what can we do to help 17 month old daughter with constipation?

Question

the doctor says it's just from eating grown up food, but she started being constipated as soon as she stopped breastfeeding..i feel so sorry for her..to watch her strain and cry you'd think she was giving birth..some are as big as golf balls and almost as hard...we watch her purposely try not to go because she is afraid..after she goes, she is usually ok for a couple days, then she will go all day without a bm, and maybe another..once i had to actually grab one that was showing and pull it out..we use dark karo syrup, give her plenty of raisons, grapes, bran type flakes, make her drink plenty of juices...doctor says she is too young for suppositories but we resorted to them anyway, they do help but it still isn't easy..any suggestions?

Answer 1

Watered down prune juice is what doctors recommend. Maybe call up your doctor and see what children's laxative they could recommend.

Answer 2

Please, please take her to a pediatric GI doctor as the other poster suggested. It should not be that hard for her to poop. Also, if it hurts like that she'll hold it as she's already doing. This will only worsen the constipation and could eventually lead to a bowel obstruction.

My little girl had constipation issues too, no matter what we did -- change in diet, use of suppositories, etc. And the dr said that overuse of the suppositories could make her become dependent on them in order to be able to have a bowel movement.

Finally, the GI doc put her on Miralax and it helped tremendously. She was finally able to poop normally again. And the great thing about the Miralax is that it's not a laxative, it simply pulls more water into the bowels and into the poop so it's not so hard. After she got a little older and her digestive tract matured some, we were able to take her off of it and now she's able to poop fine on her own.

It sounds like what you really need is a second opinion from another doctor. Good luck.

Answer 3

my daughter had this problem about once a week or so, and it was so painful for her, and us as parents too. Definately give more water. brans dont do their magic unless there is sufficient liquid. If the body is not getting enough liquid (besides milk) then the intestines take any extra fluid from the excrements....making the stools harder. try asking doctor and also search the net on constipating foods for toddlers....too much cheese? apples? bananas etc.? and also look up for stool softeners... such as a bit of honey. My daughter seemed to get more constipated when she went without the fibre. She loves cheerios!! and has a small dish, dry every day for snacking with her cartoons. they seem to really help. She also loves to drink from straws...i have a straw cup that is strickly for water. She is 16 months now, but has always enjoyed having water. maybe because mom drinks it alot and she gets to sip from my Big cup sometimes.
also what kinds of juices are you using? real juice or flavored like kool-aid and punches? I still water down her juices just a little with water.

Answer 4

so sorry you are having his problem esp for the little one. seems to me you are in a quagmire for since it hurts she is holding and not wanting to go to the bathroom which besides diet ia also a cause of constipation. First you need to set a potty scheule of some sorts and important she sit on the potty for approx 10 minutes after meals esp after breakfast. you may want to first give her a warm sitzbath for that relaxes colon and asoociated muscles thereby encouraging bowel movements. Milk and Dairy products are constpating so you need to limit to 2 glasses or the equivalent a day. Also all fruit juices are very good except until bowels normal limit or avoid orange juice.Fruits and vegetables are necessary and the best when eaten raw such as apples,peach,pear, apricots-are very helpful in encouraging bowel activity-this I know from experience,figs,dates,celery,cabbage and corn and raisins Also Bran is essential as in the new "natural" cereals,bran flakes,bran muffins,or whole wheat bread.Shredded wheat,oatmeal,BROWN Rice,and of course all the beans-lima,navy and more and also Peas.As I mentioned milk and milk products-cheese,yogurt,ice cream and also Cooked Carrots have been proven to be constipating If she needs help still-instead of suppositories try warm Soapy water there ar anal syringes to do this with but if can't find even a Ear syringe-rubber ball like thing with very slender tube which very easily inserts(a small amt of vaseline) and the you squeeze the ball to release the soapy water(to fill stick the slender tube into water and squeeze will pull soapy water into it) it is safer than a suppository for child that young and will work. Mineral oil can also be used-ask the pharmacist how much for 17month old and should be kept in the fridge. Apples are a fruit that most children will take to-can eat as snacks-and very high in fiber.Prunes are also very fast acting and prune juice is just as good if the child balks at eating prunes. The warm sitz bath and gntly massaging the stomach area is also important for it is important that she begin a routine of having bowel movements-she should as I mentioned sit on the potty no less than 10 minutes approx 15 minutes after eating but because she is now afraid I'd do the sitzbath and massage before to not only relax the colon and so on but also her. Did a quick search-asked if dark karo syrup was good for constipation and quite a few sites go to www.pediatrics.about.com very helpful information what causes, how to treat, food,medications and so on. it also says that Bananas are constipating and the best fruit juices to promote bowel movements are apple,pear and prune for high in sorbitol. It would also help to start on just plain water-if concerned about tap water -the Brita Filter pitcher is great. The main culprit is Milk and Dairy products and although may be taking what normal for kids may be too much for her system---try Soy Milk as a alternative. Good Luck

