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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

3 y.o. severely constipated

23 replies

blindgirl · 08/10/2009 14:01

hi there, my child is very constipated for the last few days. I am pushing prune juice and water but it hit and miss.

i've read that many parents swear by Movicol. Can I just get it from my chemist? on the net it say that movicol is not suitable for under 12s. But i've seen posts that children 3 year sof age were prescribed Movicol 1 a day.

he is very miserable and i am desperate. we cannot see our GP until next. he is not eating and just trying but cannot go...

thanks alot.

OP posts:

Snowtiger · 08/10/2009 14:06

You have my sympathies both DS and I suffer with constipation and it's no fun!

I'm sure you could try Sennakot, it's herbal and available in the chemist but not sure if it's recommended for children as young as 3. Probably best to ask your pharmacist.

Does he like nuts and seeds? If you can get him to eat things like pumpkin, sunflower and linseeds on his cereal for example that should get him moving. Also high fibre things like lentils slipped into dinners (easy in casseroles), plenty of fruit (mango always clears my DS out in no time) or even sweetcorn worth a go.

Most important thing is that he drinks plenty of fluids as dehydration is usually a big factor in constipation.

Original poster

blindgirl · 08/10/2009 14:11

Hi and thanks! at the moment he hardly eats. so we need to sort out constipation first. and no he does not eat nuts and seed (maybe in cereal bars) no lentils no pulses no beans. no mango just dried.

but like i said at the mom and it was quarter of a roll for dinner last night :-(

i'm despearate...because he is very skinny too.
sennakot is not suitabe for under 12s..but thanks anyway

OP posts:

Snowtiger · 08/10/2009 14:38

Would he try smoothies? If so you could blend up some linseeds into them, chuck in lots of fruit (no banana though, that can bung them up) and some ice cream and hey presto! Linseeds are works of genius for this sort of thing, so long as you make sure he gets lots of fluid.
While dried fruit is better than nothing, a health visitor told me that it can contain a lot of iron which can cause constipation, and also they will rehydrate in water so they swell up inside the stomach and 'use up' the water that's in there, thus making him more constipated. So smoothies might be better if you can persuade him it's a treat? Strawberries, blueberries, ice cream and linseeds with some water, apple juice or milk should do the trick and taste yummy.

Original poster

blindgirl · 08/10/2009 14:43

hm... that is good idea. only if he sees linseeds he might say NO :-) i will try though tonight. 1 tbs of linseeds per smoothie?

OP posts:

Snowtiger · 08/10/2009 15:39

I'd start with a teaspoon and see how that goes, you don't want to give him tummy ache. Make sure you blend it really well so he won't even see the linseeds, and make a big fuss about the ice cream in it...! Good luck!

Original poster

blindgirl · 08/10/2009 15:44

thanks will let you know tomorrow. i am off to get ice cream. oh gosh, i am praying he will be in a mood to drink it when he is back from nursery.... :-(

OP posts:

Snowtiger · 08/10/2009 16:02

If he's anything like my DS, then have one yourself and he'll be begging to try some!

Original poster

blindgirl · 08/10/2009 16:25

good idea! :-) will post tomorrow. thanks a lot.

OP posts:

MissWooWoo · 08/10/2009 17:34

have you tried the prune juice without the water? we did for our DD (juice from a large tin), fours hours later and it worked a treat.

DianaTibble · 08/10/2009 18:11

Hi have you thought of trying homeopathy for constipation...I see a lot of tots for this and it is mostly very successful. To find a homeopath near you go to the 'society of homeopaths' website and there will be a list of homeopaths living near you and details about how long they have been qualified. Good luck and you can buy lindseed oil that can be added easily to food! Good Luck Best Wishes Diana x

VFemme · 09/10/2009 11:44

My ds is 2.4 and has always been constipated but it got v serious around 13 months. He's on movicol as prescribed by the paediatrician and probably will be for a while longer, poor wee man

Keep up the fluids and avoid bananas!

Acinonyx · 09/10/2009 12:12

The gp can prescribe movicol and/or lactulose - the first is a stimulant to move it along and the latter is a softener. If he hasn't gone for a week perhaps you could get an urgent appointment (HV told me to go if she got to 4 days).

Over the counter you can get caricol sachets (I got it online) which is made from papaya and is quite tasty with fruit juice and ex-lax which is senna in little tiny chocolate pieces so easy to get a child to eat.

