Looking for Advice - Fort Mill, SC

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http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Constipati...

increase fiber (apples, bran muffins, prunes)
add fluids (apple juice, water, clear liquids)
decrease cheese and binding foods like banana's, breads, rice

if all else fails, call your local pharmacist and ask the dose recommended of Milk Of Magnesia or Maalox for your child's weight. It's 100% safe, with no lasting side effects, and VERY gentle to the tummy!

Good luck!!

If you only need short-term relief, try corn syrup! It's cheap, natural, and gentle. My doctor originally said "dark corn syrup... a tablespoon or so a day" for infants, so it certainly wouldn't hurt to try a few tablespoons for an older child. It's like drinking sugar, so there's no fight.

Give the child apples for snack time, applesauce is also good (no sugar added). You can mix prune juice and unprocessed wheat bran with applesauce, equal amounts, and give him 2 T a day. Be sure he drinks adequate water.

M., I have a close friend, who's daughter, at the same age was having constipation. Her pediatrician gave her an over the counter remedy. It is the clear liquid that you can add to her juice or food and she won't even know it is there. I want to say Fiber All, regarless, it is the clear liquid. She has not had any problems since. I know she kept her on it a good week or until she became regular. Be safe and ask his doctor. Personally, doing away with sugar and adding more fiber works for my children and grandchildren.
Good Luck,
K.

Good Evening, M.!
I ran into the same problem with my son at about age 6 also. He is getting ready to turn 8 next month. I talked with his pediatrician about the constipation problem and he told me that it was common for young children because they are too busy wanting to play to completely empty their bowels, therefore resulting in constipation. He recommended Miralax in powder form that you can mix with any drink. It has no taste to it and my son has not had any trouble drinking it. The Dr. said it is perfectly safe to take daily. It has really helped and he also said to make sure they sit on the toilet and "finish" their business. It's important to talk with him about it and try to make him understand. But just to be on the safe side, talk with your pediatrician about your son and make sure he o.k's it. He may have some other suggestions, but as I said, the miralax works very well and doesn't cause cramping. I hope this helps you out and good luck! K.

Not being one to jump on medication, I highly recommend Miralax. It is a powder that dissolves in a drink, no taste, no texture and it isn't uncomfortable. I made sure by trying it myself...no bloating, gas or grumblies. My daughter has had constipation trouble since she was potty trained and she is now 6 1/2 years. Her new pediatrician says it's her favorite since it has no side effects. Her other pediatrician recommended sitting on the potty every night about a half hour after dinner. When you build a routine the body will be ready to go every night about that same time - like a clock. Good luck!

I too have a 6 yr old boy with major constipation issues. After an x-ray showing a fecal impaction, we tried 4 doses of Milk of Mag., a whole bottle of mag citrate, a gallon of Go-lytely(Yuck,poor kid), and an enema and rectal stimulation-all over a course of 6 days. Would you believe the kid still did not go! We go to a childrens hospital next weeek to see a pediatric gastroenterologist to determine the cause. Also, he has taken Miralax in the past without much success. It did however work last year, but I think this time, the retained stool is so hard nothing will work. The poor thing has gone 7 times since Feb 1st, but the specialist can't get him in any sooner. I will let you know what they say next week after his appt. and give you any tips or advice they give me. Good luck. Being a nurse with prior surgical experience, I know the hazards of chronic constipation and hope we can get this fixed. I pray the same for your son.

Hello M.. I assume you are searching for natural ways to help your child with constipation. My daughter is 24, so I'm taking a minute to search back into my rolladex (brain) smile. Through trial and error you may find fruits or juices that loosen your kid's bowels. Find a way to increase fluid intake, especially water. Many children and adults are constipated due to low fluid intake. You can also push salads daily, with a great tasting dressing. Avoid cheeses, which are binding. Carbohydrates, such as breads and pastas will also move slowly in your child's system, and linger long enough to cause constipation. If you child favors these foods, insist on child drinking plenty of water with them. If all else fails, there are child laxatives and suppositories. Hope you find what works for your child, because this fast food time we are in will keep us all constipated, mind and body. D. G, RN

M.,

Try some Apple Prune Juice. Gerber makes it and it is usually in the infant section. You can also just mix it yourself. We are not big juice drinkers at my house so the small single serve bottles work best for us. I keep them around and give them to my kids at the first sign of constipation. Also, I agree with the other moms who suggested watching the dairy intake. I hope he feels better soon.

