Seeking Ideas for Constipated, Gassy Toddler

Breastfeeding is great! If you stop, the constipation could get worse. Does he take apple juice or other juices? You can put a teaspoon of mineral oil in his juice daily that would help him go more often. Will he not eat fruit of any kind? Sometimes canned fruit works when fresh fruit doesn't. Mine loved canned pears. What about applesauce? Or if he likes icecream, make him fruit smoothies? How does he do with vegies?
You can also try Mylicon for the gas. My husband says you can't have children without it! :)
Good luck,
K.

Try him on Miralax and colace. You can get it at Wal-mart and it helped my daughter tremendously. You're son shouldn't be having a BM only once a week and it can become very dangerous.

Prune juice (either like medicine in a med cup or mixed with apple juice 1/2 and 1/2) should help you not have to feed him.
Karo syrup!! Yes, the sugar draws water into his intestines for temporary relief of constipation.
Strawberries, pears, etc.
Mylanta will help with the gas and any upset. I buy adult Mylanta Supreme Cherry. My daughter has been on it since she came home from the hospital and her GI switched her too it from a prescription. She loves and it and it works. Give him some between meals, right before bedtime or if he wakes up in the night. She is now 7 and only takes it when she tells me she needs it. It will also loosen his bowels.
I wouldn't do all of the above, but find one or a mix that will work for you.

My daughter and I have recently discovered we are allergic to wheat, gluten, dairy and eggs, and I am amazed to find that gluten can be in so many things. It sounds like your son may have more than just an allergy to gluten. You may be dealing with celiac disease. I copied this info from the following link: http://www.fmah.org/Documents/Celiac_Sprue_Handout.doc

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF CELIAC-SPRUE DISEASE
Severe (and foul smelling) diarrhea and/or severe constipation
Abdominal cramps, bloating or gas
Anemia/Malabsorption of Nutrients
Weight loss (or weight gain)
Fatigue and weakness
Peripheral Neuropathy (tingling and weakness in an extremity)
Lactose Intolerance (milk products), Etc.

DIAGNOSIS
Celiac Disease is diagnosed by a gastroenterologist who examines the patient's medical history, blood test (CBC), and complete physical examination. New celiac antibody blood tests can be done first as screening. Then small bowel biopsies through the stomach into the small bowel are done as an out-patient (the “gold standard” of diagnosis). After clinical diagnosis from the laboratory pathologist and doctor, good response on a gluten-free diet is the third part of the diagnosis. Most people ultimately have complete intestinal healing, symptoms abate, the immune system recovers, and people feel “normal.”

There is a lot more info at the link, also support groups are listed for Houston area.

Three other thoughts:

Could you be passing an allergin to him through your breast milk?
Try sprinkling a good probiotic on his food, like Nature's Plus Tridophilus.
Try giving your son digestive enzymes before he eats.

Blessings, L.

I totally understand. "Eat more fruits and vegetables." Over the years, people have found countless ways to ignore that advice. "I don't have time." "It's too much trouble." But as scientists and nutritionists continue to learn more about the disease-fighting and preventive powers found in fruits and vegetables, it's advice we ignore at our peril.

There is no substitute for eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, at least 7-13 servings every day. But if you're like most people, you don't eat enough fruits or vegetables or enough variety. And those fruits and vegetables that we do eat tend to be over-processed, over-cooked, or too far removed from the field.

That's why there's Juice Plus+. It's a convenient, affordable, and natural whole food based nutritional product providing nutrition from 17 vegetables, fruits, and grains.

Juice Plus+ is not a vitamin supplement, providing a limited number of handpicked nutrients. Juice Plus+ is a whole food based product providing the wide array of nutrients found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains.

It's the next best thing to fruits and vegetables...because we don't get nearly enough of the real thing every day. I'm a mother of 3 children, who don't care for vegetables too much either. They been taking Juice Plus for almost 3 years and the results have been remarkable. My daughter ( 8 years old) use to suffer from eczema and she hasn't had an outbreak in over a year. My son, (14 years old) suffered with asthma. He's hasn't needed his medication is 2 & 1/2 years. I just started my 21 month old son on Juice Plus 2 weeks ago. We've been using Juice Plus for 3 years now and last week I decided to become a distributor. I've been recommending the product to my patients for a while now. They come back with amazing stories on how much their lives have improved health wise. It only made sense to me. Here is a link to my website http://www.juiceplus.com/nsa/pages/Home.soa?site=ab00393
I'm sure once you start implementing more fruits and vegetables into your son's diet, his body will regulate itself. Raising a healthy family is hard work. Juice Plus just makes it easier.

