What fixed your toddlers constipation?

[whatsnewchoochoo]

Any tips?

DS - 2 years and 5 months has always been constipated. Was prescribed laculose which just gave him belly ache every day but didn't seem to make much difference.

Was prescribed movicol but told not to give it unless he's drinking large amounts of water which he isn't and I just can't get him to (he will sip throughout the day but won't drink more)

Prunes (Ella's kitchen pouch) seem to be making no difference. Neither do oranges. He won't eat pears. He won't drink prune juice (even when mixed with cordial)

Did anyone find a magic cure I've missed?

My 2.5 year old dd was always a bit constipated which wasn't really a problem until we started potty training! She now gets 'special sweeties' in the morning and the evening (2dried prunes Sbs 2 fried apricots) which seem to have sorted it. She's not great at drinking much so I've had to relax a little and allow juice and squash during the day. Half fresh apple juice and half water seems to help. I've also put pink natural food colouring in her water to make it more fun and we call water plain juice which sometimes encourages her.

2 dried prunes and 2 dried apricots... not fried ffs

We use Movicol with tiny amounts of water and it’s reallh Helped:
Lots of watermelon, melon, courgettes blitzed into spaghetti bol etc to add
To water content.

@cinderfeckinrella can I ask, how did you wean off Movicol?

It took about a year to wean off movicol completely. To be honest I was worried my son was on it too long but docs reassured it was fine and advised if he came off too soon he'd revert back. We made sure that he ate lots of weetabix and drank lots of water. Made sure after dinner or before bed every night or at least every other night ds would go to toilet and try to do a poo. DS was more behavioural as he was withholding but got over it eventually. Another thing docs prescribed was an anaesthetic cream to put on his bottom as the constipation caused fissures (tiny cuts) to his bottom making it sore to pass. This helped with the pain and he started getting into a better routine. Hope this helps

My DS had severe constipation from weaning until about 5 years old. Please seek a referral to a specialist if nothing's working as it can get pretty bad if it goes on a long time.

DS ended up in hospital having an enema a few times, then a biopsy (all clear!). He had Sodium Picosulphate (sp?), Movicol, and Senna each day which helped in the end. The bowel person said that it was a case of immature bowels and they don't know why he had it. He was taking Senna daily until he was 5 to prevent any build ups.

Agree with pp who have mentioned linseed and dried apricot. I used to hide both in DS’s porridge, I’d cut the apricot really small, or grate them.

DD has a couple of dried apricots with her breakfast most mornings. They seem to keep her moving comfortably! Oh, and no white bread, pasta or rice - get wholegrain versions of all the above.

Movicol was the only thing that fixes ours.

Glycerin suppositories, a bit weird to put in obvs but avoids irritation to the guts and gets anything backed up out within minutes.

Pears and marching to the grand old Duke of York worked for DD. Worth a try anyhow

Poor fella. My son had a hellish time until referred to a paediatric continence team who taught us to use Moviciol on a sliding scale. Referral done through HV, GPs did not know of them. When completely unable to go he would take 2 sachets and double up every day until it worked and then reduce dose daily until there weren't any problems and after a week of half a sachet every other day he was fine. The thing about liquid and Movicol is that it works on the poo not the bowel - it makes the poo draw in water so it is easier to pass. It can take a few days to draw liquid down to the first stuck stool but it will happen and subsequent stools will be softer therefore less painful. It is best to drink as much as possible to help this process but it will work. He wouldn't take it with juice or water (even though you don't need a lot of fluid to mix it in) but did it milkshake - their advice was put it in ANY liquid so long as it goes in and then encourage lots of other fluids whether by home-made ice lollies, fancy straws or whatever. It was so difficult that gp prescribed adult Movicol - they don't do a chocolate flavour for children - and we gave a partial dose according to wherever on sliding scale we were. This was done alongside the paed continence nurses who monitored us very regularly (every or every other day). The other good advice was to show concern but mostly in difference to struggles and just keep calm and encouraging. It was cured, no looking back - though now different gastric issues. Best of luck

Children's glycerin suppositories. You can order them online cheaply. We don't use unless DS is severely backed up and in pain but they always work.

If you're on Facebook there's a good group 'parents of children with constipation.' Some of them swear by poo chocolate which is chocolates made from 50% coconut oil.

Thank you everyone. Used a suppository this evening for him for the first time, it was amazing. One of the few times in his life he hasn't had to really struggle to poo and he was so happy after. Poor boy.

Hopefully all the tips will help to improve things after this.