Grand Mother Needs Help to Answer a Question & Get Some Advice

B., there's an old recipe that I used when my boys were young and I still use it to this day.It is good for vomiting, diarrhea(or the opposite)My husband's grandma gave it to me. Orange juice mixed with baking soda,salt and sugar. The sugar is for the taste because it's not a good tasting drink.To a 4 oz.glass of juice, I would put maybe an eighth of a tsp. of salt and a half a tsp. of baking soda and sugar for taste.Thay don't have to drink it all at once, but it would be good if they did. Try that and let me know how it went. Otherwise she needs to get some bran or roughage in her diet everyday to get a normal schedule going.Jello or applesauce could be good. Good Luck, grandma B.from grandma Ginny

Well I would say to push the fluids, like water and juice. Apple juice will cause diarrhea. Maybe some fresh fruits, some dried prunes or raisins, and apricots. Contact the doctor as well. Certain foods and meds. will cause constipation as well. Hope this helps. I'm a grandma too with 3 grown children and I work in the medical field.
S.

Feed her applesauce, and have her drink at least one glass of juice a day. This should help. If anything, ask the doctor for some over the counter (drops) that can be put in her milk or food????

I have used Miralax since my daughter was 1 1/2. She is always constipated. You can get it over the counter and just put a teaspoon or two into a drink. I mix our daughters with strawberry milk and she drinks it all.

We had these issues with my daughter and my niece. I would start by adding as much fiber as possible. Juice is not a good source of fiber, go for the actual fruit, not canned. They have cereal bars and cereal that is a good source of fiber. Kids this age even like prunes. I would add in small amounts because I know if can cause grown ups to get stomach cramps so it might kids also. Plus, you don't want a blow-out and a bad time. If this doesn't work there can be other things going on and I would talk to her pediatrician. My bestfriend's daughter refused to poop in the toilet while potty training or in the pull up so it backed up and they did an xray...ya, you could see it. My sister used a medication that she would giver her daughter if too much time went with out a b movement but she was also told that every person is different and not everyone will have one every day. Good luck

I am suprised that no one has said anything about pineapples yet. Add some pineapples and other tropical fruits to her diet. Pineapple is a natural laxative. The fresher the pineapple the better but the canned stuff works pretty good too. You can also get pineapple juice and you can give to her or add to other juices. Most kids eat it really well since it is sweet.

We tried everything for our daughter and finally took her to a pediatric gastroenterologist at 6 months old. He was FABULOUS! He told me "no one should cry when they poop" and I immediately fell in love :) :) I had been fighting my pediatrician for months.

Anyway, he prescribed miralax. It's a small dose and we give it to her every morning. If we missed a dose or gave it to her late we wouldhave days of no bowel movements then tears. She still gets a teaspoon every morning and we have no problems.

It is over the counter now but we still use the prescription.

Try some apple juice with her. Any time my son goes about 3 days without a bowel movement I give him apple juice. Let me tell you...that is like a natural laxative for him! It works very well, and within a few hours. It is a little difficult for him to go at first but once it comes out he has 2 bowel movements within a few hours of each other and then he is fine. Hope this helps!

My grand son has the same problem and my daughter uses a good fiber supliment mixed in with hot cereal or in milk it has helped a lot. I think she started out with 1/2 teaspon but you may have to experment with amounts to give her. Good luck!!

Hi B.! Have you tried mixing 1-2 Tablespoons of dark caro syrup into her milk? My daughter has been severly constipated since she was born and that's what our pediatrician had us do early on and it helped a lot. Now they've prescribed a powder laxitive that I mix into her drink (no taste or texture change) every 3-4 days and it's non-addictive. Good luck!

We had this trouble with our daughter too. She loved, loved, loved cheese. So, we had to limit her cheese intake and push more fruit and veggies. Good luck... Our family doctor gave me a script for Miralax, but before I filled it I tried the fruits and veggies. They worked and I didn't have to use the medicine.

Definately try some myralax. My 2 yo has had to take this for about 6 months. I wish I would've known about it a year ago. Just mix a little bit a day(once a day) in whatever liquid she drinks, to help keep her regular. It works wonders!!

