My daughter is 4 1/2 and she chronically has very soft stools. It has become more of a problem recently, because we want her to learn to wipe herself, and it's messy (we did get the flushable wipes, and that helps). I am concerned that it could be something in her diet that is causing this. I asked her ped., but he dismissed it and said that unless I see mucous or blood, she's fine. Maybe he's right, but I want to investigate further, and I don't know where to start.
BTW, she has a pretty good diet. She eats a variety of fruits and veggies (though she could eat more of them), meats, and drinks mainly water and milk, and occasionally, juice. She loves dairy, so I'm a little concerned that she is getting too much of that.
Dairy shouldn't loosen her stools. If anything, it should harden it. I would go by proccess of elimination. Slowly cut out certain foods for a week and see what happens. Fruits, Veggies, Water, certain juices will all loosen up the works so I would try to limit those a bit. You can put a bit of cereal in her food. That helped with my cousin's little girl.
My son had the opposite problem but his ped was quite helpful. My ped (and now alot of others have been agreeing) is very adamant about the use of medication especially over the counter treatments are not the best solution to a variety of children's health issues. Like the hospital ( any one but Children's Mercy) freak out if I take a sick kid in there with a temp and I tell them I haven't given them anything for it. It's about research - fevers are there to show us how well they are fighting off infection. If it is above 102 (until a certain age) then YES YES not recommended under that temp. The body needs a future reference if it has to fight the infection again.
Can't tell you if this condition is due to diet, illness or what. If your ped won't listen to you then go get another opinion. Soon. The sooner the better. And as for up above I guess I am trying to say that it is best not to try and self diagnose and treat or use someone's advice who is unqualified.
I am an avid fan of Children's Mercy,, they have a nurse line available 24-7 and know children well. They can give you solid advice, recommend doctors and they have specialty clinics all over now. I know there is one in the Northland - you are from Richmond area?? Let me know if you need there number.
Try something with fiber it should make the stools a little more firm
Hi Dorie,
My daughter has had the very same problem. She's 3 1/2, and I too was concerned with the potty training issue. My pediatrician as well as my chiropractor both recommended I put her on natural digestive enzymes. Her gut was inflammed for a reason, we took her off dairy and it didn't help. (although that's where my doctor said to start) We totally cut out juice, I've cut her wheat intake quite a bit thinking she was reacting to the wheat. We did put her on digestive enzymes and I tell you, her stools were almost normal in a month! I guess some kids are just sensitive to certain things and it constantly irritates the gut because it can't be digested properly. If I were you, I'd put her on the enzymes for a month and see what happens. Since they're natural, it won't hurt her, but it could help. If you have anymore questions I'd be happy to try and help!
D.
By any chance is she eating chocalate, that will do it!
My son is 18 years old now but he was like your daughter and had soft stools. He had them ever since he was young and I took him to different doctors I even took him to see a Gastroenterology to see if something was wrong but they agreed that some children are like that.
Hope it helps
M.
Dorie,
If she is tolerating milk products well, I really dont think that dairy is her problem. Make sure she gets a multivitamin that has iron in it. That will help with the soft stools. Have her checked for a wheat allergy to see if her intestines are having a reaction to gluten. Alot of kids have that type of reaction. If everything checks out ok, I agree with another advisor who said to start her on natural digestive enzymes. Sometimes our babies lil bellies just need an extra boost.
Hope i could help
Stef
What does she eat/drink in a day? If she is eating alot of fruit it will make her stools soft. She drink alot of water thurout the day? If so that could be a factor as well, not that its a bad thing, better to be soft than hard, if its hard stools it will make it hard for her to move her bowels.
Dorie,
I am a nutrient consultant and I know it's not easy for moms to know what would be a supplement that would be right for there children but I have put my son on one for the same reason, I found a all natural liquid supplement that taste sweet and fruity with 0 sugar 0 carbs and 0 calories that has everything including fiber, vitamins, minerals (with calcium & Iron) safe and PDR approved and I also cut way down on his dairy products.
and it has improved his overall health with being A.D.D. and having hypoglycemia or “low blood glucose”.
I feel like your Ped. should have at least explained all the in's and out's of the bowel movements,I don't think I would feel comfortable in the futer that he or she may not be as attentive as a Ped. should be, after all isn't that why we take our children to them? They are the experts and we pay for their help. Keep in mind that they make mistakes too and they don't know as much as you think or are not attentive as they should be. I don't think there is a problem, however I do feel that you need more information on the subject and there probably is something you can do or not do to decrease the softness at least some. Keep in mind that too hard of stools can be even a bigger problem and also harmful to the muscel to contract the bowels, and also messy.
