My son is 5 1/2 old and suffers quite badly from constipation. He is formula fed, I sadly had to give up breastfeeding because my milk supply started to diminish despite what I tried to do. He was also started on solids early based on the recommendation of a HV because he had problems gaining weight. He is a very active baby who doesn't sit still, always on the go (or at least trying to be on the go). He looooves his food and all the problems with him being cranky, hungry, waking up all the time have disappeared with the solids. He has a healthy diet with oatmeals in the morning with fruit puree and an evening meal of vegetable pure and some fruit puree for dessert.
I feel that the reason behind his constipation is that he just doesn't feel the urge to go until he is literally full of it (sorry, TMI). Even when he was exclusively breastfed he would only go every 8-10 days and have a massive explosion but with totally normal consistency. Now the combination of him having formula and solids with his desire to only go once a week is proving to be a bad combination.
We've tried tummy massage, baths, he has sips of water through out the day but that doesn't make any difference. The HV advised me that I shouldn't give prune juice on regular basis, it is only a temporary solution. However it works great for my son, some prune juice in the mornings and he goes effortlessly and without any pain. He has also got some Lactulose prescribed for him but I can't rack my brain around the advice that it would be better to give regular laxatives than prune juice. Make any sense?