B.,
first I would try some of the baby juice that is the apple/prune juice, that always seemed to help my little ones have a movement. I realize she is a bit older, you say she isn't chewing her food that well? I would probably make sure it was in smaller bites. Does she like raisens? Or if they are two tough sometimes cutting grapes up ( I quarter grapes and make sure they are seedless type as well, because cutting in half can still be a choking hazard)
If she has a fairly balanced diet you may want to talk to the pediatrician if she is straining with no movement, has any blood in her diaper and has really hard dry stools, she may need some medicine to help her. My daughter was on something we added to her drink once a day, it was prescribed but it was natural and non habit forming, basically they described it as a simple sugar the body didn't break down that just passed thru the system and acted like a stool softner, I wish I remembered the name!
I wouldn't think always going 3 to 4 days was normal, but all children are different, if she doesn't seem to be in pain and the stools she passes are still soft it isn't a horrible thing. Just try and watch that she has a balanced diet.
Lots of luck!
B.

They do have over the counter liquid/meds but they are very h*** o* little ones tummys and they are not for long term use...I would try the natural route or contact her pediatrician = )

Apple juice has always been a good way to get my little one to poop! Stay away from bananas, they cause constipation! Prunes or prune juice might work although Ive never tried them. Good luck!

When my eldest daughter was a baby I used Karo syrup or glycerin suppositories.

My daughter had this problem when she was little I have 2 suggestions from her doctor.Brer rabbit mollasses in her milk or get Miralax from the pharmacy. Good-luck

Adding fiber to her diet is a natural way to aid in regular bowel movements. It is not good for her to go so many days apart. Poor stinker! My daughter had the same problem when she was younger and we actually had to go to suppositories. If the fiber doesn't work, you might want to call the doctor and get their advice on the suppositories. Good luck!

Here are some high fiber choices
Fruits:

* dried fruits such as apricots, dates, prunes and raisins
* berries such as blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
* oranges, apple with skin, avocado, kiwi, mango and pear

Vegetables:

* broccoli, spinach, swiss chard, green peas and other dark green leafy vegetables
* dried peas and beans such as kidney beans, lima beans, black-eyed beans, chick peas and lentils

Nuts and Seeds:

* nuts and seeds such as almonds, whole flaxseed and soynuts

I can SYMPATHIZE!!!! All 3 of my children had/have major constipation issues. This is what I have learned from constant questions to my pediatricians: One, don't get hung up on how many days it has been between bowel movements - as long as it seems to be a regular schedule. Two, the bigger issue is the consistancy of the stool and the effort the baby has to put forth to get it out - if it is very hard or dry its not good, if they have to strain and maybe even several times that day that too is very bad. Three, its not so much the dairy (like w/ adults), kids process the fat differently, but they don't always get enough fiber. Always make sure there are plenty of whole grains in their diet. You can also use Benefiber, about 1tsp a day in milk or juice, and prune juice REALLY works wonders too. I do feel your pain, but I can tell you my first 2 did grow out of it somewhere around 3, and my fingers are crossed the same happens w/ my little guy!!! Best of luck to you and your grand baby!!

My daughter has the same problems. My doctor has me use Miralax. It is over the counter and a powder I put in her milk. It is a stool softner and is not addicting or anything the body gets use to. It has worked wonders! I put it in her milk at dinner every night. Good luck.

we use a kids suppository from wal mart for my granddaughters they work well n seem to work fast
my oldest granddaughter needed them alot when she was younger n the 4 yr old just had to use them
they r under $2

My 2 1/2 year old has suffered from this for about a year now. She holds it because she doesn't really want to go on the potty. Miralax has been a life saver! It is an over-the-counter stool softener and it's perfectly safe to use for as long as needed. My daughter gets 1/2 capful in her milk, juice, or water every other day to keep her regular, but check with the pediatrician to be sure about the dosage.

My son had the same problem at that age. His doctor wrote a script for Mirlax. It is much safer than other products out there. The majority of other products contain asprin. Asprin is not good to give children if they have a fever. I think you can get Mirlax over the counter now. If you are not already you might want to add grapes and other fresh fruit to your grandchilds diet.

Good Luck.

Good Morning Gr Mama B.. Corbin ( almost 4 ) gets constipated like that. What his mama does only once in a while is to give him a little of the Fletcher laxative for children. I have been giving him a lot more baby carrots, celery, raisins, muffins.. etc. Anything with good fiber.
He has such large BM's he bleeds a tinge. They try not to go cause they know it is going to hurt. If I can get him to relax on the potty, reading, singing silly songs, he can usually go ok. You might try pear juice also instead of apple juice, that way if she does go she won't have all the acidic burning.