My 32 month old also has constipation. He's allergic to milk and a picky eater. I read most of the comments given and they are great. Miralax is a great help. Give him as much water as possible. My son really doesn't like plain water so sometimes I mix it with Propel and he will drink it. Try not to give him alot of sugary drinks. Also, my son loves pasta and I have to strive to find ways to sneak fiber in on him because he won't eat prunes etc. I buy wheat pasta and sometimes I will make macaronni and tomatoes and use a can of V8 which adds fiber. Baked potatoes have fiber and if you could get him to eat some form of beans (i.e. green, pinto, black) that would help greatly. Beans are very high in fiber. My son loves strawberrys and they have fiber. Cereals are a good way for kids to get fiber but son will not eat cereal much. My son's got so bad we had to go to the doctor and have him x-rayed. He suffered badly and it broke my heart. I have also heard that when kids start going to school they can get uptight about using the restrooms at the school because of the smell etc and that can cause constipation because they hold it in. My pediatrician gave me a list of foods with the fiber count for each food according to serving size. I don't have this document in my computer but if want to send me a personal response with your fax number, I will fax it to you at work from my office and you can use it as a go by for fiber intake and snacks choices etc. Take care. J. N.

You might try the new "ones" prunes. They are individually wrapped and are much sweeter than others I've bought. If you child could eat one daily it would help tremendously.
Hope it helps.

Try Miralax..... Can be purchased at Wal-mart and drug stores. It may take a couple of days to work, but it will make him regular again! No cramping either.

Bananas! :)

Good luck,
C., RN

The only thing i can suggest is if he likes raisans try and get him to eat a bunch of them sometime shtat works. If that doesn't work go get some childrens suppositories and use them. Thats the only thing that i know of...unless you can get him to drink prune juice...but its not likely he'll drink it...because it tastes horrible!! Let me know if any of those works for you...hope your son feels better soon..

more liquids, I've heard back off the dairy, perhaps if he eats a lot of cheese, milk, etc. More fruits and fiber. If that does not work you may have to try medication. Miralax is over the counter and can be mixed in drinks. It's oderless and tasteless. my 4 year old daughter takes it occasionally. She's had a lot of constipation problems since she was on the bottle.

good luck

Hi M. B,

Simply put, more green veggies, water, and fruits. If that doesn't work, 1/2 oz of 10-In-One will fix him up in no time. He needs vitamins and minerals in his diet, daily. Go to my site and see all the vitamins and minerals that is listed. Oh yes, amalaki, tree of life, my favorite. Good for the whole family, all natural. www.shopgbg.com/dianefriday

Miralax over the counter...use to be perscription, works great for my 5 year old.

A few things we've done with our daughter: the "juice" she drinks (pretty much ALL the time) is 1/4 prune juice, 1/4 apple juice, and 1/2 water; you can also give milk of magnesia; if you know anything about massage, you can do massage on your son.

Good luck!

My daughter, who was 4 at the time, had this problem. Her pediatrician told me to put anywhere from 5-15ml of light Kayro (spelled right?) syrup in her juice in the morning...It had help regulate her. I was told to do this for 4 months and then stop.

My son is 4 and has been on Miralax for the last year. It really helps him keep it soft- he actually just finished potty training himself last Wednesday. Yeah, no more pull ups. I hope that gives you some help. It is a natural but it is prescription. It is a powder that you mix in their drink and does not tast like anything.

Hi there,

My four year old son was having trouble, too. What has helped us the most is getting him into a routine of trying to go every morning and every night before bed, even if he felt like he didn't need to. We took Miralax at first, but it can become habit forming, so now if he needs a little help, he eats 3 or 4 prunes. Also, pop-corn and oatmeal with flax seed helps with increasing fiber. Make sure he drinks a lot of water too. But I think the routine was the biggest help.

call your dr and ask for a laxative

my daughter,5 1/2 gets constipated easily. As a baby & now. For prevention we have to counter act bananas with more apple juice. If your son is severly constipated I recomend pediatric suppository. You can use 1/2. A hot bath can help some or a heating pad or even a walk

M.,
Hello because I personal has deal with that problem for the last 5 yrs. one thing that I have done is changed my eating habit. No eating out because that adds to my problem I eat only wheat bread, alot greens, fruits, and I try to cut out all the stress. Because stress makes me become constipation so try that and lots of water nothing with sugar.

