Constipation in 16 month old

[Didiandb]

DD is 16 months old. She is a really good wee eater and I think she has a healthy diet. Plenty of fruit and she drinks a lot of water.

Recently she has been struggling to poo. Tonight she was squealing in agony while she poo'd. The poo itself (sorry for tmi) was just normal I think, not rock hard but a little bit firm. God sorry for describing that!

She is like this maybe once every 2 weeks and the rest of the time seems fine.

What can I do to ease the pain for her while she is doing the toilet? I felt so sorry for her tonight.

I put prune purée into DD's morning porridge any time she seems to be struggling or the poo is at all hard. and lots of water to drink obv.

Thanks minipie. I think I will get some prunes tomorrow.

Are there certain foods I should or shouldn't be giving her? Bananas make her worse I know that but I'm not sure what I can give to help.

Avoid weetabix.

Think she's had wheatabix once, it gives me a sore tummy so I don't give her that

I worry I'm missing something crucial from her diet.

As long as her diet is varied. Lots of veg. Plenty of fluid. She's maybe just becoming more aware of her body and perhaps is holding a bit if she is doesn't want to stop what she's to doing to poo.

Does she go around the same time every day? Can you try to plan in calm things (sitting down maybe?) around this time? Encourage her to sit on the potty or toilet to get her in a more productive position.

Whatever you do, keep a close eye on it. Constipation can become very problematic very quickly. Just keep encouraging her. Maybe reward her when she goes so she has some positive association.

I try to give DD 5-10 mins of running around time after every meal (rather than for example putting her straight in the buggy to go out) as she often poos after meals and moving around seems to encourage a poo.

That's more for my own convenience tbh but I guess it might help with avoiding constipation too!

Bananas also bung up my DD a bit, as does too much bread. I think I read that apples can be constipating but never seen that myself with DD. "P" fruits - pears, plums, prunes - all help things move along.