Have to tell you B., when our eldest was maybe 9 months we went to OK to visit hubby's gr parents. Drew was fussy and cried a lot, I was up with him tummy down across my lap, patting, humming. We were to go fishing that next morning with his gr papa. Gr-ma Ella told us to go ahead and go, she would watch Drew. This lady was in her 70's. We were gone quite a while and when we got back Drew was happy and giggling. In the corner Gr ma Ella pointed to a stack of yuckie diapers. She had given him a baby oil enema. 7 YUCKY POO diapers. He felt a lot better. Thank Goodness they ran a laundromat in back of their home..lol

God Bless B. I hope you find something that helps your little Angel soon.
K. Nana of 5

Whenever my kiddos are stopped up the doc always says apple juice, Orange juice is a good one too! Works for us!

Not sure if this was mentioned - lots of advice! - but watermelon might help. Our daughter loves it and it helps keep her regular and hydrated.

B., I know of an all-natural product safe for children. You can email me offlist.
C.

Good Morning B.,

I am a grandmother also. We have 4 granddaughters and 4 grandsons with one more due soon.
I myself have had this problem most of my life, in fact as long as I can remember. You really need to hear what we've heard and are now doing about it. It has had great results with children also. And not just with constipation. There have been life changes for adults and children alike. I have had to take only 1 laxitive since April 2008.
You really need to hear abut this.
You can reach us at:
Home - ###-###-####
cell - ###-###-####

My daughter has the same problem. I give her Pedialax. It's in the children's ailse of the pharmacy. It taste like fruit punch, I put in a drink or she drinks it alone. It's a softner, not a laxative and so far it helps.

My son loves prunes! They really are a wonder fruit in the "regularity" department. Prunes are wonderful for getting a good BM.
Apricots are also quite good for that.
Basically, larger fruit that she would have to chew to get it down will help, but prunes are by far the best.

Hi B.,

I have a 4 year old Granddaughter that has always had trouble with her BMs. Her Pediatrician has my daughter giving her Miralax daily. It can be bought over the counter. She told her to give her 1/2 the adult dose. It is non addictive and it really does help when given regularly. When you mix it into what ever they are drinking there is no flavor, it dissolves completely.

Good Luck!

N.

My son I gave him on a few occasions they are infant/ children suppositories they do help and relief the same day or overnite depending on when you give it to them.I had to go as far as taking him in to see our pediatrician because he would hold his poop afraid to go potty and she recomended mineral oil in his juices no taste nothing just if you go that route make sue it is in a darker cup because you can see the seperation in the juice from the oil.It worked everytime for him we haven't used it in over a year.

She may not be drinking enough fluids. Not enough fluid will definately cause you to become constipated, not just dehydrated. Have her drink more. Give her more fiber juices like apple juice. Most kids don't chew their food all the way, so that is not the problem. Have her eat more fiber foods too. Since she is a good eater then she shouldn't have any problem eating food with more fiber. Good luck and God Bless.

I would go with Sheila's advice. I tried everything and then went with Miralax. Most likely she is holding it in because it hurts so much to go. It took about two weeks going regularly before my daughter was no longer scared to go. After that she didn't hold it in so it didn't hurt. No problems since.

You have lots of good advice here. A lot of people mentioned fiber, which I would try through fiber rich foods first, especially if she eats well, but you can also use Benefiber. It's OTC in any pharmacy or grocery store and it's tasteless. My ped. said we could use it on our baby so it's safe for little ones. You can mix it into anything!

You can try adding some Karo syrup (1 teaspon to 1 tablespoon), mineral oil or Miralax to her drink. I used the Karo syrup when by son was still drinking bottles and then moved to mineral oil and now I use Miralax. The doctor told me to use at least half a cap of Miralax, but I only give him at most 1/4 a cap and it works well. Out of all 3, I like the Miralax the best, but no matter which, if any, you try...start with a lower dose so that she doesn't go from constipated directly to the opposite of that.

To keep things moving easily, I give my daughter Metamucil Fiber cookies. They are yummy apple cinnamon flavored crunchy cookies. You could give her one every other day, or more if needed. They work well, and are easy to get them to eat. My friend has always put pure nectar in with her kids juice to keep them going regularly. Good luck.

