Ideas on getting DDs bowels moving !!!

[Guard]

Anyone got any good tips ? DD is 10 months old - things have always been sluggish and cause her real pain - she goes about once a day (although sometimes not) but it's always hard and difficult for her. I give her as much fruit as possible (tricky as she won't eat from a spoon), but she chomps on grape pieces, pears, apricots, raisins etc and I try and get as much veg down her as possible. I've also tried syrup of figs and olive oil (which doesn't make any difference) and shee always has loads of water/apple juice. Am at my wits end, doctors are a bit useless but shes in so much pain... Could it be a food intolerance (eg milk or wheat) ? How do I get it tested - anyone had this ? Needless to say her DD1 (3) is fine on that front !!!!!!!!

No personal experience of this but have read that a cup of 1/2 water with 1/2 water from boiled up prunes gets things going!

I'd try prunes too. I used to make dd semolina with pureed prunes when she got constipated. She really liked it too.

I was told many moons ago by my doctor that too much fruit can have the opposite effect than expected and actually block them up. Don't know how true that is, but if you're really giving her loads of fruit and veg it might be having that effect.

Fresh orange juice is supposed to be good natural laxative - just a few sips though.

Another vote here for prunes. I make dd (15mnths) porridge with prunes at least once a week and more if she has any probs going. Have done this since she was about 10/11 mnths. I leave the prunes to soak and chop up small and add to the porrige oats and then add the soaking liquid and some milk to cook it in. dd loves it (and so does dss esp as Ive told him its raisins not prunes hes eating )

I would also go along with the prune ideas, but as she is hving plenty of fruit and veg and water there might be more to it. Perhaps ask your doctor to refer you to a nutritionist. I read somehere that apples can cause constipation so you could try cutting out apple juice for a bit and see what happens.

DD had this and turned out to be cows milk protein intolerence, not tested but dropped milk at suggestion of pead (having tried pretty much everything else), she eats small amounts of cheese has soya on cereal but otherwise avoids dairy, I was told she will probably grow out of it.

my dd was constipated for the first 2 years of her life. it was awful and she had a prescribed laxative (which is now not available). She went for weeks without going to the toilet and when she did she was obviousl yina lot of pain. I found swimming helped alot . dr told me the movement plus they tend to swallow loads of water will help and it did. As does all excercise.I tried everything and as far as food goes i found that pear juice worked for her. Also lying her on her back and moving her legs in a circular motion was another thing my Dr told me to do.

The other thing and don't be alarmed by this,( my dd now has no problems aged 6) is that sometimes the muscle in their bottom is not fully developed and they can't push properly so the poo gets blocked up and then it goes hard and they cannot pass it. Believe me I have seen my young baby scream in agony and I really know what you are going through. I was also at my wits end and tried everything. Syrup of figs is also good and Hepar bottled water. I also had dd tested for celiac etc etc. Finally when she was about three the problem seemed to get better. If you have any more questions please ask me. I will check this thread later today.

Thanks - will try the prunes (needless to say she hates them and won't do with porridge as it's on a spoon - but I'll think of something sneaky and I'll try no apple juice for a bit. She loves water so that won't be a problem. On soya milk - can you feed to a 10 month old and does it have calcium (sorry to be a dunce) ?

Soya not recomended under 12 months (DD was 18 months by the time we were advised to try it), not sure about nutrients, I have an appointment coming up with a dietician to talk about whether supplements are necessary

You should leave out bananas as well as apples as I believe both can block them up. You can get soya milk and rice milk with added vitamins but not sure at what age it's ok to start.

Hi Guard If you are tryig porridge my dd eats it with her hands. I jsut make it nice and think nad leave it to cool and then give it to her to eat so no spoons needed.

agree re not giving bananas too.

Porridge with no spoon - you're very brave!

I'm building up to the porridge and no spoon - especially as her favorite game is to pick up a bowl and raise it above her head. I'll have a camera ready !!!

Pineapple or kiwi fruit always gets my dd moving. My HV used to recommend a teaspoon of sugar in a small amount of water for constipation as it's a mild irritant, although I never tried it.

Apple Juice!

i know u have been told to avoid - but it works a treat for me and my dd - i hadnt been for a number 2 since my op on friday - 2 glasses of apple juice this morning and hey presto!

have you tried Karo Syrup? Ped. recommended and so did my grandma and it works...

Guard, are you using formula? if you do try Aptamil, Ds was Mr constipation with other brands, and has become constipated again since he is having cow's milk.

Health visitor had me 'pump' ds's legs, when he was lying on his back. Did work, and he found it funny and therefore relaxing. Seem to remember him being younger than 10 months, but may be worth a try?

Have not tried Aptamil - can easily try it though as I'm currently trying goats milk formula which is expensive and making no difference (neither is the lactulose). What is Karo syrup ?? I'll give anything a whirl ? Ah yes - and if anyone wants a giggle I did prunes and porridge and let DD2 at it (as she won't be doing with a spoon) - I managed to avoid her tipping it on her head and she loved the texture and squished it pretty much anywhere and ate about 1/4 of a teaspoon....!

KAro is a syrup made out of corn and lots of sugar. It was used a lot when we were children.

I would recommend increasing water if possible, and cutting out the apple juice.

Apple juice is really really sweet and so (non technical explaination here) net effect of drinking it can be dehydration, I think. Thats from A level biology but maybe my teacher made it up, it doesn't sound possible.

Porridge works well for ds.

And EGGS! He loves eggs but we then have a day of revolting nappies. He's not allowed any more eggs until our new washing machine arrives!

Oh also-baby massage. There's an excercise where you bascially massage directly above and along the colon in the (ahem) right direction. I recall that worked pretty well. Probably someone knows better than me here, but maybe you could just rub her tummy a bit.

Have you noticed any link between certain food, eg milk, and the constipation? Obviously at 10 months you can't cut out milk completely but you could maybe cut out gluten for a few days and see if that helps.