Toddler constipation any advice appreciated

[peppaspal82]

Sorry if this is tmi in advance.

My daughter has been at her dads for three days. She is 2 1/2 and I rarely give her cows milk as it makes her constipated. He doesn't listen to any instructions I give him about her welfare and she came home yesterday being sick and with a poorly tummy. I took her to the doctor today and he believed her to be constipated from all the cows milk. He didn't prescribe anything but said if she hadn't had a bowel movement by tomorrow to call.

My daughter has just woken up screaming and pushing me away. I realised she was trying to go to the toilet but a large impacted poo was half way out. It was horrible to watch as she wouldn't let me near here. Eventually a rock solid poo the size and shape of a golf ball came out. She is now fast asleep. I checked for bleeding and she seems ok. What can I give her to drink to make sure anything else can exit less painfully? I feel so bad for her. She normally has oat milk

I’m not sure about a drink to give @peppaspal82 but all the “p” fruits are usually quite effective! Prunes, pears & plums!

You need them to prescribe something like Cosmocol - my DD has this and it’s fab. It’s a supplement they drink which keeps the poo soft and moving.

DD has diluted orange juice but only small amounts and you have to be very careful about tooth brushing.

Kiwi is good to fee too!

If there's more hard poo in her rectum it's I likely you would soften this unless you use a suppository which for a child so small wouldn't be pleasant. You can use vaseline around her bottom to ease actual passage and relieve some of the discomfort but it may be that there's not much more there. Diluted pear juice or pear puree is great for this kind of thing as very highly fibrous and she may drink more of this than plain water. Cooled boiled water or slightly warm previously booked water may also help with flaulence or tummy discomfort. Poor thing!

@SlB09 thank you. Is there anyway of knowing if there is more impacted stools there? The doctor pressed around her abdomen but couldn't feel any blockage and said it felt soft xxx

Try pure apple juice

If apple juice don't work try a spoon full of brown sugar in hot water let it cool but make sure to brush teeth after

Thanks everyone. She has passed out now but will take suggestions on board. I only have coconut water in the house... no juice :(

@peppaspal82 no need to check (& we would check on adults by examining the rectum which u less absolutely necessary no child needs to have done!) if her tummies nice and soft and she's not vomitting or becoming increasingly poorly then it will pass on its own with increased fluids/fruit juice/puree. If not then definately go back to GP who will prescribe you something to help.

My little one's dietitian always says apple juice but to make sure it is the cloudy variety.

We’ve always had success with those prune purée pouches you can find in the baby food aisle.

@SlB09 thank you so much. She woke up this morning as bright as a button. I have given her a bottle of oat milk half mixed with water, as she wouldn't have anything else and aome raspberries. I'll get some prune/apple juice before I go to work for her.

Thank you for your help xx

You can pick up Lactulose over the counter from the pharmacy which will help.

My DS suffered terrible constipation and didn't have any cows milk until 4. We tried every laxative available and to be honest found the GP pretty useless.
Eventually found the only way to release him when it was really bad was with the use of suppositories, you can get them from the pharmacy I have also in the past used the adult one but cut it in half for the correct dose.

He then took 2.5ml of dulcolax liquid (sodium picosulfate) there is no difference between adult or child version so can buy over the counter but 2.5ml is the max for that age.
He still takes this daily now and is 5.

Hope you're daughter is better soon. I use to have the same issue when sending DS to his dad's x