toddler constipation tips, please

[CloudBee]

DS has never had any real constipation problems. Not like this.

For the past 2-3 days he's been straining and very uncomfortable. We're also in the mist of PT'ing, and now he's not wanting to use the potty as much as he had been.

We've significantly increased his fluid consumption and have been handing him apple juice boxes left and right.

Tonight I plan to pick up pear juice. What else should I get? Wasn't there a thread recently about how Miralax isn't approved for kids or toddlers?

He may also have a gas issue going on, leading to more discomfort.

AND he has a summer cold or is in the midst of an allergy attack. His nose is running clear - like a faucet.

[namasteak]

I would pick up a pouch with prunes in it and one with pears.

[Deleted]

Dd2 has frequent constipation. I give 3 prunes for a bad episode and she usually has a BM within 12 hours. I try to give one prune a day to prevent constipation.

[katie]

We've had luck with a mix of grape, Apple and prune juice.

[ssmjlm]

E will just eat prunes out of the bag. So we usually cut them into quarters and one cut up seems to do the trick.

[CloudBee]

Ah! I didn't think about straight prunes. I wanted to avoid prune juice. And pouches with prunes - genius!

TY!

[smm5623]

Dietary is always my first approach but it doesnt always work. I have no issues with miralax. There was an article in NYT earlier this year questioning the safety of it in kids but there have been over 100 studies which fail to demonstrate that it isn't safe for kids and there are more ongoing. Aside from Miralax, enemas are safe and work great but no fun to give.

[lo]

Jul 29, 2015 19:10:01 GMT -5 smm5623 said:

Dietary is always my first approach but it doesnt always work. I have no issues with miralax. There was an article in NYT earlier this year questioning the safety of it in kids but there have been over 100 studies which fail to demonstrate that it isn't safe for kids and there are more ongoing. Aside from Miralax, enemas are safe and work great but no fun to give.

Pretty much this. We tried EVERYTHING dietary and nothing worked. I cut out dairy, nothing. Miralax has been a godsend and I'm ok with that right now.

[jr009j]

Daily pear pouches have really helped DD1, as well as limiting applesauce to once in awhile. She also eats a fair amount of prunes. We get the individually wrapped ones and she seems to think they're candy.

[thatgirl2478]

Miralax is fine for toddlers - our pediatrician prescribed 1/2 a dose daily for our DD while she was experiencing constipation issues. It's not meant to be a long term, use it all the time, medication though.

You can try the natural remedies - prunes, pears, increasing water - but that may not help enough. There are pediatric laxatives/glycerin suppositories you can give. They aren't fun - and should be a last resort - but they do work.

Once you get this worked out, try giving him a daily fiber gummy or probiotic gummy - particularly if he doesn't get enough fresh fruit & veg on his own. DD1 LOVES fruit & veg, but doesn't get them in massive quantities on a daily basis, so she gets the fiber & probiotic gummies daily and hasn't had a constipation issue in over a year.

[Ashley&Scott]

We give M purees pears, sliced pears, prune purée, avocado, black beans, blueberries & lots of water when he's constipated. Limit dairy, rice, bananas, pasta.

Eta- he won't drink juice.

[countthestars]

My pedi recommends Miralax when prunes aren't working.

[CloudBee]

Thanks, I got prunes and pear juice. I will get Miralax if this doesn't work.

[namasteak]

Jul 29, 2015 19:04:35 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Ah! I didn't think about straight prunes. I wanted to avoid prune juice. And pouches with prunes - genius!

TY!

Ella's Kitchen has one that is blended with other stuff (butternut squash or pumpkin and some fruit) & DS gobbles it up!

[everafter07]

We push peaches and pears and she gets 1tsp of Benefiber in her milk daily. Also cut back on cheese and bananas. She was on Miralax after nothing else worked from 6mo-1.5 years, but thankfully Benefiber has been really helping. She's 2.

[redheadk]

We had to do Miralax when DD had poop issues while potty training. We tried juices/prunes and other diet changes to no avail. She only took the Miralax for about a week, we didn't finish the smallest size container. Once it stopped hurting, she adjusted to pooping on the toilet without issue.

[namasteak]

Jul 29, 2015 21:11:19 GMT -5 everafter07 said:

We push peaches and pears.

Whole Foods sells little individual cups of fruit and has a peaches & pears one! I think DS likes the single serving stuff because he feels like a big kid but those containers (it goes for the mandarin oranges and just peaches too) are a guaranteed way to get him to eat.

[Marmee]

We've used Miralax in the past (my kid's refuse prune & pear everything). In the past few months we've pretty much cut out all dairy. It's the first time in years my DD3 isn't having an ongoing issue. Just an idea for anyone who still has kids that struggle.