Constipation 1 Yr Old

Updated on September 03, 2008
S.V. asks from San Diego, CA
42 answers

Any advise for firm poops? My daughter sometimes cries when she goes poop, she just started drinking more milk than formula and is sort of a picky eater, she likes cheese and I'm thinking the dairly is making her a little constipated. Any advise or tips for things to help with this, she just turned 1 this last week.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the great suggestions, I'll remember them for the future. It seems to have passed for now. I didn't give her any cheese the last few days and things are back to normal. I'm sure it was the change in diet. I'll start to incorporate her cheese and try to mix it with veggies, etc. Thanks again

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J.C.

answers from San Diego on

Oftentimes just increasing water intake will do it for my daughter.

Stewing prunes with apples also works for my little one.

Good luck.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Prunes and apples. Be careful because it will loosen them up. When my 3 yr old gets a little hard I just give him prunes...baby food prunes.good luck

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C.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Lots of fruit is best or add a little fiber too. Try cutting back on the dairy and then moderately introduce it again in her diet.If stool is too hard to pass you can try using wax sticks that are like stool softners they help soften area for easier bowel movement.

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A.O.

answers from Los Angeles on

Oh yeah...you're going to have to limit or just eliminate the cheese altogether until it gets better. My son has always had constipation problems and just LOVES cheese. While she's having trouble, also try and stay away from bananas and applesauce. Apple juice is good, try giving it to her with a little bit of prune juice mixed in. Also, if she just started on regular milk not too long ago, you may want to try Lactaid, that might help too...Hope this helps!

C.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

I recommend figs. They are a natural laxative that is gentle on the system (it can take up to 24 hrs) but they work wonders for constipation! They aid in general digestion and are a high source of fiber and minerals. And are a nice alternative to prunes.

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M.S.

answers from San Diego on

The cheese is good for her, so just add more vegetables & fruit to her diet. If she'll eat baby food, try Gerber garden vegetable & sweet potatoes. These still keep my older kids regular. Pears are also very, very good to keep things moving!

Good luck!

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L.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Every time they try somehting new it takes their systems a while to get adusted. She'll be fine, just feed her what she wants, they know what they need. Try to add more fruit or veg, hide them in her eggs or cheese... Remember a variety of textures, colors, times... with poop are normal.

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K.H.

answers from San Diego on

Try adding more water to her diet. When we were transitioning our daughter to milk(she was breastfed with occasional formula) she would get constipated and cry when she pooped. We made sure to add more water to her diet, and a couple of times a week she would get some prune juice which helped a lot.

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V.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Sarah,

Prunes and Prune Juice. That is the best and safest method.

good luck,
V

R.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

Dear Sarah,
I agree with the other moms! You're instincts are GOOD! IT's the CHEESE! I used to tell my kids, "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll get constipated" then one day I was about to eat a little piece of cheese and my four year old said, "Don't eat too much cheese or you'll get COMPLICATED!"
I couldn't agree more!
Best,
R.
Mom of 7

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T.F.

answers from Reno on

The answer is PRUNE JUICE!! If you make your daughter oatmeal or baby cereal, substitute prune juice for at least some or all of the milk. Do it at the same time every day (morning for breakfast or evening snack before bedtime) to encourage regularity. Works like a charm!

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M.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have her eat prunes or dilute some prune juice and water and put it in a bottle for her to drink. My Ped. recommended this and worked every time for my twin girls when they'd get a little constipated.

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K.R.

answers from Santa Barbara on

Hi Sarah,
This could be a sign she is intolerant to dairy. You might try removing dairy for awhile (3 weeks) and see what happens.
Also, use prunes and dried fruits to help her go. Pureed prunes should help move things along. This same thing happened to my grandson who is now 16 mos.

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W.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Sarah
Try half apple juice and half water in her bottle or sippy cup! With all the new foods it is very common! Hope it works!

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C.N.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Hi Sarah,

how about buying a small bag of dried prunes, then when the need arises, boil a bit of water and cook the prune until it is nice and soft, mush it and feed it to her. It will work very nicely - not too much though. I used to call these prunes "candy fruit", and they ate it, you dust it with a tiny bit of sugar too.

C. N.

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I.B.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

this is very common when they go to more milk. i believe natural is best so give oatmeal the fiber helps move things along also activia the yogurt with cultures. these will take a day or so to kick in if you need more immediate relief the old old way still works add a little karo syrup to the milk. not my favorite because they like the sweet too much but its better than a belly ache. blessings.

