Anyone Use Molasses to Help with Toddler Constipation?

Have you considered giving her prunes? My almost three-year-old grandson has been eating prunes for months and he loves them!! My daughter actually has to limit his intake.

My Pediatrician also recommends Karo syrup. Up to 2 tablespoons a day for 2 days. The body doesn't absorb it so it helps everything slip through easier. Good Luck!

I give my kids juiceplus which is a fruit and veggie concentrated supplement in a gummie form. they love it and it totally keeps them regular. plus I know they are gettin gmore servings of fruits and veggies.

I order it from my chiropractor Dr. Eric Mintz at Gateway Wellness Center. www.juiceplus.com/+em65945
M.

Our peds dr told us that a tbs. of Karo syrup in their drink cleans em out too...
I would say that if you have questions about it, to bring it up with your peds dr. since she is a petite little thing. :-)

Apple juice or prune juice will help. Keep up with the excercise and fluids, and be sure you are including lots of whole grains and roughage in her diet. You don't want to use suppositories too much as this can be damaging to her in more ways than one and may backfire by making her hold it longer because she's afraid of all things to do with her bottom. Also, try explaining to her gently that the longer she holds it the more it will hurt. Sit with her when she's trying to have a BM and talk soothingly and reassuringly to her,maybe gently rubbing her back, reminding her how much better she will feel afterwards, and that even though sometimes it hurts, it's what our bodies are made to do, and the BM can't stay inside or it will make her sick. Remind her that she needs to be brave and try to go every day or she may have to go see the doctor again or get some more medicine. It's difficult, but with your help, she'll work through it eventually. Sometimes a lactose intolerance can contribute to this also. My daughter had big problems with this around 3, she was causing herself so much pain it was bring me to tears as well. My ex-husband and his grandma had her all screwed up -they were giving her enemas all the time and suppositories, and she was so scared of the bathroom. They bought her special milk, and were persuing other medical options, but all she really needed was the right dietary balance for her, and to get over her fear of #2. This took a few weeks even after her BMs returned to normal. I know how traumatic this can be for all involved - my daughter was crying and making sounds like she was in labor when on the potty and my heart just broke for her. I hope it resolves itself soon!

Could be a fiber imbalance. No veggies? Okay, you're the mom. I would really recommend getting a little tough. Set some standards. Fruits are good. Kudos on that. But one way or another she needs the nutrients of veggies too. If you have to juice them, get them in her. I can't EAT a raw carrot. But I'll juice a whole package of them to the the vitamins and nutrients. You can get really creative with juicing. Fruits and veggies. I use apples, blueberries, strawberries, lemons, and concord grapes (or juice if they're out of season). Veggies I use beets, carrots, celery, red leaf, romaine, spinach. Organic of course.
But there's a brand of a fiber supplement. I liked it as it smelled and tasted like cinnamon apples. It's called LOCLO, by Nature's Sunshine. I don't know if it's recommended for kids, but you could look into it. It's sold mostly by distributors, but I've seen Nature's Sunshine products at Better Health stores too.

Good luck.

Its the molasses in Karo syrup that works, so you can try that, just make sure you get the dark karo syrup. My son has been constipated since he was 2 weeks old and I use prune juice, it was the only thing that worked for me. You can mix baby food prunes in your daughter's applesauce and that should work

My daughter had the same problem. The ped recommended Miralax- it really worked and helped her get over her fear of pooping hurting her. After that, we have been giving her cut up prunes or prune juice and making an attempt at lots of fiber in her diet. Does she not like veggies? She really needs to be getting her veggies, maybe you can sneek them into her diet. I know there are some books out there about sneeking veggies into kids diets. A good diet is relly the best cure for constipation.

When my daughter was 2 she started getting constipated. We gave her castoria we get it at meijers or walgreens its for kids it has a rootbeer flavor. This is a lifesaver in our house. Also our peditrtian prescibed miralax powder(now available over the counter) this is also good it can be mixed in anything and my daughter said it doesnt taste yukky. Our old Doctor use to say just more juice,fiber and water..that never worked for us. Good Luck!

Hi M.,
I've never used molasses, but have used Karo corn syrup for my daughter when she was younger, and it worked wonders!

my baby would have the same trouble with constipation. i found out that bananas can cause constipation. my doctor recommended 1 teaspoon of cornsyrup mixed with water. that worked. also apple juice helps.

good luck.

Havent tried Molasses but, cut up prunes-they look like raisins, and Tofu will do the trick. If you put the tofu into food she eats it will absorb the taste of the that food, she may never even know its there!

you mentioned that your daughter eats hardly any veggies, I would really push the veggies, raw as much as possible or lightly steamed. I think that will help more than you may think.

