Constipation - what is causing it, what shall I do to treat it and how can I prevent it?

[DollyPopsOut]

My DD is just 2 and seems badly constipated. Seems to be pooing every couple of days, which I know is fine for some children but it takes herculean efforts to pass anything. There is a lot of straining and going red, even when the poo is very soft.

She last had a poo on Sat am, which was fine and soft etc. However, since then she has eaten plenty of veggies and fruit, drank lots of milk and some water but nothing. She was straining yest and saying that she wanted to poo but it didn't happen. Same again today at nursery apparently. I have had to give her a small dose of Lactulose to help her as she seems in such pain when trying to poo.

So, can anyone suggest why she might be so constipated, what else I can do to help her to poo and how can I prevent it? She is already eating plenty of fruit and vegetables - usually has an orange in the morning, some grapes for snacks and usually at least one meal is vegetable based (eg tomato pasta, ratatouille etc)- should I give her more?

She is singing away in her cot now so I don't think she is all, other than in the loo dept!

Many thanks

hi i had this with my ds just after easter and his birthday we ended up a&e as he was straining so bad and getting really upset and was in pain it turned out he was "clogged up" and gave us a suppository wich worked and lacatoluse to give for a few days since i have switched to brown bread cut out banannas give lots of fruit and veg too and pure oj is good and if she will drink it prune juice dried fruit is good and fig rolls ds loves them dut wont eat dried figs!
hope that helps!

Try offering water regularly, very dilute juice if she won,t drink water.

swimming, walking , running in park etc, every day, coupled with increased fluids generally works.

I put a spoonful of milled flax seed onto my cereal in the morning and this works wonders for constipation (oh the joys of pregnany !). DS loves it too, although I think its because we call it mummy's magic sprinkles and he wants whatever I'm having - he is 2.8. It also has a very high ratio of Omega oils (better than fish i think?) so its very good for developing brains etc too. It doesn't taste of anything and on the pack it says you can add to soups, salads, etc, so I suppose you could add to any meal really. I buy mine from sainsburys.

Thanks for this - will up the water, up the exercise and try the hanster food, sorry flax seed . I remember the preg constipation thign well and ate lots of oats and bran to try to alleviate it.

Thanks for the replies