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A.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

We've had the same problem. So bad that my daughter gets Miralax everyday. Before going to that extent, try fruit. Watermelon works for us. She loves it so that makes it really easy. My daughter really likes cheese too, so we have to limit it.

Good luck

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J.D.

answers from Reno on

Try mixing 1/3 prune juice, 1/3 apple juice and 1/3 water. Give it to her once daily. When she gets bigger, (around 18 months) you can try raisins. Good luck! :)

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K.F.

answers from San Diego on

I had the same problem with my son. Believe it or not but I switched to organic milk and make sure he drinks a lot of water.. What I also do is get the Pedilite Ice PoPs don't freeze, Then I put it in his bottle and fill the rest of it with water and wow I haven't had a problem in months. He can have cheese but I just don't give him that much. Also bannanas made his pooh hard to, but since I have been doing all this, he is good to go. I use to give him a shot of prune juice every morning, no longer have to do that either.. I still watch his intake on Dairy though. Let me know if you try it and if you do let me know if it works for you..
K. F.

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

My pediatrition always recemmended pear juice and it's always worked perfectly. Be careful not to give too much or you can end up with things getting a wee bit too soft and runny. I always found a couple ounces (no more than 4) was more than enough.

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T.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

It looks like others have said the same thing I am going to say, but I figure I'll say it anyway! :-)... Prune juice and water! My daughter was and still can get constipate from a very early age - before one year. Prune juice always did it. Since I started giving her prune juice real early she will still drink it today. So I'm not sure if you daughter will, but it is totally worth the try. I cut it in half with water and I know cut it 1/3 prune and 2/3 water. But when she gets really bad there are times I've given her straight prune juice.

If she will take the juice you might want to keep it a regular thing...I would give it to my daughter a few times a week to keep her regular.

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C.A.

answers from San Diego on

I used prune juice with cherry by Gerber with my little one when she needed some extra help. :) I hope that helps. She had it tell she was 2, so don't worry some kids take time. Also our case my little one was having issues digesting the milk products shes lactose intolerant. But our dr said the juice thing was the perfect way to help her. SHE LOVES DAIRY! Poor kid.

Good luck, trust me the cherry's or grapes (I cut in 1/2's gave her like 8 to start to see how well it worked if it was a little much I would give her less her magic number was 4 cut in 1/2's) or prune juice too worked wonderful for me. Also after 2 she could handle dairy just not real whole milk or things made with real whole milk.

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G.T.

answers from Los Angeles on

My friend has two kids and her youngest has problems with constipation. She gives her a tiny bit of prune juice everyday and it seems to help her daughter become more regular. There is a natural one, I forgot the name of it, but look in the grocery aisle for juices and just read the labels for a 100% natural prune juice and give her a tiny bit everyday. If you want me to call my friend for the exact information, just write me back.

G. T.

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A.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Sarah,

I had a little guy that had lots of trouble. I went to the refrigerator section of a health food store and bought some butterscotch flavored flax seed oil. I would slip a few drops in his milk, drinks, etc. Worked wonders!

Mom of 10
Amelia

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M.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

I give mt daughter orange juice whenever she has trouble, it works everytime!!

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Here's what I do when my boys get constipated...avoid bananas, white rice/bread, apples, and carrots. These lack fiber. Encourage your baby to drink more water and fresh fruit. Especially, plums, peaches, nectarines, and cherries. Have her play, play, play. When she is lying down, play bicycle with her legs. This'll get the bowels moving down the pipes. If you've heard of monavie, take a little medicine dropper and squirt a 1/4 of a teaspoon in her mouth just once a day. Chase with water.

Good luck!

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J.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Sarah:
I agree. Get her off that cheese for now. That will really tie her up.Make sure and tell your wonderful parents to omit it for now.Give her plenty of fruit,and try some oatmeal or cream of wheat for breakfast.I wish you and your darlin girl the best

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H.K.

answers from Las Vegas on

Yep, dairy will do that! i'd say not so much dairy for sure. and have her eat some raisins. juice really thins out my boys BM's moderation in all things!
good luck!
-H

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T.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

My daughter is disabled, so it is IMPOSSIBLE to get her to eat the foods we want her to eat. All she wants is Mac & Cheese, quesidillas, cheesburgers...the only roughage she seems to get is in the chow mein at Panda Express! She was constipated ALL the time, she would cry when she would poop. Her pediatrician recommended miralax. I give her a capful of miralax a day and it keeps her poop soft. She has been on it for a year now, it is great! It is over the counter now, the cheapest is at costco. I highly recommend it! Good luck!

T.

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J.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

My nephew had the same problem and we asked our ped. what to do and she told us to mix 1/2 prune juice and 1/2 water until the problem cleared and any time it happens again. Good luck!