Hello. If you haven't already, try increasing the fiber in his diet: PlumSmart juice, Kashi cinnamon harvest cereal (very tasty whole wheat cereal), fruits and veggies. The fiber will help pull water into his system to keep things softer for going to the bathroom. Also, ask your doctor about using MiraLax. You can get it at a drugstore or Walmart. My pediatrician told me that this is NOT a stimulant or a addictive medicine. All it does is "make hard poop into soft poop" (his words). I've got a 3-yr-old who is a picky eater and I've had to adjust his diet to keep him regular. Be sure to check with your doctor, too. Best wishes!

Frosted mini wheats, frosted mini wheats, frosted mini wheats. They make lots of "little people" favorite flavors like strawberry and cinnimon. I'm sure your little guy will love it. LOTS of fiber included!

My son is 7 and had problems with constipation since he was born... problems that I finally saw for what they were.

Your child's system is off balance, which is why he is constipated. Giving him medications will solve the problem right now, but isn't really the best course of action.

Constipation is a symptom, not a disease. Almost everyone experiences constipation at some point in their life, and a poor diet typically is the cause. Most constipation is temporary and not serious. Understanding its causes, prevention, and treatment will help most people find relief.

Constipation is defined as having a bowel movement fewer than three times per week. With constipation stools are usually hard, dry, small in size, and difficult to eliminate. Some people who are constipated find it painful to have a bowel movement and often experience straining, bloating, and the sensation of a full bowel.

Constipation is generally caused by (1) not enough liquids (or the wrong kinds) (2) not enough fiber (3) too many binding foods (4) not enough physical activity

Simply changing your son's diet should correct the constipation.

(1) NOT ENOUGH FLUIDS
If your child drinks beverages containing caffeine (like soda), then cut that out of his diet. He should drink water and juices. Milk can cause constipation too, so keep an eye on how much dairy he consumes (milk, ice cream, yogurt, cheese). Don't exclude it from his diet, just keep an eye on how much he has.

(2) NOT ENOUGH FIBER
Getting enough fiber can be tricky, especially if you have a picky eater like I do. You also may not know what foods are high in fiber. Other moms suggested apples, bran, etc and those are good examples. Here are some others:

FRUITS (Pears have 5.1 grams of fiber per serving!)
Pear, Figs- dried, Blueberries, Apple- with skin,
Strawberries, Peaches, Orange, Apricots- dried,
Raisins.

GRAINS (Switch to whole grain when possible)
Whole wheat spagetti/pasta, rye bread, whole wheat bread, Oatmeal, mixed grain bread

LEGUMES/NUTS/SEEDS (Canned Baked beans have 10.4grams/fiber per cup!)
Lentils, Black Beans, Lima Beans, Canned Baked Beans, Almonds, Pistachios, Peanuts, Cashews

VEGGIES
Peas, Artichoke, Brussel Sprouts, Baked Potato with skin, air-popped popcorn (NOT MICROWABALE), Corn, Carrots

(3) TOO MANY BINDING FOODS
Eating a lot of processed food (frozen pizza, frozen dinners, boxed/pre-packaged sides) can cause constipation. Try to prepare meals as much from scratch as possible to prevent constipation.

couple of glasses of apple juice a day and vitamin c chewables, a couple a day. Prune juice works if you can get them to drink it. If you would make him eat fruit that would do it too. But Apple juice really works too.

Pure pumpkin or epsom salt will work at loosening the stools. Not harmful at all.

Switching his milk might help, cows milk can be constipating. Soy milk would help with that. For relief now, you can purchase OTC (or use to could) suppositories, ask your pharmacist. He may be a little old for them, but I don't think so.

I drink Smooth Move tea which is very effective and tasty. I just drink a cup of it (hot) at bedtime. I grew up drinking prune juice...hated the stuff...but it worked. My grandmother swore by an apple a day, said she would eat 1/2 an apple at bedtime and she was always regular.

