Putting 16 month old on potty to help constipation?

[EvelynSalt]

My daughter is 16 months old and not walking, for context. I know it's too soon to potty train and that's not my intention, but she suffers real trouble getting poos out and will sit hunched over, straining for ages with no results. I've been to the doctor a few times and they just suggest giving her more fruit, which I do.

I wondered if it might help to put her, in her nappy, on a potty whenever she does this, for position purposes. Because she won't be "blocked" by sitting on the ground, if that makes sense?

This is my first baby and I'm clueless so advice appreciated - could doing this cause issues with actual potty training down the line? I'm a little worried about her associating a potty with wearing nappies. She also won't be able to sit on a potty at nursery.

Should I give this a go or not bother?

Are you massaging her belly? Getting enough water into her? I'd lower her carbs and up and her fruit and veg massively. No allergies especially a milk one?

Water is an issue, when she's with me she just wants breast milk and although nursery say she's drinking, I can't know how much. Good point about massage, I'll give that a go before nap and bedtime.

Generally at home she'll have Greek yoghurt, fruit, eggs etc for breakfasts. Nursery were giving toast and weetabix so I've asked them to change that to yog and fruit. I'll try upping her veggies on home days

Weetabix is awful stuff. It sets like concrete in the gut.

Stewed apple is good and well cooked carrots.

Yes I did this with my DD from about 7 months old. I took her nappy off and she would poo in the potty. It definitely helped, and then potty training was a breeze when she was older. She was out of nappies just before 2 iirc

Definitely worth putting her on the potty imo. My granddaughter had bad constipation from a baby and I was hovering her in a squat position from when about 6 months to help her. Lying down to poo or doing it in a standing position is not natural anyway. Also no harm in getting her used to a potty early. Both my children potty trained really early, it’s probably old school now but it worked for my generation and definitely saves in nappies .

Ask nursery to measure her water intake. Just provide a sippy cup that has the volume measurement on the side

Definitely worth a try, I think updated potting training guidance would advise it anyway to introduce the concept. Also she needs to drink water. I know some people think it’s akin to crack but I would try weak diluted juice or sugar free squash- we did it with my eldest, it got her drinking and then we just tapered it off to the point where it was just a splash of apple juice and then just plain water.

Get some tinned prunes in syrup from any supermarket. Get a tin of Ambrosia custard.

Drain the prunes and take all the stones out.

Blend them with a hand blender or in a food processor together with the custard.

You will get 2 to 3 portions out of it.

I promise she will love them and they will cure her constipation within hours.

They are actually very sweet and if she is a good eater, she will probably take them without custard but custard just makes a lovely consistancy that slips down into little tummies perfectly.

Whichever way - blend so she eats plenty.

Hi OP, I'd go back to the GP and ask them to prescribe Movicol. Our second child suffered really badly with constipation right from weaning and increasing fluids and an eye wateringly expensive supply of prunes/fruit didn't help. The only thing that helped her was Movicol, and thankfully at the age of 3 she's recently got to a stage where she doesn't need it at all anymore. It's so horrible to see them struggling and in pain, given you probably don't want to be risking your DC building a negative association with potties (ie being in pain) I'd honestly ask GP for meds first. After a few days it made such a difference for our daughter.