My 20 mth old has terrible pain passing his poo. Any natural remedies?

Question

He apparently is constipated but passes stools every day or two. It causes him terrible pain to pass large, bulky motions. He has to push so hard, I worry about his blood pressure at that point. The poo often breaks off and gets stuck in his anus causing even more distress. It culminates in slight tearing and bleeding of his anus which is obviously very painful and sore. It is normal colour and fairly soft - not dark small pebbles like you'd expect for constipation. GP's advise senna but when I was giving it regularly I think it was making matters worse as he was passing 'smears' of poo in his nappy all day long. I also think it could of been giving him tummy aches. He has a healthy varied diet and although dislikes most fruit and fruit juice, he eats lots of veg and drinks copious amounts of water. Any suggestions of the cause and/or natural remedies greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

I would take him back to the GP and ask for a referral to a specialist. This is not normal.

Answer 2

It might sound strange, but cantaloupe really helps my son. He went through a phase were he only had movements every 2 or days, and it would become to large to fit. After trying prunes, more water, and baby laxative, his grandma finally told me to give him cantaloupe, and it worked! I don't knows why, but it did. If he has some waste stuck, you can put some petroleum jelly on a q-tip and gently insert it in and try to break it up. If he seems uncomfortable at all, stop. But I also used to use this method, and it worked as well. But be careful, you probably will get sh*t on! But it's worth it if if makes your Little guy feel better.
My nurse had given me a natural laxative recipe, but I couldn't get my son to eat it:

raisin bran flakes
applesauce
prune juice

add it all together until it has like an watery oatmeal texture. only give two or 3 tablespoons at a time, and wait about an hour. If you can get him to eat it, it should work.

These are just some relief remedies. I would consult his physician to find out if he might have some tummy problems.

Good luck! Don't forget to give him lots of love! When we are relaxed it's easier to "go"!

Summer: Have you consulted your docotr about daily use of laxative drops? I am just concerned for your child because they can become laxative dependent, and that will be an even worse situation than the original constipation. Please be careful. :)

Answer 3

My daughter had this problem from birth until she was about 2.5. They told me it was because her bowel muscles needed help to push out the poop. I had to give her prune juice watered down with a little bit of regular fruit juice in it for taste. Then lay her down on her back and move her legs like she was riding and bike, then give her a warm bath. Once she was out of the bath I massaged her tummy. I watched how much iron she was consuming. This was done everyday, eventually she got over it. I am sure that when it started it was because of the bowel muscles, then she was scared to take a poop because it hurt. When she finally started to have regular bowel movements she was ok. Even now she is almost 7 years old and does not have a bowel movement everyday. I have taken her to many doctors and they say that some people don't need to have a bowel movement everyday. Anyhow I hope that this helps you. I hope that it doesn't last as long for him as it did for my daughter, it is heart wrenching watching them go through this. Good Luck
Kath

Answer 4

My daughter has a similar problem and I use Little Tummies Laxative drops. I don't give her the full dose though because it will do the same thing as senna. I use 1/4 of the recommended dose in the morning every day or two. But you should try it and see what dose works for you. Also for my son, I let him eat a lot of cheerios at snack times and make sure that he doesn't get too much milk or cheese and that he gets enough water ( my son doesn't like juice either ).

Answer 5

It may be he's getting to much iron. Iron can cause severe constipation. Check out the foods you are giving him and if they have sufficient amounts of iron then cut back. If you give him vitamins with iron in it, then stop for a while. You can also give him a suppository, or take a cotton swab with some petroleum jelly and lubricate the area. It could be that instead of him using the bathroom when he has to, he holds it too long and it builds up making it harder for him to go. If you don't see any improvement in a week take him to the doctor. Don't worry I've dealt with this with two children it will be fine.

Answer 6

My son had this problem from birth he is now 3 1/2 he has been on medication for 2 1/2 years first Lactose which helped for a while then he needed Marvicol which did the trick, now he doesn't need anything i try ed all the natural stuff nothing work i couldn't see my son in so much pain anymore good luck

Answer 7

Aw poor baby! My son is going through this too, except his poo is soooo hard like a rock, u can't push on it at all that's how hard it is. He's on some stool softer, which doesn't work. I even giving him prunes. Have you tried prunes? I haven't found anything for my son that works yet. I am taking him to the dr. on the 16th and am going to try to find out if there's anything else. Babies shouldn't be like this!

Answer 8

my daughter has exactly the same problem and she screams and crys while trying to do a poo,sometimes it is so big she bleeds. it very upseting for everyone.
the only thing i have found that helps is melon.when i can get her to eat lots of melon she is fine but when she does not have any it flairs up again.she has had this problem since she was a baby and i hoped she would grow out of it but it looks like something she is going to have to live with.
i was given laxatives by the doctor but try not to use them to much as i dont want her to be depenbent on them.
wish i had the answer for you

Answer 9

We had the same problem and were advised to use sena, but this also gave him griping pains. lactulose was also prescribed but didn't work for us.We now use only organic grove prune juice daily (diluted with cooled boiled water).available at Tescos.We also find that cooled boiled water and brown sugar softens the poo within 24 hours.Finally,prune porridge for breakfast daily.Hope this does the trick for your little man!

Answer 10

Try increasing the fibre in his diet. Eat more fruits and veggies and less meat and starches. My cousin was the same way, her parents were told to lay her on her back and move her legs like she was riding a bicycle periodically throughout the day, it exercises the bowel area, and it worked for them. She was so bad they had to give her suppositories. They would do this exercise and then they would also massage her regularly around her stomach area, and she has now outgrown this. They just had to help get her bowel muscles going.

Answer 11

senna is not a good idea for one so young as it makes the bowels 'lazy' and the problem just gets worse. try porridge for breakfast - the proper stuff nor ready brek. plenty of leafy greens mashed up in his dinner.
Also , and this is not a joke, make sure his trousers are not tto tight round the crotch part as the can prevent a toddler from passing poo until they are removed.