Have you tried prunes at all? It has always worked for me. You can give her a little prune juice or they even sell the small babyfood containers of prunes which are pureed - similar to applesauce.

I had a son with this problem, he had milk allergies, and I was told by his physician that milk allergies can some times cause it. He recommened that I buy a molasses based product called Maltsupex, said to put it in the bottle or drink, just be careful because after a few doses of it, they will be going to the bathroom more frequently. I purchased it at Meijers. I found this on a website for you:
What this drug is used for
Maltsupex relieves occasional constipation. It generally produces a bowel movement in 12 to 72 hours. The product is available in tablet, powder, and liquid forms.

How should you take this medication?
Maltsupex can be taken daily. Take the full dosage for 3 or 4 days until your constipation improves, then continue on a lower maintenance dosage as needed. Use the smallest dose that produces an effect, and lower the dosage as your condition clears up. Drink a full glass (8 ounces) of liquid with each dose.

* ADULTS

The usual starting dose for adults and children 12 and over is up to 4 scoops of powder once or twice daily, 1 to 2 tablespoonfuls of liquid once or twice daily, or 4 tablets 4 times daily. Do not take more than 48 tablets a day.

* CHILDREN

Age 6 to 12

The usual dose is up to 2 scoops of powder or 1 tablespoonful of liquid twice daily.

Age 2 to 6

The usual dose is 1 scoop of powder or half a tablespoonful of liquid twice daily.

Infants

The usual dose is 2 scoops of powder or 1 tablespoonful of liquid in water, fruit juice, or formula twice a day.

* STORAGE

Store at room temperature. Protect the powder and tablets from moisture.

We had the same problem with my oldest son when he was smaller, and our peditrician said to mix dark Karo syrup with water, and warm it up a bit. He loved the taste of it, and it helped move his system along.

I use Karo syrup with my 7month old, but the ped. said use the dark not the light syrup...it works great by the way

My daughter has this problem also. I think with her it's more a performance anxiety kind of thing. Anyway, when she's plugged up I let her eat some applesauce or raisens. Within a day or so that usually helps. If it doesn't I've got a baby enema. It's a clear stick. I break it in half and put it in her butt and that also works. When my sis was younger my mom would have us drink some mineral oil, but even though it has no taste it's disgusting! I say just have her have a small cup of applesauce everyday. Y'know the saying. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.!

M.,
My son is also 2 1/2 and use to have constipation problems. I give him 5cc of cod liver oil(orange flavored) by Nordic Naturals. He loves it and I have no problem getting him to take it. I also give him a probiotic every so often if it looks like he is getting sick or having an increase in his constipation. Good luck. J.

HI M. We use acidophilus probiotic blend from trader joes. It's great stuff, helps balance the flora in the gut. And softens the stool a little bit as well. I'd suggest getting a book like everyone poops so she knows it's not a big deal.
Good Luck, A. H

There is a very specific way to massage the stomach on anyone. You may also include the feet in this or not. Anytime I do this for my son, he will have a BM within minutes so I know it works... YOU do not have to add anything extra to your child's delicate system to 'jangle' their body.

Due to the way this needs to be done, I would rather you contact me privately if you want the information, as if it is done incorrectly ... you could back her up. This is why I am not posting the instructions 'publicly'.

(This is one of the times being at Massage Therapist at home for the family is VERY handy! Or when hubby has a stress headache~ LOL!)

Hi M., I used Caro syrup with my daughter and it worked good. Try the molasses and see if it works, if not give somethiing else a try. Going natural is best. Also use whole grain bread. Check the fiber amount on the bag, buy the highest count. Sara Lee makes a great white bread that is whole grain with high fiber. Refined pasta and bread are like glue in the gutt. I've had to have part of my bowel removed due to cronic diverticulitis as a result of life long constipation, so I know how serious this can be. Good luck.

Hi, M.! I have two boys one of them has recently had some issues with bowel movements. His doctor told us to use Miralax and two table spoons of mineral oil. He is 9 though so I would ask your doctor about the dosing but this has helped him greatly! We are only using the mineral oil because it doesn't taste and works well for him. I hope this helps!

M.

My husband and I just helped our 4 year old son learn to poop on the potty, not a pull-up. A fun snack I've recently discovered is Metamucil Fiber Wafers (they come in a variety of flavors, personal favorite, cinnamon!) -- my son and 2 1/2 year old daughter think they're great, and they have a good amount of fiber in them, so I know both kids are getting a good dose of it everyday. We eat healthy, balanced diets, but we needed a little extra push in the fiber dept. I know this doesn't answer your molasses question, but this has been a really easy way to up the fiber content of their diets, and they love it!

