What is a good source of fiber for regularity for a 4-year old?

Question

My peditrition put my grand-son on a powder that you mix with water as a stool softner, but, he still goes days without pooping. We tried everything. He's a finicky eater, so, that makes it hard.

Answer 1

Have you tried prunes? The sunsweet brand makes really great snack prunes with added flavor like orange.

I'm not suggesting prune juice, just whole prunes as a snack. Or if he likes raisans, cut the prunes up raisan size and offer them that way or mix them with cereal, oatmeal cookies, etc just like you would with raisans.

I'm not a big prune fan but I do like the sun sweet snack prunes. (Usually found with the rasians).

Also does your grandson snack on items that interfere with his bowels - peanuts, corn, bananas?

Also make sure he gets lots of fluids. Juices and water are both great for helping to work things "out" of our systems. Fiber without enough fluid intake will cause constipation, not solve it.

Answer 2

Hi, I have 7 grandkids, first infant prune juice taste real good and works great. Just put in a glass of ice and say its a flavored tea that is if he has heard negative things about prunes. Also tried prunes may be something to try with him. If not this, fresh Pears off the tree are fantastic. I had a tree for years and made Pear juice so I would not waste so many pears and guess what that works great even faster but very gentle. I would suggest l pear or 4 oz of juice will do the trick. I'm saying pears are best, but if those two fail try a red deli.apple once a day with half the peel if you can get him to. That works too just not as good as Pears. Good Luck, Fran

Answer 3

A LOT of fruits and vegetables. Cereals (oatmeal and I think MiniWheats?) also advertise being high in dietary fiber. If he won't eat fruits and veggies, have you tried smoothies? Jamba Juice and Juice It Up offer smoothies that have either close to or the equivalent of a full day's worth of fruit in them. Naked Juice is good also. Have you thought that it may not be what he isn't eating but what he is? Try cutting back on the stool hardeners like cheese and adding in some fruits, veggies, and juice. Sometimes all those stool softners do is give them gas.

Answer 4

You could try oranges, apples,peaches,pears,grapes.My children were all picky eaters when they were small so I had to peel the fruit completely, take out any seeds and cut up small. It might help to arrange the fruit to look like a happy face or arrange it to look like a little truck or car. It always worked for me. Good luck if you try this.

Answer 5

high fiber wheat toast from trader joe's - sandwiches, toast, etc.
edamame (soy beans) - full of fiber! - also at trader joe's (frozen foods)
red mill flax seed powder - trader joe's - good w/ chocolate milk
naked juice - red berry blast and blue berry blast have a lot of fiber
canned green beans
raw carrots (dip in ranch maybe)
high fiber cereal
jamba juice - you can add fiber boosts to any smoothie

i know some of these may not be 4yr old friendly, but i wanted to give you all my ideas.

good luck!

Answer 6

The powder was likley psyllium, which is a good source of fibre. Other excellent sources for a 4-year old are good ol' fruits and vegetables, and lots of whole-wheat grains.

Answer 7

Papaya makes me poop. Cut one open scoop out the seeds then don't forget to rinse the inside with cold water, then squeeze some lemon on it and scoop out the good stuff with a spoon.

Answer 8

My son was three when he started showing signs of this. I put him on Isotonix Might-A-Mins because I was afraid it was a nutritional issue. After a week, it completely went away; it's now a year later and he's still doing very well.

Answer 9

graham crackers,raisins, apples, red beans

not fiber But ,dark chocolate is good for constipation(careful, high in calories)

Answer 10

oatmeal & cereal; also orange juice with pulp