Hi all.
I have an 11 month old with down syndrome who has suffered from chronic constipation since about 3 months due to the low muscle tone of his bowels.
He has been subscribed glycerol suppositories and movical everyday. Sometimes he has had 3 glycerols in one day ,because he is so severely bunged.
We have been referred to the dietician - nothing to do with that. He has also been breastfed up until a couple of weeks ago.
However, I was doing some research and now I am scared he has become dependent (or will be) if we keep using this method to help him poo.
My boyfriend (from Ukraine) suggested this bulb syringe thing, where he fills it with cold water, turns him on his side and fills him once or twice. It totally worked and he was passing wind and pooing a bit better.
We've been using this alongside his other treatment now for a couple of weeks and it works really well. However, I thought I better research and now I am concerned he shouldn't be doing this on an 11 month old and should also be using warm water. It is mainly used for enigma (medicine), although we are just using cold tap water (suggested by my Ukrainian bf and his family)
Does anyone know anything about using an anal syringe bulb on an 11 month old, filled only with water?? Is it safe? Is this also another thing to cause dependency. Has anyone actually ever tried this ? Or is it just a Ukrainian thing.
Also can you wind an infant to vigorously. His wind and poop problems are so bad he screams and blood vessels burst in his face. sometimes I feel have to bounce him harr and massage him tummy quite firmly. Sometimes I worry if I'm being too rough !
Please.help. I am worried we might damage him with everything.