Toddler's Prolonged Constipation

My 20 month old had a problem with hard stools also. We tried changing his diet but nothing worked (we never tried medicines). What we found that worked beautifully was prune juice. I'd put half prune juice and half water in his cup and we'd go through about 5 diapers in one day just with poopy ones. The only problem was he'd want more juice the next day too. Good luck.

Hi J.
My daughter also had trouble with constipation. She is 4 now and is alot better... so it does pass. But in the mean time, here are some ideas... have you thought about a gluten intolerance? Have you tried prunes and pears? My daughter had to have prune juice daily and pears three to four days a week to keep her regular. Your daughter's percentages are fine and I wouldn't worry about still breastfeeding her at 18months... kids are all individuals. My daughter still tells me if she had a hard one and then goes and gets herself a yoghurt drink (DanActive). The water is great, but don't forget that sugar can also help pass stools... jello is great if your daughter likes it, also fennel tea which can be drunk cold. My pediatrician in switzerland, where my daughter was born, just told me to keep trying different combinations and that some kids are a bit underdeveloped in that area, but that she will catch up, and she did. She used to push so hard that she would be crying and pushing for forty minutes in my arms and then would collapse asleep as soon as it was out... so I really sympathise!

My daughter who is 7 now, was constipated from ages 2-5 on and off, and had to be on Miralax as well. Make sure she is getting plenty of fluids and don't worry about using Miralax, it isn't addictive and it does take months for them to get used to going poop without the pain. That is what happened to my daughter, she was scared to go and held it and their bodies absorb moisture from it and makes them even more constipated. Potty training wasn't fun because she was always afraid it was going to hurt. But I didn't want to give her the Miralax everyday, but then the constipation would just come back. So my advice would be to give it to her everyday in her sippy cup, until she outgrows the problem. And what helped me was to keep putting her on the potty even if she said she didn't have to go. I know your daughter is still little, but it's something to keep in mind if she's still having problems when she's training. But do whatever you feel comfortable with. Good luck!

We give my daughter grape juice, one glass per day. She loves milk and would drink it all the time, so she used to get constipated and then hold it in because it would hurt. I don't have the problem with my son because he loves orange juice and requests it. At first we got her 'going' with mineral oil and magnesium citrate. (what our doc recommended). After she went a few times and was comfortable again, we just made sure that she got that glass of juice everyday(and still do). We haven't had a problem since. Good luck and God Bless.
S.

My 3 year old daughter has also had trouble with constipation since she was released form the hospital as an infant. We have tried everything from prunes to beans to juices and even caro syrup. Nothing worked until we tried Miralax. Potty training was torturous until we found the releif that Miralax has given her. She is now doing well and has consistant bowel movements everyday. If we miss even one dose her touble starts all over again. I have asked her pediatric gastro intestinal doctor if she will need to be on this medication for the rest of her life and he said maybe and maybe not. Every child is different. Some children outgrow it and others do not. Continue doing what you are doing and good luck!!

H. Swift
Royal Oak, MI

Yogurt has really helped to regulate me (and dan active, probiotics, etc.) i have have chronic constipation my whole life. I am 52 and for the past 1 1/2 years, i have faithfully ingested some form of good bacteria and i am now regular....and besides that, the benefit of a better immune system. Hope this helps, J.

My son takes a wonderful product that may help...I am a Product Broker with an awesome multi-vitamin for children. For details, visit www.marketamerica.com/TheVoiceOfTruth and look at the Might-A-Mins. The are isotonic (see the product demo), so she can drink them and they contain everything that her little body needs to get regular!

Good luck!

hi my son who is seven has the same problems he is also on that same meds. but my doctor said to keep him away from any food that will constapate him like cheese and all. feed lots of fruits specially raisins let her snack on them all day and prunes get the ones that are dried like rasins.they really dont taste bad my son gobbles them up feed her things that would make stool loose juice try prune juice she may suprise you and drink it.the medicine i dont think is a huge problem cause its just like fiber and stuff just loosens stool and makes it regular. also take care of this problem now cause my sons problem came from costapation it streched his colon out and he was pooping his pants and didnt realize he had to go now we are retraining him making sure he goes poo at least once a day. that way his colon will shrink back down to normal size again and he can feel that he has to go.hope this helps a little

If she is drinking cow's milk, switch to soy for a couple of weeks. We had an experience with my son where, until he was about 2 1/2, he had a really difficult time digesting cow's milk (which is VERY common). Soy milk is much easier to digest. Our poor son was in almost constant pain until we figured it out. I could have strangled our doctor for never suggesting soy (we got a new one after that).

I hope it helps.

Try taking her to a chiropractor. When my daughters hips and pelvis are out of whack (happens often in children) it has a noticeable effect on her bowels. My daughter is 19 months. It doesn't hurt, not scary, but makes everything run smoothly!

HI J.,
So many times we get swept away with all the different causes of what this could be from then all of a sudden we are putting our kids on very hard regimins.
You need to think basics. Great that you are still breast feeding that's smart. Great that you are giving plenty of fruits and veggies, very good for digestion.
I would bet the problem is the water. I know call me crazy but listen. Iron is in water, it will constipate you, just like the iron in baby formula. Make sense? Are you drinking the same water because she could be getting a double dose in the breast milk. What leads me to believe this, is you said she has black stool, very common due to Iron.
I would try to stop giving the extra water for a while see what happens, let me know.

Hi
We suffered this problem with my son from 8 months to 3 years old and were also given the Miralax and he was on it for about a year. No one could ever explain why.
My advice is to be patient (not very helpful but it was the only thing that worked)
It has driven me to tears and anger at times but he has finally overcome the problem.
We did find some relief using a natural laxative we found at Whole Food in the children's vitamin section.
I also would love to congratulate you on Breast Feeding. I breast fed my son until 3 and half!!!

Activity level does influence bowel movements, inactivity being associated with constipation. Also, have you thought about food allergies or whether she may be voluntarily holding back on passing BMs?

I had a very similar problem with one of my daughters and what worked best for her was/is feeding her fig newtons--more specifically, "Fig Newmans," from Paul Newman's line of foods. One or two cookies is all it takes. I make sure she eats them when she seems to be having a problem or has eaten an extra amount of cheese or bananas, the most frequent triggers.