And then there is enemas. You can purchase what you need at drugstores like Walgreens or Walmart. That is not a pleasant experience either, but it does the job.

I hope you find a solution because one way or the other, stuff has to come out. This could make him very sick and cause other issues. I pray he relaxes and things happen naturally. A nice warm bath would do that too.

Good luck.

My seven year-old son has had constipation issues since he was an infant. We went through everything and finally went to a pediatric gastointestinal Dr. He had an anal fissure and prescribed an initial enema and then daily doses of Miralax (which is now OTC). He is now on every other day once a day dose, apparently some kids have this chronic issue. Miralax is very gentle and we mix it with crystal light. You may need to watch his sugar intake and add more fiber/vegetables to his diet.
Good luck! We know the pain he can be feeling.

My first thought would be hydration mainly. Lots of water and fluids. Second would be a bran cereal (a real one, my kids will eat Cracklin' Bran, or you can try any of the high bran cereals). Oatmeal (old fashioned, not quick) is another option. Fresh leafy greens. I know all of this may be challenging to get a 6 year old to eat! But worth a try. Good luck...

Hi give a little veg julce like tomatoe juice but veg juice put in chili but veg juice

A mini trampoline would do wonders. I'm not kidding. Let your son jump on that daily. Other things like prune juice or All- Bran would be helpful. You could stop milk for a time.

Hi, I have always had a trouble with consitpation as do my two youngest childern (5 months and 2 years). For my two year old, I cut up prunes and give them to her everyday (a six year old could just eat them). I also give her a chewable vitamin C tablet everyday. The combination really works for her. However, I will tell you that constipation tends to be a result of diet. I and both of my younger children have a milk intolerance which causes constipation. You may try a lactos free milk. Another thing I notice is if my 2 year old or myself eat breads or grains it cloggs us up as well. This is the case for many people. Milk products and grains are a culprit in consitpation and gas issues all the time, most just don't realize it. Try limiting these two items for a few weeks to see if it clears up before trying anything else. I will warn you, it's hard to limit them, which is why I resort to the prune and vita C method at times.

Good luck to you!
K.

M., I think the easiest thing to try is prunes. Call them candy, and offer them as a treat. Cut them into four pieces if neccesary. This has worked well for me. A daughter of a friend of mine would walk around on her tip toes and cry because she was so constipated. We got her started on prunes and now she asks for them - she likes them and has also learned that they offer her relief. Make it fun - that is the key.

T.

Hi,

Have you tried Oatmeal or/and fruits?

B.

M.,

Make sure he's getting enough to drink, juice is great for this. If fruit juice doesn't work, talk to your doctor or pharmicist about a medicine that is especially made for children.

Good luck.

H..

Try 100% prune juice. Works for my little one.

My girls 5 and almost-11 have suffered intermitten constipation throughout their lives. We mix prune juice w/ apple juice at dinner time to help get them moving at night.

With my little one, it only takes an ounce. With my older 3 to 4 ounces.

Drinking plenty of water helps...as does green tea (decaf) as hot as they can stand it.

Hello, i'm a mother of 6 children, but i'm no expert. What I normally do when my children get constipated, is I give them a glass of prune juice mixed with apple juice. The reason I do this is because prune juice, is no the most tasty drink. It normally takes a few hours. If that doesn't work, I do the childrens suppositories. All you have to do is read the directions on the package. I usually only give the half of one, cut long ways. He is going to want to push it out, but try to coax him into holding it in as long as he can. I hope these suggestions work. They also have a product called Miralax on the market now, and all you have to do is mix it in a glass of juice, that works well too.

Add fiber, if he is not crazy about fiber rich ceareals like Honey Bunches of Oats or shredded Wheat, dress them up by using sprinkles as a topping (no extra sugar) or try Special K with Chocolate.

Yougurt is very good but leave off most dairy products.

Dark leafy vegetables are good. If he does not eat vegetables try adding V-8 to his food. I used it for years in pasta sauce, chili, homemade soup and mixed in ketchup. V-8 Fushion is a good juice.