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J.N.

answers from Santa Barbara on

Stop all dairy - you can give her goat or soy milk, goat yogurt, and even soy or goat cheese. I have a client whose 2 year old daughter had huge constipation issues, she took away the dairy and wheat and the problem was solved.
J.

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N.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Sarah-
My daughter was the same. We were giving her organic milk and she would become constipated with hard stool. We switched her milk to Alta Dena and she's fine now. When she's constipated my Dr told me to cut down on the milk for a couple of days and give her a lot of water and apple-prune juice so her stool will become soft. We also tried inserts so the stool comes out. They won't like that. You just have to try different types of milk. Good luck. =)

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H.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Sarah
So sorry to hear about your little one. My daughter went through a similar situation. I watered down her juice and milk. Also, I mix soy milk with fat free organic milk because it was easier on her tummy to digest. Plenty of gerber prunes helps, too. Exercise helps too. I enrolled my daughter in a gymboree class and got to the park more often. I hope this helps and your little girl feels better soon:)

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C.V.

answers from Los Angeles on

It's probably the lactose. My 1 year old had this same problem and my doctor told me to use lactose free milk and that is working much better for him. Another thing that works for him is unflavored soy milk. I haven't tried rice milk but that's probably another good option.

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J.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

We were having the same problem with our 7 and a half month old. A friend who had this problem suggested prune juice in her bottle. I started adding one ounce to her bottle twice a day and it really got things moving! A little to much we had a couple of blow out diapers so I switched to once a day. It has been wonderful. You may need a little more if your little one is older. Good luck, I know how sad it can be to see them straining and crying. : (

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M.N.

answers from San Diego on

When I had my daughter in January, she got constipated when I put her on formula. My doctor recommended giving her some pear juice. I watered it down and it helped. I gave it to her once a day. I am not sure if it will work for you, but it helped my newborn when she was having trouble. It is worth a try!!

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M.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

100% Prune juice is a God-send! It's natural & usually does the trick pretty well in keeping them regular. We had to use this with my daughter from the time she was little bitty till just recently at 5 years old for constipation. Our doc suggested that we add it to her formula/ milk 1 oz at a time to see how she responded (you don't want to overdo it :) but we ended up adding it to each of her bottles/ cups daily & it kept her regular & out of pain. If she'll take it straight, you could also just dilute it down with a bit of water & have her take it that way, but you want to make sure it's the "real" prune juice & not the baby kind. Hope this helps!

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C.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

My first-born daughter (now 5 years old) was very constipated as a baby until about 2 1/2 years old. She would stiffen her legs so she wouldn't go. (it hurt so bad). Stay away from bananas, apples, rice, and too much dairy. If that doesn't help, try giving her prune juice. And if that doesn't work, talk to your pediatrician about Miralax. That's what I had to resort to for my daughter. We mixed it with her milk for 2 years. Her constipation went away when she became potty trained. Good luck!

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J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

All of my kids went through periods of this, particularly when switching to milk. We used prune juice, mixed in water, and it helped all of them. My daughter has continued to have some problems and dairy does seem to be a big source of problems for her constipation. Maybe trying to eliminate the cheese temporarily would help. We also avoided bananas and added oatmeal for breakfast and lots of fresh fruits and veggies. My pediatrician's office was great in giving me ideas of foods to help them and foods to avoid.

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Y.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I hope your daughter is feeling better, poor little thing! When my son experiences constipation, I feed him fresh fruit like grapes, watermelon, and cantaloupe. I find that fresh fruit usually helps his system move faster than applesauce and other prepared baby foods. My son loves the fruit so much I have to curb it or else we have the opposite problem of watery poops. Good luck!!

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M.G.

answers from San Diego on

I'm just checking in to agree with the other mom who recommended pear juice. Pears and pear juice is just as effective as prunes and prune juice and may go over a little easier if your child doesn't like the flavor of prunes, since pear juice taste pretty similar to apple juice. My son has a genetic, metabolic condition which can cause terrible constipation and even result in rectal prolapse if the constipation gets too bad. I've found that a bit of pear juice every day keeps him healthy and fine.

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N.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try putting her on bifidophilus, you can find it at the natural health food stores- Henrys- they have a children's one made by Jarro, you can just open the capsule and sprinkle it on one applesauce or just let her dip her finger into it and eat it. It does help. Does she eat veggies? I have come across a great baby book called Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron,she has a lot of great food ideas in there. Also grape juice, not the white, but the red grape juice usually works within 30 minutes, a little better tasting than the prune.

Good Luck,

N.

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