Research this product and let me know if you're interested. It's being used in hospitals around town, MD Anderson Cancer center, Hermann Hospital...ect. in combination with other studies. Good luck.

Fruits are the bodies cleansers, but prunes give me gas, so I would try other baby food fruits and plenty of water. I also have had great help with intestinal issues with Xango, a whole fruit mangosteen juice. It is not sold in stores, we purchase it direct at wholesale. It's great for kids too, I give it to my grandchildren (just a few ounces a day). More info about the product at: www.kathyk.whymangosteen.com. More info on the business at www.tryxjuice.com. Blessings, K.

Try Kayro Syrup. The clear corn syrup. Mix it in with whatever needs to be sweetened. Just 1 tsp or so. This worked for my middle child when we put her on solids. You said you are nursing. How are you BM's? One more thing, are you stearing clear of the foods he is alergic to? It could be passing through your milk supply.

Apple juice is great for constipation, can he drink that? Also you may want to pick up a book or attend a class on infant massage, there is a particular technique I learned that is called "I Love U" where you rub the belly (decending colon for I, decending & transverse for 'L'ove, and acending, transverse & decending for U). This massage helps with gas and movement in the colon, it might help for your son. Also, I have found that laying on my left side helps to allow gas bubbles to escape.

Best wishes.

I would be sure that he is drinking enough water, apple juice and try apple sauce etc. for the gas you can try this (it worked wonders for my son's colic) Buy some fennel seeds in your grocery spice center, (fennel is natural and won't even hurt an infant) take a teaspoon of seeds and put them in a cup of boiling water and let boil a couple of minutes. let steep while it cools, I would do this before bed time. strain and add a tsp. or so of sugar to make it sweet enough for him to want to drink it. give that to him before bed and you will both sleep like a baby! Also I have some yoga techniques that will help if you are interested email me and I will share a few exercises that you can do with him. Did your older boy outgrow his intestinal issues? if not he can really benefit from these exercise also and the tea as well. It has a light licorice flavor that anyone can pallette.

I would second the idea of checking to see about other digestive issues like the celic disease.

And I would suggest looking at other foods. I know this sounds strange but my babies were allergic to some strange things. They did not get apple juice at all--it gave them horrible gas and stomach problems. They could not have strawberries or carrots to eat and even baby powder after a bath.

Look at their diet and start eliminating a few things at a time to see if it helps or hurts things. Since they have other issues you will have to eliminate something for awhile--like 2 weeks to be able to see a difference.

And go with your instint--get a second opinion with a pediatric specialist. I had to go to a couple of different doctors one time for a problem, but it was well worth it. Not all doctors are going to be helpful in certain situations!

Good luck

i have 2 boys, both teenagers, that will not eat any fruits or vegetables. it's a "texture" thing. both of them eat Cheerios almost daily, and drink apple juice. make sure it's 100% juice, not sugar water. as long as they do this, they are ok

My owe personal trick for myself is 7 up, carbonated pop works for the gas and he might drink it, cause it's good. And don't know if he can have this but flaxseed, good for the whole family, put it in your everyday foods without them even knowing, like pasta sauce, soups. Hope this helps.

I know this question is from years ago, but I think I just stumbled upon a great solution. It is a FREE replay of an interview with Donna Gates, who wrote "The Body Ecology Diet."
http://www.theawareshow.com/connect/gates/

I am a SAHM of 5 kids so I have gone through what your going through. I don't know how willing you are to give meds, but 2 that won't hurt anything and they won't become depend on them is milk of magnesia for the constipation and Little Tummies for the gas cramps. In fact my youngest daughter is 18 months and she takes both not regularly, if you give the M.O.M. when you notice they are being bothered by the constipation it usually works within 24 hours and the little tummies can be given at any sign of gas pain.

It sounds like your kids might have Celiacs disease which sounds far worse than it is (as long as you begin treating it). I could go into a long description for you (another one), but I highly recommend that you research it online. Your doctor probably won't be as knowledgeable as you'd like, so I'd take it upon myself to do the leg work. Good luck!