I just found out my three year old was severely constipated. His doctor recommended that I put two tablespoons of mineral oil in his food every day. I mix it in pudding and yogurt. She said you could also mix it in ice cream. It worked within 24 hours, but I am still giving it to him every day for the next two weeks as the doctor suggested. My three year old is very sensitive to textures and could tell that I put something in his food and would not eat it anymore. So, I just give the mineral oil to him by itself and tell him it is medicine and he drank it just like any other medicine. I think this is a very good natural way to help with children's constipation. Of course, there is always apple juice. That usually works with my son. However, this time it didn't. Hope this helps.

You might try dried prunes and have him snack on them daily. They are very sweet. Raisins as well. Also Dannon makes Activia yogurt. He could eat one a day and it could help him begin to get regular. If he doesn't drink much water that is really one of the best things you could do. Drink Water! If he drinks a lot of soda, that will contribute, because soda dehydrates the body. One more option is to give him one tsp of Mylanta a day for several days to see if it helps him. Hope you find some relief for him! ~

I know two parents who resolved this problem with their kids. One increased the fiber in his diet - more raw fruits and veggies. The other started giving him an omega 3 liquid supplement - her son was able to get off his prescription medicine for the constipation with the help of the supplement. Good luck!

The pediatrician told me to try a little miralax in juice or milk once a day to help it along. My dr said that the reason they get constipated is because they hold it because it is a little hard and with miralax... it is not a laxative, just a stool softener.

M.,
I have struggled with my daughter for years with constipation. She is a very picky eater so it is difficult to get her to eat the right foods to help with the constipation. I also find that she has a control issue and doesn't always go when she needs to. It could be possible that your son is dealing with some sort of anxiety. What we did is to begin a schedule with her. With the advice of her pediatrician, we began by giving her Miralax everyday in her water. Miralax is a stool softener and it is very safe. It is also sold over the counter now so you don't need a prescription. Now she knows when she does go, it doesn't hurt. We also put her on the potty for at least 10 minutes everynight after dinner. This is to help with establishing a routine and then hopefully he will go more often. I hope this advice helps. We certainly have had an easier time with our daughter since we began this routine.

J.

try giving him mineral oil...it can be found with the laxitives in the store...it is stimulant free and works well with children...a table spoon or two a day should do it...you can add it to a drink

also old wives tale that karo syrup works as well...

good luck that is a no fun thing to go though...

apples with peeling, and plenty of water. You can cut the apples up small and have a dip if he would eat them better.

I have a LOT of experience with this! I will not go into details, but let's just say it got really bad. We were using the suppositories and enemas to try to give him some relief. We ended up at the DR. and he prescribed Miralax. Now you can get it over the counter. Put it in their drinks and they really don't even know they are taking medicine. It works well. Also, increase their water, juice, fruit anything you can get down them. I would definately get the Miralax.

Hi M., Well it may sound old fashioned, but my son loves prunes. He usually has one or two a day, and I think they really help keep things moving along. Increasing the fiber in his diet,(fruits,vegetables,and whole grains) will also help to keep him regular. A little about me: I am amom of a 3 year old son. I am a chef specializing in whole healthy foods.

Plenty of water and rub castor oil on his stomach. NO DRUGS!

I am not an expert, but it could be that your son does not drink enough water. I suffered from this my whole lfe until I finally realised that water is essential for the bowels to move!

M., First discuss this with your doctor to make sure everything is alright with his digestive tract. Also you did not discuss his diet which is the most common cause of constipation. Food high in fiber, such as, prunes, apples, whole grain cereals and breads. Also children at this age may be just put off by having bowel movements. My daughter for several years was afraid to clean herself after her bowel movements. But she was taking care of herself by age 4. Talk with him but do take him to his doctor.

Hi M.,

To remedy constipation in my son who is now 9, I give him a glass of 6 ounce glass of water with 2 teaspoons of mineral oil in it once a day. If your son will not take this in plain water you can use Kool-Aid also to mix the mineral oil in. As long as I give my son the mineral oil drink daily we have no problems with constipation. Mineral oil is natural and it is not an actual laxative so it has no side effects that are harmful. You can buy mineral oil at Wal-Mart or any drug store should carry mineral oil. I hope this helps and I will be covering you and your son in my prayers.

Blessings,
N.

Hello! Try increasing his fiber and water intake. Also here is a link for a great product that not only restores intestinal health but is 100% natural and safe- http://www.shaklee.net/carrie_claypool/product/20639