M.,

Have you tried grapes or raisins, and prune juce? I would stick to natural foods, since she will fight you on the yucky stuff. She definitely needs veggies too. Also, try to give her privacy in the bathroom for bms and maybe have her in the bathroom with you when you have to go #2.

Hi M.,
I have never used molasses. But I have heard of using Karo syrup or even olive oil. I personally have used miralax. It is gentle and won't hurt your toddlers tummy. She may feel a little girgly in her tummy, but that's just the miralax working the poo out of her intestines. Which is what she needs. Best of all it all works within a couple of hours. It is a powder that you can put in any liquid, I usually just use it in water. It has no flavor and may work better for a toddler.

After having constipation problems with my daughter since she was 4 months old, we have tried almost everything. Molasses did not work for us. We use MiraLax every day under the direction of the pediatric GI doctor and it is wonderful! It is really gentle and she doesn't even know she is taking it. I just mix anywhere from 1 capful (yes, an adult dose) into her milk or water - not juice though, if she hasn't gone, to 1/2 capful just keep her regular. You have probably seen the commercials on TV. You can buy it over-the-counter in the laxative aisle. It really has been a lifesaver for us. Again, it is safe, gentle and isn't habit forming. If you don't feel comfortable using it on your own, I highly suggest you ask your doctor. It is well worth it. Good luck.

I was skeptical, too, and thought it was an old fashioned wives tale. Turns out that it actually works and it won't make your little one fat, as I was concerned about. I added about a Tbs of dark Karo to every bottle and it worked like a charm!

~L.

I haven't used molasses, but when my cousin's 5 week old daughter had problems she gave her a tablespoon of Karo syrup (by doctor recommendation) in some water and that worked. Also, when I thought my daughter might have been constipated, my doctor also recommended Karo syrup. Hope this helps. Oatmeal and bananas work well with helping things move along.... :-)

M.,

We used prunes with our son. It is natural, he loved the sweet taste on his cereal in the morning and it worked great. My DH just cut them up into little pieces so he could eat them without choking.

I hope this helps.

Hi M.,

I remember years ago when my M. would put a little dark Karo syrup in my brother's formula bottles. When I asked her why she did that...she said that was "to make him go!" She poured just enough of a thin coating to line the bottom of his bottles.

I suppose molasses would work much the same as dark Karo Syrup and may be a healthier approach as well. Just a smidgen in a sippy cup of water may be worth the try and see what happens.

Prune juice was a home remedy I recall too...getting it down a toddler though might prove a bit challenging.

Did a little research about this for myself a few years ago and found we're all supposed to have 2 to 3 bowel movements a day and if we're not, we need to. Bacteria & toxins build-up fast in the intestinal track and irregular bowel movements over time, can affect our overall health. That's why all of us over 50 crowd are being herded in for "scopes" these days!

Veggies (especially those high in fiber) would sure help if you could "find a way" to get her to eat them. A little olive oil & fresh lime juice mixed in with the veggies may help to further stimulate healthy bowel movements. It tastes good too! Here in MX, lime juice is used on meats and salads regularly to combat bacteria in the digestive tract.

Our granddaughter who's 2 1/2, is on a children's pro-biotic formula (acidophilus) to promote intestinal and immune health. You may want to ask your Pediatrician about this first, then consider this as an alternative as well. May be easier to mix this in her milk than approaching her with a suppository. Pro-biotics produce good bacteria in the intestinal tract that overcomes the bad. Do talk to your Dr. first though, especially about recommended dosages if he believes that might help.

Sure hope this helps. Promoting good health early in your daughter's life will pay-off later on.

Sincerely,

M. F

Hi M.,
I feel your pain. Both of my boys struggled with this! The answer for my now six year old has been to use Miralax. It use to be only perscription, but noe you can buy it over the counter. It is suppose to be safe for kids, elderly, everyone. It is a powder, that is tasteless, that you mix into their drinks. My son never even knows when he gets it. Sometimes you have to give it a few days in a row before the bowel movement comes. It doesn't cause an explosion like Exlax or something would. It works to regulate them. Have you asked your pediatrition about this. My ped. started my son on this at age 2 or 3. She wanted him to have it everyday, to get him regulated, until he was older. We just use it from time to time now. It works great and is painless for my son. Good luck! S.

M.,

We didn't try molassses or mineral oil but this sounds so much like my daughter - even the being very petite. She's now 6 1/2 years old and weighs 36lbs (finally) and is in the 3rd percentile for height and weight. One day we will graduate to a booster seat, I promise.