DD (4) has been on movicol for nearly a year and was also on lactulose. At it's worst I used to top-up with the other two (paed said it was OK - it's very important to soften and get the poo out and not let it get too big and hard).

Fruit juice and sugar in general is a laxative - we found apple juice very good (coudn't get dd to take prune juice).

Also - baked beans (or other beans) are great.

Original poster

blindgirl · 09/10/2009 12:38

Hi there and thanks for replies.
Nope, he did not drink linseeds smoothie. even though he could not see it he could tasted it. But he took a doze of Califig last night and one this morning. Also he is very happy drinking Innocent smoothies, a bit of prune juice, eating german style rye bread. I've also just made ice lolies with prune juice and innocent smoothies.

I am not sure which medication he needs. over the last few weeks he started going every two-three days. It is hard work for him, he goes into corner and keeps going and going. Then takes break plays happily and strt over again. Sorry if TMI but poo is size of an orange and not very hard. I think it is way too big size wise for him to pass comfortbaly. he is small child and very slim. Also when he is constipated he doesnot eat and he is not big eater in general.

I think we should sort his bowels so that he goes everyday. Then his diet so that he doesnot need medication.

what other parents think?

i am really worried...

OP posts:

LilRedWG · 09/10/2009 12:43

DD (3) takes Movicol Paediatric daily and Sennakot if she has had a bowel movement that day, but they are both on prescription. If she hasn't had a BM for three days consecutively then she has a suppository which generally works a treat. She has suffered with constipation since she was c. six month old.

Re: the size of his poos. DD also does ones that DH says he would be proud of. (hmm)

Until you can see your GP I would give him lots of orange juice (with water), Weetabix, and maybe buy some Lactulose from the chemist.

LilRedWG · 09/10/2009 12:44

Doh - typo: Sennakot if she has not had a bowel movement that day....

Pitchounette · 09/10/2009 12:51

Message withdrawn

Acinonyx · 09/10/2009 13:16

The problem with the poos getting bigger and bigger is that it becaomes a vicious circle as the bowel stretches and is less responsive to the normal stimulus to poo. This is why my dd is still on movicol until the bowel has shrunk back down again (which it does with time).

I understand you not wanting medicaction - I felt the same. But it is important to get the bowel movements regular and sometimes diet is not enough for various reasons. Movicol and lactulose are not absorbed by the body at all - so it is not that kind of medication.

Our paed said the thinkness of the poo was the important indicator - they should be no thinker than chipolatas and dd's got really huge!

Acinonyx · 09/10/2009 13:17

thickness, even

Original poster

blindgirl · 09/10/2009 14:11

it seems something worked and we are halfway through...he is working at it now.

i agree with above that it is extremely important to get his bowel movemenst regular and small and soft poopies. I am all for medication in this case because it does affect his appetite significally. He is all bones and small and skinny. It is my pain...his eating and constipation.

i am aiming to give him high calorie diet so that he gain some wieght but it is not good for constipations. so we are in a vscious circle.

yes, he is potty trained but stopped doing no.2 in potty since became constipated for a few weeks now.

on mon we are seeing gp and fingers crossed. do you think he will prescribe us Movicol and lactulose right away?

i am sooo desperate. but i also feel guilty and rubbish mum because I have not done anything sooner. i did not realise that going every 3rd day was actually constipation. i feel so horrible...my poor baby

OP posts:

BoysAreLikeDogs · 09/10/2009 14:20

don't feel bad, it's v common

once you get him sorted try to avoid weetabix and bananas, both can have the effect of drying out the poo which can make it hard to pass

Acinonyx · 09/10/2009 14:34

Alas, I know how you are feeling. I was fantastically stressed about this for months - but sooner or later you will get it sorted. I did feel quite sesperate about it. But now I feel we have really turned the corner - and you will too.

Acinonyx · 09/10/2009 14:35

desperate, even - good grief what is wrong with me today.

Original poster

blindgirl · 05/11/2009 13:20

Hi, just wanted to say BIG THANKS to everyone who replied. He's been on lactullose and sienna for a few weeks now. first he went every 3rd day and now it is every 2nd. he stopped doing it into pants and proudly goes to toilet! Hurray! appetite improved, he is happier, less cranky and my life is so much easier. Thank you all :-)!

now i need to work on his eating habits... that's another topic...

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