HV advised very dilute OJ for constipated 3 month old. Anyone heard of this?

[trixie123]

poor mite has been straining to little effect for some days so asked advice. (water not having the desired effect). She advised 1teaspoon of OJ per 3oz of water. Not great for teeth but she doesn't have any yet so fine - just wondered if this is common advice and if anyone has any other suggestions?

My HV suggested this when DD had gone 9 days without a poo. Obviously she hadn't heard of the virgin gut.

It is a common recommendation along with the brown sugar and various other juices.

GP recommended to me that I just make up each bottle with an extra ounce of water. Seemed to work. I did it all the time he was on formula in the end.

I do the bicycle legs for about 5 minutes and it works every time, generally we get a huge nappy about an hour later

I agree with prune juice, 1/2 oz in 3oz of water and oh he went (4 nappys later) I had a very happy asleep baby!

He was on SMA but is now on Aptamil and he's going regularly now.

I was also told to dilute OJ but it didnt work. My LO had it really bad as he was on gaviscon and in the short term we resorted to laxatives. My HV showed me how to do some really simple reflexology on his foot, and it worked faster than the laxatives, and was much more pleasant! You just get your thumb and work the end of it from the bottom of his heel to the part below his toes starting at the left side and work over, then go from just below the toes left to right and work your way down, then just press random parts of the sole of the foot firmly. Apparently all HV's here used to be shown this but it fell out of favour, dont know why as it works wonders, have since found out the childrens hospital try this before anything else. Good luck with it anyway whatever you try, I know how miserable it is for all concerned. Just beware of the first couple of nappies when you get them!!