When I have family in the office where fecal retention withholding is the primary issue at hand, the first thing that I discussed with them is that it is not their fault. That many children just would withhold because it is way they are made. In other situations, I stressed the importance of diet. Most parents, when they see me in my pediatric office, are most interested to solve this problem with dietary means and by all means, that is where i begin. I encouraged them to have foods that are not process to try to increase the amount of fiber and bulk in the child's diet and decreased the amount of juice that they maybe consuming . If they have a sensitivity to dairy protein, or soy protein, we make appropriate modifications there. However, at the end of the day, most problems with fecal retention and withholding would not solve with dietary measures alone and therefore, I do approach the subject with most families that they may very well need a stool softener or some type of mild laxative on a protracted period of time to be able to solve and rectify this problem, no fund intended. Last but not the least is the importance of exercise. Children that spend too much time in front of the television or playing video games, they also are predisposed to constipation because normal healthy exercise in all of us but specially your children helps to promote normal and healthy bowel function.