I would think that not chewing her food would make her more prone to loose stools than the other way around...but then I could be mistaken.
If she has ALWAYS had her stools spaced out instead of being on a daily basis, and if she isnt straining to have a bowel movement, or complaining about stomach discomfort...I wouldnt be too concerned.
If she is straining, or seems uncomfortable you could try Infant glycerin suppositories and you could add some roughage to her diet. I also know that my girls were always helped with Apple Juice...seemed to be a natural "lubricant".
If all else fails...I would contact the pediatrician.

Hello there! I have a daughter who has IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Unfortunately she gets constipated all of the time. Apple juice is great miracle worker. Just about any clear juice should do the trick. Does she like beans? Fiber, Fiber, Fiber!! Or you can do oatmeal with brown sugar! Brown sugar is a natural laxative. This works too! I hope this helps you. Like the other mom has stated make sure she gets plenty of fluids. If she likes alot of juice, but you want her to drink water....I make my daughter frozen juice ice cubes and I add them to water. As the ice cubes melt her water sweetens up. She absolutely loves it. It is a wonderful rememdy for summer time. Good luck to you!

~S.

Not everyone has a bowel movement every day. Your granddaughter should certainly be drinking, but milk is certainly not your only option. Have her drink water, eat fiber rich foods. If her bowel movements are not difficult or too hard, I wouldn't worry about it TOO much.

My daughter had the hardest time going. I used to have to help get it out of her. She was a mess from the time she was a little baby until she was potty trained. She refused to drink juice which made it hard. I would give her a Dr. Pepper every day. It has prune juice in it. I would also get the Gerber baby prune juice and mix some in the Dr. Pepper. As long as she had her Dr. Pepper a day we could stay pretty regular. Good Luck!

Ok, you've probably been overwhelmed by the responses here but I'm going to add another...what concerns me is the "not chewing up her food". This sounds suspiciously like my eldest at this age. I would recommend taking her in to see an ENT. The reason being is that my son was diagnosed with fluid on his ears but not until he was 3 and had delayed speech! In addition, it seemed to stimulate the mucus membranes which in turn made him extremely nauseous (therefore never drinking milk, eating cheese or any other dairy). The similarities that you write about are nearly the same as my son.

As for the constipation....I would try prune, apple or pear juice. Feed her applesauce and mandrine oranges (not necessarily together...LOL). Apricots also help. There are several other laxatives that you can buy over the counter. I know Pedi-lax just came out with a dissolving strip they can just put on their tongues. When my son was a baby, I alway put 2 oz of prune juice in 1/3 bottles to keep him regular (we just called them chocolate and vanilla). You definitely need to get her going more regularly as she will start straining herself and developing hemroids. I would also talk with her peditrician about suppositories. You can buy them over the counter but you don't want to overdo them or you will deplete her system of nutrients so find out EXACTLY how much you need to do (or rather how little). Good luck!

B.,

I apologize if I offend anyone here, but someone needs to be the devil's advocate. I looked up this Miralax stuff that so many people have recommended by their doctors. They have never done research with children. Although they may claim "all natural" - this means nothing. The active ingredient is something called "polyethylene glycol 3350". Hmmm . . sounds like something we should put in our cars, not our children. Before you put your baby on something like this - do your research and google the side effects, etc. So - they probably do great marketing to physicians.

Go the truly natural route with fruits, vegetables, high fiber grains, and beans (avoid or limit animal protein and dairy - very constipating). We add a whole food concentrate called Juice Plus+ - concentrated fruits and vegetables (which comes in Gummie form for kids). Gummies have done wonders for kids that struggle with constipation. I share Juice Plus+ with families because I fell in love with the nutrition education, not because I was interested in income, so if you would like a sample of gummies, I will be happy to get some out to you.

I truly hope this is helpful - as it is always difficult for you to hear my heart when I share and tell people that we do not have to be constipated! It is not normal even though 1 in 4 people suffer from it. You do not want to be dependent on an artificial laxative. There are always side effects. We have to teach people to find the root cause and work on it. You can do it! I am proud of you for mothering again!

Blessings,

P.
www.SeeJP.com

I would not worry to much on this, my daughter did the same thing I tried everything, enemas, laxatives, foods the doctor said thay she was fine. She is 5 now and still will go a few days without going.

I'd try getting her to drink some prune juice before trying medication. Also, try just increasing her fiber intake. There are lots of natural ways to go to see if it helps before going for a prescription. Then if they don't work try medicine. Increasing fiber helped regulate my little girl...hopefully it will work for you. It never hurts to call the doctor's office for their recommendations. Our nurse usually makes great suggestions.