherwise healthy?

[uberalice]

My DS is the same. He's 2.7 and he's been referred for tests. Still waiting for an appointment, and in the meantime, I'm having him weighed every week. He does seem to be gaining weight steadily. I'm hoping itll be nothing, or something straightforward.

[PacificDogwood]

If he is healthy, growing and developing otherwise it could be Toddler's diarrhoea.
DS1 has it, still, he is now 6 , lose motions 1-2x daily. DS2, same parents, same diet, probably eats more fruit and veg than DS1 is Mr Constipated on the other hand.
So there you go, different gut transit times.
If you are worried get him checked out.
HTH

[Sidge]

It could be toddler diarrhoea

This isn't always diarrhoea as we usually think (ie water) - it can be a loose stool. Diarrhoea is poo that would take the shape of it's container so if he were to poo into a bowl for example it would take the shape of the bowl.

[Sidge]

LOL cross posted with PacificDogwood!

[Ceebee74]

Thanks for the advice - it is not at all 'loose' or like diaorrhea (sp?) - just not solid (think like really really thick melted chocolate with bits of food in )

He is still on the same percentile that he has been on since birth so I guess that would count as gaining weight steadily and is a healthy child - in fact, he has only had a couple of incidents of D&V ever (and he has been in nursery 3/4 days a week since he was 7 months old!)

Uberalice hope the tests do come back negative for you

[blowninonabreeze]

DD1 is the same. Eats fruit and veg all day though and I have put it down to that. I describe it as like a cow pat. firm but no shape, just takes the shape of its container. Once we potty trained it became more apparent.

If he's growing and developing normally, your GP will not be interested! (DH is our GP and has never been concerned!)

DD2 on the otherhand is much more firm.

[blowninonabreeze]

Sidge - hadn't read your post about taking the shape of its container - great minds!

[Ceebee74]

Just read the info about toddler diaorrhea and I don't think it is that - he tends to only have 1 or 2 poos a day and they are usually big ones and it is not at all pale (although it does smell of course )

I imagine (thinking about how it is) that it probably wouldn't take the shape of the container - I think it may come out normally but is so soft it mushes into slop against his bottom (plus he never tells us he has had a poo so it can be a while before we realise!)

I guess I need to get him toilet trained and then see what it is like.

[nigglewiggle]

The only thing is that the nappy will be absorbing some of the liquid so it would seem more solid IYSWIM.

[blowninonabreeze]

DD only does one or two a day too.

[uberalice]

I've just read the blurb about toddler diaorrhea and it does seem to match my DS's symptoms. Ceebee74, I'd be interested to know how the potty training goes once you try it. My DS isn't interested at the moment, and I just can't imagine what it's going to be like when we do try it. I'm quite reassured by reading this thread.