33 answers

Please Help! 21-Month Old with Bloody Diaper Rash and Constipation

Please help!

My son has been constipated for the last week with BMs the consistency of thick peanut-butter. He can't seem to get one big poop out but instead he's been straining and getting small amounts out at a time. This has made his bum incredibly raw and now it has started to bleed in places. There's no blood in the stool, just on his cheeks. We've tried prune juice and flax for the constipation and all sorts of diapers creams & sprays to help the rash. When it seemed like it would be better to not have moisture on his bum, we tried cornstarch. Nothing is working. Any suggestions to help either condition? He's in so much pain that he's clamping those little cheeks together and not letting me in to wipe him up. He's really strong and I'm losing the battle. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

So What Happened?™

He's getting much better! We've been bathing his bottom in a water and vinegar solution that has eliminated the yeast infection and rash. After reading Dr. Sears' 10-step plan for constipation, http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/t081100.asp, we started giving him YoBaby Yogurt drink with 1 tsp of flaxseed oil. We have been giving him half the drink twice a day since it has way, way too much sugar for our liking but it is helping. He is no longer constipated and he's letting me change his diaper without any fuss. Thank you all for all of the wonderful suggestions!

Featured Answers

My 20 month old daughter has had the same issue for seems like forever now....... she would take huge hard BM's and it was the saddest thing ever. I didn't know what to do she would just scream and cry, and hold it in and finally when she couldnt hold it any longer she would shake and it was just the worst thing. It helped if I put a little Vaseline down there so it would slide out easier. A big spoonful of Flaxseeds in her oatmeal worked for a little while, she wouldn't really drink too much prune juice. The Dr. told me I could put a spoonful of Benefiber in her juice, but that never even really helped. So now I found the best thing that works for her is Aloe Vera juice mixed in with her normal Green Juice, and BEANS. She loooooooves beans, and that has seemed to work the best so far. Chile beans are the ones she likes the most. As for the rash I also found a zinc-oxide cream worked the best, and I just let her run around the back yard on warm days with no diaper at all just to get some fresh air to the area. Good Luck!

3 moms found this helpful

Can you let him run around pantless while he is at home so his bottom gets some fresh air? Poor little guy!

As for the actual constipation, here are some methods that can help:
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/toddler-constipation

3 moms found this helpful

is he eating something new. My son got horrible rash with carrots and sweet potatoes. Give him some milk of magnesia to get things going again. Lots of water and fiber. Are you using the desitin cream? The white stuff? He may have a blockage, has a doctor felt his stomach? Increase his fruit intake and fiber. You can probably use benefiber too. I use that with my son. Helps a lot.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

For the rash/bloody whelps I would buy Burts Bees Non-Talc Powder and Butt Paste. Use the Powder at night and then the butt paste during the day. My son has the same problem and it really really helps him.

For the other issue; fresh fruits and veggies will help also yogurt. Stay away from milk for a few days (if he is eating yogurt his calcium intake will be fine) and give him water instead. My son goes through this from time to time and we just change up this diet and it does help.

3 moms found this helpful

My 20 month old daughter has had the same issue for seems like forever now....... she would take huge hard BM's and it was the saddest thing ever. I didn't know what to do she would just scream and cry, and hold it in and finally when she couldnt hold it any longer she would shake and it was just the worst thing. It helped if I put a little Vaseline down there so it would slide out easier. A big spoonful of Flaxseeds in her oatmeal worked for a little while, she wouldn't really drink too much prune juice. The Dr. told me I could put a spoonful of Benefiber in her juice, but that never even really helped. So now I found the best thing that works for her is Aloe Vera juice mixed in with her normal Green Juice, and BEANS. She loooooooves beans, and that has seemed to work the best so far. Chile beans are the ones she likes the most. As for the rash I also found a zinc-oxide cream worked the best, and I just let her run around the back yard on warm days with no diaper at all just to get some fresh air to the area. Good Luck!

3 moms found this helpful

When none of the zinc-oxide creams worked (and the rash wasn't yeast) our doctor said Paladin Cream. It worked like a charm!

3 moms found this helpful

Can you let him run around pantless while he is at home so his bottom gets some fresh air? Poor little guy!

As for the actual constipation, here are some methods that can help:
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/toddler-constipation

3 moms found this helpful

Clean him in a tub of water and just splash water for now. Keep up the prune juice, it was nearly a staple in our house for my daughters second year (of life). Try Butt Paste for the rash. Apply what you can and if he is squeezing the cheeks it will work its way to the affected area.

3 moms found this helpful

Whenever I hear constipation I first think of a food allergy if the prune juice isn't working. Possibly a dairy allergy? Also, make sure he is drinking more water can help too. I know that peaches and pears also have a laxative effect. Also, there is a juice called Plumsmart in the regular juice aisle. I know whenever my children start with any sort of rash in the diaper area I use A & D and it clears it up pretty fast.

3 moms found this helpful

Someone already mentioned all the P fruits, but what also works every time for our little guy is AVOCADO- it works wonders. Also- I think it's soothing, so he may have less irritation "on the exit"
Washing with water (with a detachable shower head) at every diaper change, then gently towel drying was our best solution for the diaper rash. It involved cleaning/bleaching the tub every day, but it cleared quickly and now we use cloth wipes we dip in warm water for the maintenance. Into a covered pail- and into the wash every other day- hung out in the sun and no more diaper rash- ever...
Good luck,
S.

2 moms found this helpful

I just took our 10 month old to the pediatrician for a bad diaper rash and she had to prescribe him Nystatin because his rash had turned into a yeast infection. The doctor did tell us that we could always use coconut oil/butter if it's starting to look a little too red to keep it from turning into a yeast infection. Apparently the coconut butter is thick like a paste and creates a nice barrier.
To help your son get his poop out you can use a rectal thermometer to break up the mass. Just put a little lube on the tip of it and insert it just like you would if you were taking his temperature.

2 moms found this helpful

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