76 answers

Bowel Movements...sorry, Not Trying to Be Yucky!

Hello fellow Mamasource moms!

Sorry, not trying to be gross...but I need some input on this. My son only has bowel movements about 2 times a week, on a good week! Since he has been potty trained, he doesn't like to go "big potty" very much. He has to get to a point where he can't hold it before he goes. I have given him raisins, apple-prune juice, grapes on a consistent basis with no effect! Does anyone know of anything I can give him that will make him more regular? I know his tummy hurts from not being regular! Any input would be appreciated! Thank you!!!!!

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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!! I am going to call the doc to see what he says. But I appreciate all of your responses...it is probably no big deal, but wanted some other mom's thoughts! :)

Featured Answers

Cut back on anything with apple in it--can be constipating. Up his fluid consumption--water is great. Graham crackers work well, and stirring a little Benefiber in his juice for added fiber would be helpful as well. Cut back on cheese--hard for a toddler, I know, but it's usually the biggest culprit. (My husband has a funny saying when he sees my daughter eating something with a lot of cheese, like a quesadilla,: "That's enough cheese to stop up a plumber!" LOL--:o)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi T.!
Adults should by a rule of thumb have a bowel movement for every meal they eat, or at the least once a day. For children it should be about once a day, but 2x per week is not very good especially for a child.

More water, first of all...will help lots! The apple/prune juice is good...but actual prunes are even better! Apples also have fiber in them, and the "real deal" is always better than a juice.

I know kids don't like green veggies as well, so the fruit is probably the better bet for now, even though they should definitely get their servings of veggies too. :-)

Hope this helps!

My nephew had a similar problem with constipation when he was young. His problem ended up being partly do to food allergies. Specifically, I think wheat was a problem.

You might want to ask his pediatrician about it and see if a consult is in order.

I believe he outgrew the allergy.

More Answers

Cut back on anything with apple in it--can be constipating. Up his fluid consumption--water is great. Graham crackers work well, and stirring a little Benefiber in his juice for added fiber would be helpful as well. Cut back on cheese--hard for a toddler, I know, but it's usually the biggest culprit. (My husband has a funny saying when he sees my daughter eating something with a lot of cheese, like a quesadilla,: "That's enough cheese to stop up a plumber!" LOL--:o)

1 mom found this helpful

T., my son would have the same problem and part of the reason he didn't want to go is that by the time it couldn't wait anymore..when it would come it would be very painful. It is not good at all for anyone to go without bowel movements 1 huge time a day or at least 2 times a day. I have started giving my son a fiber protein shake. I have to do it for medical reasons and my doctor told me it was okay for him to have some too. I also stopped giving him wheat because that stops up bowels pretty good, especially when trying to get regular. And I am sure you already know that fresh fruits and/or veggies with every meal will help, as well.

I feel for you, because my son had the same transitioning hardship. Good luck!

L. G.

My sons had a similar problem and unfortunately it gets worse if not treated, since holdingit in longer makes the stools harder and more hurtful to come out.. The food you are giving is good, and I wish my sons would eat it but he does not like fruits and veggies!!! I made regular pancakes with ground flaxseed (about 1/4 cup per batch). Try it for a couple of mornings for breakfast. Also, like a garabage disposal nothing will happenwithout water. So wean away from milk for awhile and push water. What he needs are loose stools that are not hard to come out. Then he can get back on track. Just keep him near a bathroom for that week so he can get to it quickly enough. I am sorry that this is so graphic but it should help.

T.,

I am not sure if someone has already told you about these, and if so then I apologize for repeating it.

Go to your Health Food Store, and ask them for Chewy Bears & Friends Children's Chewable Acidophilus. These are just like vitamins, but they are strictly for promoting intestinal health. They are a probiotic supplement, taste good according to my 4 yo daughter. They are a vegetarian formula. It says for over 4 yo's take 1 tablet 3x/day, but your son is close enough to 4 it won't matter, and you can start out at 2x/day instead as well if you prefer.

The ingredients are: Fructose, Natural Flavors, Beet Juice Concentrate, Citric Acid, Vegetable Magnesium Stearate, Silica, Proprietary blend of cultures, fructooligosaccharides, proprietary blend of raspberry juice, grape juice, pear juice, cherry juice and black currant juice.

So it's all natural which is great, and sometimes laxatives (even miralax which I love) can make them dependant on it to use the bathroom. Just talking from experience with my daughter.

But she had to take these for a few weeks and then she was fine...now she only has to take some every now and again. She has regular bm's now.

Good luck to ya!
~S.

mirilax (sp?). very mild, works great, odorless & tasteless in drinks. was perscription but think it is now over the counter.

Try adding ground flax seed to his foods. Increase his fiber and get plenty of water or apple juice diluted with water.

I have not read all of the responses, so If I repeat myself, sorry. My sister had this problem with her daughter, so bad, that she would actually relieve herself at night, when she was a sleep. The daycare center said, that she has to be potty trained all the way, before they could take her. My sister being a working mother, was desperate. She had dealt with constipation issues with her daughter since she was a baby. She gave her prunes, and all the foods that are supposed to make them regular, but no luck. So one weekend she bought some metamucial, I think it was orange flavor. She made up an adult dosage, gave it to her daughter, and said drink up, and she drank it like a champ, and she finally got some relief, and has done fine since than.

We had the same problem, and my doctor recommended straight purple grape juice, non-diluted. He was so excited to have nondiluted juice, he drank it right up and asked for another glass. Not knowing any better, I gave him another glass. The doctor was right. It works. Now, we only give a single glass at a time, when needed.

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