Constipation in 7yo

[Movingdreams]

DS(7) has only had one bowel movement in nearly a week now. He normally goes daily.

He hasn’t seemed bothered by it at all although yesterday he didn’t eat his dinner because he said he was feeling sick and had a sore stomach so I’m wondering if he’s starting to feel the effects of not going.

Is there anything I can give him to get things going? I am going to pop into the pharmacy after school too.

He definitely doesn’t drink enough water - sometimes even in hot weather he will have literally drunk 1cm from this water bottle all day at school. Other times he can drink a lot but generally he doesn’t. Also a terrible fussy eater and hasn’t eaten vegetables since he was 2, and can be picky about fruit so not much chance of getting fibre into him that way.

This is all new to me so any advice would be appreciated please. If possible I would like to get this resolved naturally rather than giving him a regime of stuff like movicol etc just yet.

Prune juice.

Make it a fun drink of prune juice by adding ice and a fancy straw etc.

I realize how tough it is to get them to drink water and eat fruits when they are resistant. My kid, too, has a habit of holding excrement and becoming constipated. Every time I bring him to the NHS, they give me advice on how to teach and train him. I used to feed him prune juice on occasion. An acquaintance who works in the private sector told me about stool softeners. I took my son there, and the doctor prescribed medication to relieve constipation, claiming that it is pretty typical among youngsters. It scares me to death every time my youngster becomes constipated. I strongly recommend that you acquire your child a Colace stool softener for instant relief.

How is he doing now? Was the pharmacy any help?

For prevention it might be worth trying to get him to up his fluids with squash/smoothies (sugary but have some fibre and vitamins) and ice lollies. (could be home made).

Oats are meant to be good, have soluble fibre rather than insoluble. I give Oatibix mixed with a more fun cereal.

It can also help to get posture right on the toilet - feet raised on a step. Google it. And can blow bubbles/paper pinwheel - the blowing action can help child to poo. Exercise can also help.