I don't know if this will help, but when my daughter started solids, she had severe constipation. She was only 6 months old when I was dealing with this, though. What my doctor suggested was to squeeze an orange and give her a tsp. of fresh juice.
If your son is 1 1/2 years, I would give him more than 1 tsp.
Anyway, it worked for us. After about 2 hours, she would start pooping.
I would give it to her in a medicine dropper, that might work for your son instead of having to drink it.
When my daughter started getting teeth, I gave her dried mango. It was great for the teething and since she was scrapping off bits of the mango, it worked well for her constipation, as well.
Hope you find something that works!

little tummy's makes some drops for constipation that work really well. give them to him at bed time and he will poop by morning and they are made for babies and toddlers so no harshness on the little tummy! good luck!

D. Mattern-Muck
The MOM Team
www.formyrugrats.com
Raise your income and your rugrats at the same time!
"The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6

Ok, where to start. Your son should have 3-4 normal bowel movements/day. If he is not, he is at risk for every bad disease imaginable. You must try everything in your power to make sure his GI is returned to normal function and stays that way. If the feces stays in there it can be toxifying him, predisposing him to cancer, polyps, diverticulitis, colitis, you name it. The toxins can actually be re-released from the sludge in the gut into the blood system and make him very ill. #1 he probably wants to nurse all of the time b/c it is comforting but beyond that he has a natural instinct that nursing is best - which it is and you should try to keep it up until he is as close to 2 yrs old as you can. I know at about 19 months I sometimes think I am ready to be finished also but we mothers forge on for the health of our little ones (we have 4 little girls ages 2-8). Now, why is it best? It is best b/c raw milk, from all animal sources, is full of enzymes and good bacteria, there can be bad bacteria also and human breast milk is considered to be the dirtiest breast milk and it is still best for human babies. The enzymes and bacteria in raw milk are what help the body to process foods that we eat, encourage the bowel to move and purge the body of the unwanted toxins and extras after the body takes what it needs out of the foods. Prunes are a good idea but really what he may be missing is water, enzymes and bacteria. You can give him a bunch of yogurt each day (both of your boys b/c what I am suggestion will work for both of them) as long as it has "live culture" in it. You can purchase raw cow milk from our farm and this will probably help fix it; one of the key things we hear from our customers is how regular they become when they drink our raw milk. You can also make homemade yogurt very easily and for less money with our milk than what you can purchase pre-made at the store. And what is at the store normally contains corn starch which is made from genetically modified corn. Which the scientist know cause under sized organ growth in young animals and thickening of the stomach lining and intestinal lining of all people that consume genetically modified food stuffs - which causes decreased absorption of nutrients and diarrhea! So, having said that, cut out all corn and soy that is not organic, and corn/soy stuffs (high fructose corn syrup, corn starch, soy lethicin, soy flower, corn meal - yes corn tortilla's if they are not organic). The list could go on. Brookshire Brothers will let you order organic items, including cases of fruits and veggies for only 20% over their cost if you buy the entire case. You can take a case of broccoli, blanch it, and freeze it in zip lock bags. If you could get your boys to munch on "al dente" cooked carrots, broccoli and cauliflower that would help both of them. Al dente is not as hard as raw but still crunchy. It would be easier for the younger one. The older boy can eat them raw. You could join a Morningside Organic group and buy organic food stuffs as well for the same price that the grocery stores pay for it. You can start making homemade bread from wheat that you grind b/c fresh ground wheat contains the outer portion of the wheat where all of the fats and vitamins are contained as well as the roughage that cleans your gut. Wheat looses 70%+ of it's nutrients in 48 hours after it is ground; so what you buy in the store is just a waste of money. A used grain mill is inexpensive and whole grain stores for every (over 4000 years) so you can buy in quantity for a lower price. Cut out any soda's especially diet, they now know that aspertame, I may have spelled this wrong, is linked to several auto immune diseases. Add bananas to his diet, as many as he wants to eat! When ever out daughter is dehydrated and beginning to get a bit constipated, she asks for tons of bananas and things usually work out the same day or next. Make sure he drinks lots of water. Stay away from juices unless you squeeze them yourself b/c for the most part they are just sugar and that can make more of a problem than they will fix. Good organic orange juice with lots of pulp may be an option, I am pretty sure they have that in Cameron. Sometimes I ask the store clerk if there are any organic fruits that she wants to mark down at the grocery store in Bryan where I normally shop. If so, I take them home, slice them and freeze them. While I am working on this, the girls sit on the counter and work the little hand held blender that we own and we fine grind some of them up and put them in those plastic popsicle molds. I let them eat as many of these as they want everyday b/c they are a whole food, full of water and fiber and great nutrients. It costs pennies to make them. Last time we bought all the organic pineapples on display for $1 each instead of $4.49 each and blend them with the older bananas and older grapes. We had fun working together. I almost always shop on Friday late afternoon so we undertake the chopping, popsicles, etc. on Saturday mornging. Dr. Schultz at www.herbdoc.com has a liquid bowel cleansing for children made of herbs and berries. I have used it on our now 2 yr old with great results, she has in the past done what you are describing. It was mostly due to lack of water intake and lack of rough vegetables to eat. I only go to town every other week and veggies/fruits can be hard to push quite that long. I have now taken to purchasing extra and freezing and looking longingly at the garden that is in it's early growth. I am sure I am forgetting something b/c my mind has switched to a subject which my husband just posed to me about our new puppies, while I was typing here. I need to go but will gladly help more if you like. You can write me at ____@____.com you have not figured it out, Nutrition is something that I am very passionate about. My college degree is in Scientific Nutrition and we have a sustainable farm in progress outside of Cameron where we provide Raw Cow Milk, Soy Free Eggs, Raw Butter, Raw cheeses, Raw ice cream, Yogurt, Whey, Grass fed Beef, Pastured soy free Chicken, Pastured soy free Pork, Pastured Lamb and hopefully Turkey this year, to over 105 families a month. I forgot to ad that lacto fermented food stuffs will be very good for both of the boys, the cook book "Nourishing Traditions" would be a great help, they even have a raw milk baby formula that you could use if you are determined to stop nursing as well as lots of recipes for healthy alternative recipes to today's normal diet. And if you are really game look up Weston A. Price on line and read about nutrition on the web site for his foundation. He is dead now but the foundation lives on and Sally Fallon and other travel the world teaching about his research in relation to Nutrition.

