Will fruit juice "get things moving" like whole fruit?

[BarnMummy]

DS2 has a tendency to get mildly constipated, due (at least in part I am sure) to his refusal to eat more than a minimal amount of fruit and veg. Obviously, we are working on this, and he is improving slightly, but it's a slow process.

However, he will drink fruit juice / smoothies quite happily. I have currently kept his consumption of juice etc reasonably limited because of the effect of the sugar on his teeth, but was wondering whether, if I upped his fruit juice intake, this might help with the constipation: for example, if we did prune or apricot juice. Or is it really the fibre in these fruit that is the important bit?

What do you think? He is 3 1/2 by the way.

It's the fibre that matters most, but fruit juice will help. You could perhaps try mixing in some soluble fibre to help things along too.

I found prune juice had an almost instant effect on my bowels the 2 times I tried it!

Apple juice is good too, I think for that side of things.

Dried apricots help my DS1.

Smoothies are better than juice, esp if you make them at home. But how about making him yummy fruit puddings? Eg baked apples, apple and rhubarb crumble (rhubarb is particularly good for getting things moving), pancakes with spiced apple purée etc? All are fast to make ( use frozen fruit if in a complete rush) and will help much more than juice.

Thanks for all the replies, which are really helpful.

I am indeed trying with the fruit puddings (I love them and make them anyway), but mainly they are eyed with great suspicion! I also add extra veg into the things he is prepared to eat, like spag bol, homemade tomato sauce for pizza etc.

For a while he was happy to eat raisins and the odd dried apricot, but even these are mainly rejected now - he'll even pick raisins out of biscuits!

It's all a new experience to me as DS1 is a big veg and fruit eater - but DS2 will go without pudding (or indeed an entire meal) rather than eat a single pea or bean....

I didn't know you could get soluble fibre - wonder if it's suitable for little ones - I will look into that.

Another thought - has anyone tried "syrup of figs"? My mum remembered it from her childhood and I assumed it was out of fashion now, but I've seen it in Boots etc so clearly people still use it.