My son has "hard" stools, they aren't really that hard but to him they are. He is now scared to poop and holds it in with all his might. I have tried giving him more fruit and veggies, put him on lactose free milk and only give him the 16oz a day, i have tried everything I can think of and nothing works. Any ideas?
2007-06-29 08:53:45 · 14 answers · asked by Kimberly M 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
he drinks apple juice all day straight not mixed with water, we talked to the ped and they put him on a powder substance for 2 weeks which worked, but as soon as he went off it he got stopped up again.
2007-06-29 08:59:04 · update #1
Okay. You hit on one big problem right there. If a kid has one hard painful BM, they get scared that EVERY one is going to hurt and will hold it until they're ready to pop. This is quite common in kids his age - especially if they're starting to potty train. (Many kids are also afraid they're going to be flushed too.)
Here's what you can do to try to get him over the fear of going. Run him a warm bath with 2 oz of baking soda in the tub. Give him some toys to play with and let him hang out in there for up to 30 minutes. The warm water combined with the baking soda will help him relax and go. (And if he goes in the tub, it's not the end of the world - the tub is more cleanable than bed or something!) Most kids don't need the full 30 minutes - many of them will get out of the tub and onto the potty themselves.
The long term fix is to up the amount of fiber he eats - more fruits and veggies (aside from bananas and cooked carrots - those can constipate) is a good start. Give him more whole-grain foods too. Put his PB&J or grilled cheese on whole-grain bread, give him some animal crackers or graham crackers or oatmeal cookies to snack on, or maybe some raisin bran or oatmeal for breakfast. Also make sure he gets plenty to drink in general. (I wouldn't do Karo syrup - there's no evidence that it works, and too much sugar can give the runs, which is a problem you don't need!!) Limiting his milk was a good start too - also watch the amount of cheese, yogurt, and ice cream he eats - dairy in general can be constipating for some kids.
I don't know if you've started potty training or not yet, but when you do, you also want to TRY (that's the keyword) to get him into a habit of going. You can "train" your bowels to need to go at a certain time of day. Try having him go to the potty after every meal - eventually, he'll need to go.
Good luck!!
2007-06-29 11:21:42 · answer #1 · answered by zippythejessi 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Apple juice should be avoided for awhile. As well as rice, bananas and toast. When kids have diarrhea, we put them on the B.R.A.T. diet - Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast (24 - 48 hours). They help to "bind" things up a bit. So when they are constipated, you want to avoid these things for around the same amount of time. Once he's loosened up, he can have these foods and juices again, but in smaller amounts. Give him fresh fruits like plums, nectarines, peaches and melons. More water will help also. Even very young children need lots of water every day. Cheese should be avoided for a bit, too since it has a tendency to do the same as the B.R.A.T. foods. If it doesn't help in a couple days time, take him back to the pediatrician and make sure to tell the doctor EVERYthing your son has been eating and drinking.
2007-07-01 10:35:25 · answer #2 · answered by ♪♪BandMom♪♪ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give more fiber rich food but make sure he also drinks plenty of water during the day. If he has lots of fiber but no fluids, stools can get hard and impacted. If it does not work, try saline lax for peds but only as a last resort and with consult with his pediatrician. Also try diluted prune juice or peas or beans.
2007-06-29 09:05:54 · answer #3 · answered by Lovely 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Constipation is actually a hereditary feature. Two people can eat the same foods, veggies and all -- one will get constipation, and the other will go just fine.
Prune juice diluted with water works well. (not too much or he will get diarrhea) You may need to make it a daily thing. Ask your pediatrician.
(apple juice didn't work with my daughter. She drinks diluted prune juice everyday and goes everyday now too.)
2007-06-29 16:08:40 · answer #4 · answered by Carolle746 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tons of water, and try pear juice. Apple juice is a natural diuretic, which will help him pee more, but not really poop more. Pear or prune juice is more of a stimulant. My daughter had the same problem, and I've been giving her about 1/4 cup of pear juice mixed with water every morning - she's pooped easily almost every day since I started this.
2007-06-29 09:16:44 · answer #5 · answered by fuffernut 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It works best if you give him pear juice. If not, oatmeal is a good source of fibre, as well as multi grain breads. Another option is the prune juice or the prune fruit. All the above makes my son go really good.
GOOD LUCK
2007-06-29 09:00:28 · answer #6 · answered by marlaSSK1998 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
softer foods like oatmeal or green veggys will do the trick.if all else fails a teaspoon of castrol oil will work.
2007-06-29 09:00:20 · answer #7 · answered by DESTINY T 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My Dr. always recommended Kayro syrup (dark). See this article.
http://www.drgreene.org/body.cfm?id=21&action=detail&ref=1953
something with the high sugar content that helps with digestion
2007-06-29 09:26:37 · answer #8 · answered by Devin's mom 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Prune juice, it works!!
2007-06-29 09:11:56 · answer #9 · answered by puffro 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like he needs more water in his diet and try prunes not too much or you will be sorry LOL
2007-06-29 08:58:13 · answer #10 · answered by Georgia B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