She suffered alot from constipation, actually from the time she started on baby food. For a couple of years we used a prescription stool softener so she could pass it easier. I used to give her apple and white grape juice to give her a variety. What we later found out was the white grape juice can be constipating to some children.

Some things to try:

*Make sure she gets more apple juice
*Mix apple and prune juice together (it looks awful but actually doesn't taste bad)
*Try to get her to eat apples with the peel cut really small (she needs the fiber from the peel)
*Popcorn is another great source of fiber
*We used portions of glycerine suppositories when necessary to help lube things along

These are some of the things we found helped our daughter. Now, we still check in with her to find out if she's going to the bathroom on a regular basis. If she stops eating normally it usually due to her need to go to the bathroom.

Good luck!

Prune Juice!!! Does wonders!
When my sister was young she had issues with constipation because she developed fissures. My mom would give her prune juice and it really helped. Apple juice also can help.

Keep her moving and active... that helps stimulate the bowels.

Also.. you said she eats lots of fruit.. any chance lots of apples?? Whole apples can actually bind up. It's the pectin. Apple JUICE doesn't have the pectin... and has more concentrated sugar...so it actually helps move the bowels. If you're concerned about giving more juice then she normally drinks... dilute it.

As another mommy mentioned... talk to her and let her know the longer she holds it, the more it will hurt. You may want to check around her anus and see if you can see any tears that may be making it painful for her to go. The best way to help is to soften the stools.

Also, try to get her to eat some veggies... it will help too. But prune juice really should do the trick.

Hello, I am a mom of a 4 yr.old boy who since he was a baby has had trouble with constipation and bm's as well. We have tried everything!! We have even resorted to enemas. We have taken him to the dr. several times for this reason and have taken x-rays to find out just how backed up he was. I have not heard of molasses, but one thing that has helped is Miralax. It is in powder form and u simply mix it in her juice or water or anything. It is tasteless and odorless, and completely safe for her age. It makes the stool soft and easier to come out. She simply will not be able to "hold it in". This miralax is also very gentle. It will cause her no discomfort whatsoever. Talk to your dr. and see if it is an option for her. I feel your pain. It ain't easy!!! My son still has pooping issues and he is 4. So be ready for a long foad. I hope this helps, L. Aldis

Light caro corn syrup mixed with water is what we used. However, the massaging process with caster-oil is what really works.

Hi-I had the EXACT same situation with my daughter at that age. We took her to a specialist, actually, to find out why she wasn't able to go...and as it turned out when we thought she was working hard to get it 'out', she was actually working hard to hold it 'in'! He recommended using a molasses enema, of all things. And believe it or not, they worked. However, the process is so stressful for all involved. We had to do it 2 times over the course of a few weeks. After we got her good and cleaned out, we started adding about 1/3 cup of prune juice (unsweetened) to her morning juice...and from then on she was good. The prune juice works wonders..naturally. She got used to it and didn't mind it at all. Good luck. I know how stressful this can be.

Have you tried Karo corn syrup (the dark kind) when my son was young we used that for him just a tablespoon in his sippee cup and it worked great!Our pediatrician recommended it! we also switched from vit D to 2% milk. And that helped also.. otherwise fruits w/ high water content... good luck! A.

I would suggest talking to your Dr. I went through something the same with my son back when we were in the process of potty training and we used something the Dr prescribed that is now sold over the counter. I am half asleep and can't think of the name...sorry.

Good Luck

I haven't had to use it with my child, but my Mom used to give us 1 tbsp in about 8 oz. Of milk, she also used prune juice many times for my brother. Also GrapeNuts cereal works great for that, we heat it in the microwave for a few seconds in the milk then add a little sugar or sweeter for taste, we were not allowed to use much! But that works EVERY time!
Hope that helps. Good luck

M. -

I didn't use Molasses but have used mineral oil. The problem with it is getting them to take it. If you decide to use it, keep it cold and mix it well as she drinks it or it will all end up on the bottom and she won't get much.

What worked well for my daughter (and still does - she's 10) is Gerber apple prune juice. When she was 2, we called it "special brown apple juice" and she had no problem drinking it. She's 10 now, and drinks it every once in a while if she doesn't get much fruit. She doesn't eat any veggies either.

For my daughter at 2, it was a control thing. The mineral oil makes it harder to hold. You may want to talk to your pediatrician.

Good luck.

K.

I had the same problem with my daughter at that age. I used Malt Supac (sp) which is thicker than molasses as her problem was becoming severe. I used 1 tsp per juice glass of milk, and within a day or two her bms were much less labored. I used the same measure with molasses once she became regular, for a few weeks just to make sure that she stayed on track.

Good luck
A. W