Answer 5

The same thing happened to my daughter almost immediately after switching to formula after breastfeeding. My pediatrician suggested milk of magnesia which helped for a while but eventually the body becomes used to it and she became constipated again. We then tried a medicine which i cant think of the name(it began with an M). That gave her really bad gas. My pediatrician finally referred us to a GI doctor. He was wonderful and prescribed simply mineral oil which lubed her intestines and rectum & helped her stool slide out. There is a flavored mineral oil called kondremul we give her a tablespoon and a half at night Our lives have changed since then. I felt compelled to answer you I know exactly what your going through. My daughter is now 25 months and she has been taking kondrumel for 4 months now.
But please consult your pediatrician before you do anything! By the way I stopped nursing her when she was 5 1/2 - 6 months old.
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Answer 6

Ohhh, poor little girl.

We used prune juice and lots of it!

Suppositories almost three times a day, gas reliefe drops, fruits, all the natural laxatives are best.

I know how hard it is to watch her go through this, but just comfort her and tell her everything will be all right.

Heres a sad but kinda funny story, don't make this mistake!

My sister and I were going to take my five kids and her two kids to chuckie cheeses. All of them were in the car and we just ran inside to grab a couple diapers and our purses. When we got back, her son Brandon had gotten into some chocolate flavored laxatives we bought when we were in mexico. For kids his age are only supposed to eat half of one, he ate twelve whole pieces! We freaked out because the drug facts and warnings were in spanish! We called poison control and they said that he would be fine, but when he starts going, he would be in pain, and we had to keep him on liters of gatorade every ten minuets. We were driving to the store, and all of a sudden we hear my daughter yell "who made a stinky?" Brandon was standing up and screaming while he had uncontrollabe diareah!!! The poor little guy got it all over the truck.

To make matters worse, at home he ate an entire king size snickers bar and a hunk of deoderant! Lets just say it was not a pretty sight!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

I had this same problem with my son when he was born, then came my daughter and still the same problem. I used 1 tbsp of Light Kayro Syrup per every other bottle. Increase the foods high in fibers as they will act as a laxative. If this doesn't work, you have one more option left. You will think your going to hurt the baby but honestly....the baby will appreciate it. Get a bowl of luke warm water. Add a drop or 2 of liquid dish soap. Make it bubbly. Get the baby's nose sucker...bugger getter...out along with some vaseline, baby oil, some type of lubrication. Get an old towel or blanket and lay it in the floor. Take the babies diaper off, turn him on his/her side kinda like in the curled up fetal position. Take the syringe and suck some water from the bowl into it. Squeeze it into the babies rectum, while rotating the babies legs up and down towards the abdomin for comfort and ease of the BM's. You will not use the whole bowl of water, as too much water will harm the baby even more. I suggest using no more than 1 and 1 1/2 syringes full of water but constantly be moving the babies legs up, down, side to side. This should solve that problem. Let me know how it turns out. You want to have a happy baby...this is the key to cure the pain and fear.

Answer 8

Apple juice
prune juice
There is now fiber that you can mix in with food or water
lots of water
Stay away from eating to much of foods like cheese
yogurt
bananas
anything like these foods which are used to help stop diarrhea can cause constipation if you eat to much
hope this helps some

Answer 9

Don't give her dairy at all for a while and see. Meanwhile, prune juice, even little sips at a time throughout the day, and oatmeal. But make sure to give lots of water too.

Answer 10

My daughter had this problem. She has been constipated since she was 13m when I stopped nursing. Her kidney issues were not picked up until 3 years old.

THEY SAY BOWEL AND KIDNEY PROBLEMS GO HAND AND HAND.

I would request that your daughter be referred to a pediatric GI specialist to be examined and find out her true reason. IT is worth the work when you know for sure what is causing the problems.

Answer 11

Since you are giving her lots of fiber those things basically need water to work, is she getting enough plain water? Also if she isnt, she might run the risk of UTI's with so much sugar (Karo, Juice, and such)