Recurrent constipation in 15 month old

[Taurean]

DD has been suffering from constipation on and off for about 6 weeks now. We've tried several things as recommended by our pharmacist including suppositories (ewww, that sucked for both of us) and Parachoc childrens laxatives. She tends to come good after finally getting the big 'poo' out and normally follows up with a nice soft one within an hour but then a couple of days later the whole process starts again.

I've been holding off going to the doctors as she keeps coming good but I've finally booked her in for tomorrow. I doubt there's much they can do but maybe there is some sort of fibre enhancer that's safe for toddlers or maybe the doctor will refer us back to her paed

DD's never had a problem before, she always had nice soft poos and was very regular. I can't for the life of me work out what's changed except that she has become a bit fussier with food. She drinks a decent amount of water, normally has two bottles of cows milk a day (she's been on cows milk now for 3 months without any problems) and her diet is varied and includes plenty of fruit and vegs. The fussiness worries me a bit though as she's getting quite picky with what she will and won't eat and there isn't much I can do - I can't force her!

I guess I was posting to see if anyone else has experienced this with their toddler. I hate seeing her strain and get so upset - I feel so helpless

[Artechim]

Will she eat prunes? Sunsweet pitted prunes are quite yummy and might be helpful. Also stay away from banana while she is having trouble.

Hope you get it sorted out soon xx

[CrazyLady]

Will she eat prunes? Sunsweet pitted prunes are quite yummy and might be helpful. Also stay away from banana while she is having trouble.

Hope you get it sorted out soon xx

stay away from apple too. It's recommended to be given to kids with gastro as is banana. DD went through a phase of this but I realised it was linked to the days the supermarket only had white bread. If I had to give her white bread I'd give her a smoothie of yoghurt and blueberries to counteract it itms.

HTH and I hope it sorts out!

[Taurean]

Thanks Art but yeah, have tried prunes and watered down prune juice. She's fussy with the prunes, will only eat a little bit then that's it - same with sultanas. The prune juice was a novelty at first but that wore off by day 4, lol.

Good point on the bananas - will keep them off the menu.

I'm starting to think she's actually scared herself into not wanting to poo. I did a bit of googling and there was some info to say that some toddlers can get 'traumatised' after a bout of constipation and hold off pooing and thus the cycle continues. Maybe she needs a week of good soft ones to get her over the fear, KWIM? I really have no idea though, lol

[Taurean]

stay away from apple too. It's recommended to be given to kids with gastro as is banana. DD went through a phase of this but I realised it was linked to the days the supermarket only had white bread. If I had to give her white bread I'd give her a smoothie of yoghurt and blueberries to counteract it itms.

HTH and I hope it sorts out!

Ooh, good tips! I love the smoothie idea. Will get some frozen berries today and give that a go. She doesn't eat much apple and her bread is white but it's the high fibre, low GI bread. Maybe it's not as good as the marketing claims

[~Trish~]

The poor thing . I also find kiwi fruit works really well at clearing out the system .

[CrazyLady]

Ooh, good tips! I love the smoothie idea. Will get some frozen berries today and give that a go. She doesn't eat much apple and her bread is white but it's the high fibre, low GI bread. Maybe it's not as good as the marketing claims

I found even the high fibre white stuff was rubbish. It was definately the culprit. Wholemeal here only now. With the smoothies it started because if she was blocked up, she'd have a tummy ache and not want to "eat". even yoghurt seemed to scare her so if it was in a cup it was a drink iykwim. The yoghurt and vitamin C hit really helped. Plus the acidopholus helped unclog her. Now I give her one of those Vaalia kids squeezy sachets (probably not the best yoghurt) a day and no worries because she can do it herself. I have made the smoothies and frozen a few in icypole container things for novelty if DD isn't feeling well too.

[Fig]

My DD went through constipation problems around the same age. Co-incided with coming off breastmilk during the day. She got constipated and then got a fear about pooing so would hold it in for days. Then when it did come out it either hurt her again (reinforcing the whole pooing hurts) or we would have to use suppositries, coloxyl drops etc, equally traumatic.

After doing all the usual dietary things, we put her on the liquid parachoc DAILY for a couple of months. Sounds harsh but it was the best thing we did. Its not a laxative so the bowel wont become dependant on it. It just made her poos soft enough and made it so she had to go every day. We kept it going for three months to get her over the emotional problems. Weaned her off it by lowering the dose for the 4th month. She hasn't had a problem since, toliet trained herself and 2 and 1/2 without any dramas.

Goodluck with it all, it can become quite an ordeal for the little ones.

[UsPlus2]

I'm a bit sleepy but thought I would quickly write that my DS went through the same thing, and does sometimes. It gets worse when he goes off food, but I find that he still is happy to have fruit in a sassy, so I mix fresh cut up pear and kiwi fruit into the sassy and give that to him several times a day. It works great. When he is being particulary fussy I use the rafferty gardens satchels, the green one and the purple one (cant remember what fruit is in them right now) for morning and afternoon tea. HTH, will write more tomorrow

[Taurean]

Thanks so much for your comments girls. We've seen our usual doctor and she was not surprised at all - there is a pamphlet about it and all!! It's so common in toddlers, particularly when they become fussy.

Our doctor has assured us that Parachoc is very safe and exactly what she needs right now - but continuously, for 2 months. So that is what we are doing. She also suspects DD now has a fear of pooing so we have to give her a good run of soft stools (1-2mths) before she'll let go of her fears. Poor blossom!

Anyway, I'm glad to hear it's common and we have a solution. Wish us many happy poos from now on, lol

[CrazyLady]

Poor little munchkin. I'm glad you found a solution even though it is a drawn out process. I say still try the smoothies on top of the parachoc hun, they do wonders for DD. She never misses a beat in the regular bowel stakes

I do wish many happy poos to your LO

[Taurean]

Thx Crazy (lol) DD had a berry smoothy yesterday and loved it so they will be on the regular menu. Our doctor said she's beyond the 'it's her diet' stage - she's completely freaked out about pooing. It's about taking away the fear now and guaranteeing soft poos is the only way to do that. I'm happy to use Parachoc. Having suffered from severe IBS all my life, the last thing I want is for DD to have poo/bowel problems too. But smoothies rock!!

[CrazyLady]

haha! that they do! DDs face lights up every time I get the blender out!

[*Infinity*]

Thx Crazy (lol) DD had a berry smoothy yesterday and loved it so they will be on the regular menu. Our doctor said she's beyond the 'it's her diet' stage - she's completely freaked out about pooing. It's about taking away the fear now and guaranteeing soft poos is the only way to do that. I'm happy to use Parachoc. Having suffered from severe IBS all my life, the last thing I want is for DD to have poo/bowel problems too. But smoothies rock!!

This is the crux of it. I don't have much time to post now (up all night with DD so too sleepy) but we've had recurrent issues with DS & constipation and he's on parachoc daily now. Its not about their diet (believe me we've tried everything)....its the fear factor. One hard poo can set them back and as you said, the cycle begins again. JackRose gave me some great advice so you could maybe PM her too if you wanted more info too.

Good luck, hope it gets better.

[Taurean]

This is the crux of it. I don't have much time to post now (up all night with DD so too sleepy) but we've had recurrent issues with DS & constipation and he's on parachoc daily now. Its not about their diet (believe me we've tried everything)....its the fear factor. One hard poo can set them back and as you said, the cycle begins again. JackRose gave me some great advice so you could maybe PM her too if you wanted more info too.

Good luck, hope it gets better.

Thx heaps hon!

[Fig]

Glad to hear you have an action plan. Worked wonderfully for us.