I agree with what people are saying. Prune juice is the best. Right now, my four month old has severe constipation and she is too young to have an enema, so the doctor told us Karo syrup 4x a day and prune juice after each meal. Do it half and half with another juice, because prune juice isn't the best tasting stuff in the world. Also, this isn't fun, but if he doesn't go for days, rectal stimulation also helps. I know its no fun at all, but I also have to do this with my 16 month old who has the same problems. Just insert the tip of the thermometer into the rectum. With my 16 month old, its almost an instantaneous BM. Remember KY to lube it up, and you will definetly need someone else to help hold him down if you do this. I only do it in severe cases where its been a week +. Otherwise, Karo and prune juice. Good Luck!!

L. S
www.MyFamilyB4Work.com

My four year old had a lot of constipation problems around the same age. At the time the doctor prescribed Miralax. You just mix it up in whatever you son will drink a couple times a day. This is no longer a prescription medication you can get it over the counter. Try it.

Try some Fiber Sure. It's a fine white powder that you put in drinks or food. It really does disolve to the point you can't see it or taste it. It doesn't take much either. I use it as instructed on the jar. I put it in my daughter's juice (which I still dilute with water).

I put a little benifiber in what ever my son eats or drinks. It has no color or taste and helps give them a little extra fiber.

Been there!
I had to completely stop breast feeding and use Mylicon (BRAND NAME) drops with every feeding. Also try 4oz of warm water mixed with 1 tbs Karo syrup (dark) twice a day, not after 4pm, it might keep him up at night. Also, a warm bath help soothe an achy tummy...

PS-prunes can cause gas! make him eat pears instead!

GOOD LUCK AND I HOPE SOME ADVICE YOU RECEIVE WILL GIVE THE BOTH OF YOU THE COMFORT YOU DESIRE!

Please keep us posted on the different things you try and the outcomes of them!

If you can get him to eat some raisins that will help. My sis n law used to swear by Karo syrup. A week is a long time for a little one to go without a bowel movement, have you discussed this w/ your pedatrician? There may be an underlying issue here as well.

