Constipatied 13month old - very upset as difficult to poo

[johnnybuoy]

Over the past 2 weeks my 13 month old has been getting constipated, I have tried glcerin suppositories from doc which do work but my goodness it is very upsetting for the child - trying to push these hard poos out. I dont know why its happening. I have told the nursery to give plenty of milk (she wont drink water). I give lactulose for last 2 days but it hasnt improved the situation at all. Does anyone have experience of this?

When my dd was a baby she suffered terribly from constipation. My GP was lovely and told me to give her Calpol. I thought this was for the pain she was in but, I don't know if it was the sugar free element of the Calpol but it did ease the constipation.

milk is one of the worst things for constipation so you need to introduce loads of water, pure apple/orange juice (you can water it down if too strong a taste), get lots of bran and fruit into her diet and keep him as active as possible.
gently massaging her tummy can help with pain and gets bowels moving also...

it's very common in wee ones so don't feel bad.

him=her

prune juice- not too much! offering a bit of water in milk bottle just before milk time might help her get used to its 'taste'. Not too much at first and then change to another time.

From the pharmacy - if you want natural - go for fig or prune juice. Lactulose is good but can take a while to take effect at the required dose for a little one. The pharmacist should be able to advise on a number of options. lots of water is best. I also used Zingers - the little fruit sticks that you can buy in multiple flavours from the supermarket. But key thing is water.

Plenty of walking helps to get bowels moving/crawling if not walking.
Definately reduce milk as this constipates more and has the knock on effect of reducing appetite for food, therefore less fruit and veg taken in.
Try giving lots of veg pureed in soup with bread soaked in so its easier to spoon in. Green veg such as brocolli. encourage fruit intake as you can. Give well diluted natural fruit juice instead of water. Constipation is often related to dehydration and from a medical perspective is far more important than dental health at this age. Brush teeth well.
Lactulose is a softener but takes a while for the effect to kick in. It needs to be used in conjunction with the other suggestions.

Humzingers are excellent and provide one portion of concentrated fruit in a small bar. Great for LO who doesn't like the texture of fruit.

Bran is not good for children and can stop the absorbtion of calcium and damage bone growth if you use it long term. Better to ensure she has cereal for breakfast.

If you have access to a trampoline then gentle bouncing on that for 10-15 mins can help too.

Absolutely NO BRAN, it's once of the worst things, as is wholemeal bread. The reason is it absorbs all the water & dries out the poo, so it's even more difficult to push out.

Out down on the milk, or water it down. Diluted fruit juice is best. Give fruit at everymeal - kiwi, apples (no bananas) think wet food.

Best cereal is porridge, make is wet rather than dry & add soaked over night raisins or freshly chopped apple.

Cucumber slices with lunch, juicy cut cherry toms & veggies like brocolli & carrots for tea. Orange juice ice lollies for pudding, fruit in jelly.

My daughter suffered for a while, so when DD2 was born I did all of the above if she looked to being bunged up.

HTH.

Hi, you poor thing, it is so upsetting

we have had terrible time with poos. don't use suppositories, they are ok at pushing out but traumatic - make child associate poo with pain and you will get witholding - there are some great books. One is called something like Witholding and the child - but a very nice docotr who trained at Gt Ormond Street, will try to find a link

But the advice is right
(1) no milk - stops you drinking other things and is absorbed and discharged by kidneys so no help with "wetting" poo

(2) tons of water and clear fluids - you need to press your child to drink every 5 minutes or so, just a sip. it all helps

(3) as much wet food as possible. Neat orange juice (with meals) kiwi fruit no bran no bulking agent (you want ot reduce the poo!)

Lactulose is good - both softens and has sugar but be vey careful with dental hygience - give at meals

If worse to go GP and get Movicol Paediatrci - act now before you get full on witholding

also search function for some old threads on withholding - some great information and help that I got!

Good luck

Massage could be worth a try, all over for relaxing & also concentrating on tummy area - if you look it up there is a particular way to massage that follows the colon so in theory helps to move things along (clockwise or anticlockwise but I can't remember which at the mo). This obviously doesn't help with the actual hardness tho.
When she is doing one you could support her using EC techniques (elimination communication) - hold her over the potty with her back to you, a thigh in each hand so she can bear down, in front of a mirror & helping her by doing deep breathing. Of course prevention is better than cure so good luck.

the best thing is flax seed oil from a good health food shop. it is laxative but also has the effect of healing the gut and also makes sure that nutrients are released from food, unlike conventional laxatives which just push everything out and then can exacerbate the problem by stripping the gut from good bacteria.

i give flax seed oil - a teaspoon - to my 15 mth every day and its such a great source of omega 3 + 6.

agree with giving up the milk for a bit - my ds is dairy intolerant.

you could also try soya yoghurt with live cultures alpro do one.

Have you thought of cranial osteopathy? A friend of mine has a son who used to get constipated - 2 trips and he's cured! Give them a ring and explain your problem. Worth every penny! Good Luck.

my daughter's 13 week old baby seems to be having trouble pooping she goes a week before having a movement, the dr has given her lactulose but i have read that water with a little drop of juice in it helps because the baby needs to have at least four drinks of water a day before or after feeds. this seems to help.