can anyone help my 3 year old? digestive issues...

[vinetime]

Hi all,

I've been told my 3 year old suffers from 'toddler diarrhoea' - apparently common in under fours. I've read up on it, including on previous threads etc. He doesn't suffer too badly compared to others - he does a poo (usually) once a day, but its 's always loose and watery, which is difficult given that he's been fully potty trained since before he was two, and is at the point where he's now attempting to wipe his own bum, which is obviously more tricky with this going on (sorry if TMI).

Doc said that most kids just grow out of this - but it's been going on a long time and I'm starting to wonder if there is anything more we can do? I've already cut out apple juice which apparently makes the problem worse, but seen little improvement. Am beginning to wonder if there is some kind of underlying intolerance to something - about once a fortnight he seems to get stomach cramps after eating and has to dash to the loo (when things get rather explosive!), but there hasn't been any discernible trigger when this happens.

Over the past year he's suffered from facial eczema - we saw a derm who felt it was exacerbated by the cold and wasn't allergy related (it's been 'treated' with creams etc), but am wondering if it could all be linked.

If anyone went through anything similar, I'd love to hear your thoughts and advice. Thanks.

Sounds like my dd. she has cows milk intolerance but even seemed to have to rush to loo with explosive consequences when she hadn't had dairy.

Now cut out wheat and made all the difference. All under control and every one much happier.

Also dairy gives her eczema.

Might be worth exclusion diet.

Thanks so much Louisesb, that is very interesting. So your dd now doesn't have dairy or wheat? That must be tough (but worth it of course if she's better!) When you did the exclusion diet, how long did it take until you saw a difference? Was it almost immediate or did you have to wait a while?

Anyone else?

what have you been told to do to help manage it? I have read that you should increase the fat content of his food, cut down on the fibre content and cut out/cut down on fruit juices/squashes. I wouldnt do an elimination diet without proper guidance from a dietitian.

Thanks ilovepowerhoop - the only thing I was told to cut out was apple juice. The doc reckoned his diet sounded varied and healthy, and thus we shouldn't increase or decrease anything at this stage...but that said, there are clearly things that aggravate it, and he doesn't seem to be 'growing out of it', so maybe it's time to see another doctor/dietician again.

On that note, if anyone can recommend a paediatrician that specialises in this kind of issue, that would be great. We are in London...

Any other thoughts or advice appreciated!

I used to have a link to a pdf but it doesnt show online any more. It basically say to limit some foods and substitute with others e.g.

the foods to limit are:

Fruit juices, fizzy drinks and squashes including sugar-free versions
Grapes, raisins
Peas, baked beans, other pulses, sweetcorn
High fibre breakfast cereals e.g. Weetabix, Ready Brek, cereals with raisin/fruit, muesli
Wholemeal bread
Low fat versions of milk, yogurt, mousse, ice-cream etc
Sweets and chocolate*, added table sugar to food/drinks

• If chocolate is given, it is best to give a small piece at the end of a meal rather than on it?s own in- between meals

It says that foods you should include are:

Full fat cow?s milk, water
All other fruit
All other vegetables
Lower fibre cereal, e.g. Cornflakes, Rice Krispies
White bread
All meats/fish/eggs/cheese
Full fat versions of milk, yogurt,
mousse, ice-cream etc

p.s. it says that it normally resolves itself by the age of 4 or 5.

Thanks so much for this list ilovepowerhoop. From the limited list there are things he never eats (fruit juice, fizzy drinks, chocolate, sweetcorn) - but he does have wholemeal bread, baked beans, peas etc. We also have semi skimmed milk - maybe we should change to full fat version? He also loves those little innocent smoothies so maybe I should cut those also, or at least reduce...

it cant hurt to try a slight change to his diet. Maybe try 50/50 instead of wholemeal, go back to full fat milk and cut out/reduce how many smoothies he has.

An elimination diet doesn't need to be under the guidance of a dietician if you are sensible . You are not exactly starving him by doing it.

Just try eliminating one thing at a time for a few weeks and see if it make s a difference . You can substitute for same food group so won't affect his health. It's a slow process but the only way you will find it what causes it.

My dd showed effect within a week or so. Now no cramps and explosions unless you eats something dairy or wheat. But even them less so than before. Plenty of alternatives out then so not hard at all. Free from range great etc.

Keep a food diary and see what appears to be triggering it and then change one thing at a time.

I'd make the simple changes first before cutting out a major food group. If that doesnt help then by all means try something else.

Cutting out wheat isn't a major food group as you are mainly talking biscuits and pasta. You can replace all with free from alternatives.

wheat is in a lot of things other than biscuits and pasta and the free from alternatives tend to be much more expensive. If the doctor thought it was an issue with wheat then he would surely have sent to OP's lo for testing and you cant test without wheat being in the diet. Again, I wouldnt advise excluding anything without it being under guidance of a professional (gp/dietitian, etc)

Thanks so much for the advice everyone. I think I'll start by making changes that are recommended for this condition (as per powerhoop's list) and see if it helps. If not, I'll try elimination...thanks again everyone! X