Have you ever tried given them chamomile tea? It's an old home remedy and some doctors even give the ok to give it. Well at least I've heard of some. Like mine and my sisters. My family has used it and I have used it when I had my baby. You can find it at most grocery store in the vegetable area. Also another good product is aloe vera juice concentrate from Herbalife. You can give a few drops on a babys formula or juice or water. It will soothe them for gases and constipation. For your kids as well you can also give them to them in water or juice. If in your case you are breasfeeding then you should also drink it. It doesn't taste bad like other aloe vera products instead it give a great fresh taste to plain water. Hope you can keep in touch and if you want more information on what I'm telling you feel free to write me back. Good Luck!!!

V. B.
____@____.com

It is my own personal theory that our kids are having problems digesting the foods and milk that we give them nowadays. My great nephew was having a lot of problems with his formula( iron-fortified) and he has a hernia. I suggested to my niece to give him 1/4 tablet (crushed) with each bottle because of his weight and size. The tablet is called Multiple Enzymes ( a digestive enzymes that breaks down fats, carbos, and proteins). He longers has the gas problems but ocassional constipation. I am a 55yo chemo patient and has had stomach problem problems all my life. I have been taking this tablet for the past 20years! You can go to Bronsonvitamins.com to order a catalog or call 1-800-235-3200 to order a bottle. I also went to Whole Foods and purchased a bottle of Herbs & Prunes by Nature's Life for my constipation because I can not take anything harsh. I reccommend you try these two things. Just remember to give a pedi dosage!!! S.

A bit about me. Worked with infants and toddlers who have special needs for ten years as an Early Intervention Specialist. Encountered the problem which your son has often.

We often had the mom learn how to do infant massage (especially the tummy area) to help the intestines do their job. Go on line and look-up massage for consitipation. Trying that technique might do the trick.

Also, since you said he would not eat fruit. Check out my website www.juiceplus.com/+17257. My kids have my grandchildren on the gummies which offers a creative way to help your children get in the nutrition from 17 fruits, veggies and whole grains. One of my grandson's had this problem but it was relieved when he started on Juice Plus+. Look at the research and what the doctors say, especially Dr. William Sears , a pediatrician.

Good luck as I know it is hard to deal with a child who is so uncomfortable.
Beryl

Well, maybe you shouldn't "rock the boat", but your child is suffering here. I breastfed my oldest for 15 mnths. and I know what you are saying. You really just want to be done with it. As far as the gas and constipation goes, my children had it also. I made sure that they drank plenty of water. They hated it at first but water is a natural source for your body and it may help. Good Luck, and if I come across any more info on this I will let you know.

Hi A.,

Both my children have all the allergies that you mentioned.(except for the nuts-we drink almond milk) It's tough dealing with that alone. We've had the constipation issue as well.

Chances are they're short on magnesium. *disclaimer follows...(I'm not a doc or a nutritionist, just a mom that's been there!)

Natural CALM by Peter Gillham, is a granulated form of magnesium you can get from the health food store. You mix it into water and it fizzes (the boys will think that is cool) They have a baby calm for kids under 4yrs. We get the raspberry-lemon flavor & call it our sour lemonade drink. Another benefit is that magnesium has a wonderful calming affect and it works well for my ADHD son.

I like that it's really the only thing I've found that won't make me cramp as I'm getting looser (sorry, prob too much info!)

I do agree with the poster that said you need to avoid those foods as well since you're still nursing. Even when my daughter was over a year, if I'd have BBQ then nurse, she'd get all out of sorts.

If they are having gut issues at this early stage, make sure that when you get them vaccinated, they are done only ONE at a time & with a good month in between each visit. You can request special ones without preservatives be given to your children since they are showing signs they are sensative to so much already.

Again, not a doctor, just a mom that has been through the trenches! Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions.

S.

My child is constipated all the time and I give her Gerber Apple Prune juice. This helps her alot. The only thing I know about gas is the Mylicon drops. I also know if you are nursing to not eat brocolli, beans, brussel srpouts and cut down on your and his dairy. Also, cut out bananas and avocados from his diet.

Natural honey or Karo syrup in a bottle of water helps soften the stools without making it to soft. About 1 to 2 tablespoons to 8oz.

If he will drink fruit juice, try giving him pure pear juice(not baby) found in the Spanish foods in the local super market.
Best of luck,
J.