Constipation in My 2 Year Old

Oh goodness, I have been there and done that. But, here's the thing my son's Pedi told me about laxatives and suppositories they cause more harm than good. Bowel Movements are a result of your body getting rid of waste that was not absorbed and the function of bowels can be disrupted by use of such products. When using these products too frequently your body doesn't have to process the movement and then can lose the ability to do so, and cause major issues.

What I do with my son when he's constipated is give him a daily cup of diluted prune juice or those wrapped prunes that are sweet and nicely packaged. Also, I put the daily amount of water he 'should' be drinking in a jug and try my best to get him to drink it. We keep a snack tray of high fiber veggies and fruits and also crackers.

According to our Pedi, a bowel movement daily is not necessary at this age and what's regular for one child is not regular for another child. More than four day without a movement (soft mushy) is considered constipated by most standards. Also, kids even at this age can experience potty anxiety if they are being made to poop or if they are having painful or uncomfortable pooping experiences. Just keep it simple and don't stress about it. Keep a diet that is high in fiber and lots of fluids so that stools are soft, and maybe get a 2nd opinion before continuing the over the counter products.

This link is very helpful:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_constipation_11419.bc

Rhiana,

I have had my own issues with constipation and have been using Ultimate Aloe juice and love it! Check out www.marketamerica.com/autumnlugo and click on Ultimate Aloe for details. It is safe for toddlers and tastes great!

A.

I would recommend two things.... 1. increase his WATER consumption. (A good rule of thumb is 1/2 his body weight in ounces each day) When we become constipated it's because the body is dehydrated and has to reabsorb the water from the feces to maintain homeostasis. 2. Check with a chiropractor. Sometimes if the bones are out of alignment they will push on the nerves that control elimination.

It IS necessary to move your bowels every day otherwise toxins build up in the system.

J.
www.HolisticWellnessAndNutrition.webs.com

I give my kids PB8 nearly every day and so many of my friends do as well. We all take it from time to time. It's just a really good probiotic and within days some babies are not constipated anymore. You should be able to find it at a natural food store in the refrigerated section. We open the capsule and dump the contents into our kids' mouths before bed or whenever. It also boosts their iummun system. If your child has ever had any antibiotics, the consitpation could be due to subclinical candida...meaning it doesn't show up on the lab tests.

R., constipation is not caused by "just one thing", therefore can not be treated by "just one thing". That suppository, that is like a bandaid, it is not the cure. Prunes, also like a bandaid, also not a cure. You have to look at the entire diet, exercise and health of your son. The mashing of fodd, makes me go hmmm... perhaps he knows that something is not "moving through" him properly, therefore he needs you to mash his food. It does raise my eyebrow.

In my wellness programs I offer some great organic, pure superfoods that feed the body so that body will function at it's optimal level. If you want.

R., look a the whole child. Do not look at JUST the constipation. It is just one thing, the body is made of billions of cells, you have to evaluate everything that is going on. Everything in the body is linked. Look at the connections, food, exercise, activity, everything.

We can connect about this if you want. Feed the body and the body will perform.

B.
Family Success Coach

Ask your pediatrician about regular ole flax seed oil from your healthier markets. We've used that for our daughter's constipation and it works like a charm. Pour it right into a small milkshake or smoothie and your son will never know the difference. Good luck!

My son has dealt with constipation issues for a long time. We always keep a bag of prunes in the house and give him 2-4 whenever he's backed up. He loves the prunes and they usually do the trick.

Prune juice and apple juice also work for him - I dilute it with about 50-60% water.

When it gets really bad, we mix a little miralax into his water or juice. It is a flavorless powder so he doesn't know it's there. They don't sell a children's variety, so our doctor recommended 1/4 of an adult dose. This was back when he was probably in the 15-18 month range with a weight around 25 lbs.

Hope that helps!

K.
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