[mommieof2cuties]

constipation issues with toddler. Can anyone provide advice on a preventative plan for our adopted 2.5 year old toddler who has constipation issues? What works for you, he is in preschool from 9-2:30 and I wonder if he holds it in etc and than just waits till he gets home. Just when I think I have solved the issue I am back to square one with him. I understand it hurts sometimes and want to prevent that, we make sure he eats lots of fruits, and things high in fiber. Any ideas would be wonderful! Both his Birth parents had issues with constipation so it runs in his family. We have been to the doctors but found the doctors advice not helpful. Thought I would come on here to get some good advice.

[DPline]

We have had constipation issue with DD and I find that popping a spoonful of Fibersure in her juice every day helps a lot to keep her regular. It disolves completely so she never knows it is there. Don't put it in milk though. Milk and Fibursure make something the consistency of slightly unset pudding! YUCK!

My SIL uses Miralax for her toddler son and that works really well for them. Not sure the difference between that and the Fibursure but two options to try.

Good luck!

[JeannineW]

It sounds like you have fruits and fiber covered but I give my two youngest a little prune juice for breakfast. I mix it with their regular juice. If they are constipated, I mix it 50/50. For "maintenance", I mix it about 70/30. It seems to work pretty well. Occasionally, it works too well so I skip a day or two based on "output".

[Jo Ellen]

When our daughter was going through potty training we had big issues with constipation with her. We had tried the juice and fiber route but were not able to get her to go regularly. We tried using enemas at home and were somewhat successful but then it became bad enough we took her to the doctor and they gave her the enemas there. It was very uncomfortable for her and I didnt like doing it but after two trips to the doctor over a period of time she realized she was going to have to do this on her own and we didnt have anymore problems with it after that. She was about 2 1/2 then and is 16 now and doesnt remember any of it. So the things we think may be difficult on kids aren't so bad after all. Best wishes to finding something that works.

[mommieof2cuties]

great would love to try this and see what else you think

[tanmansmom]

TJ had his two year check up this morning. This was the first issue we brought up. He goes days w/o going and when he does it is like, "How did that come out of there?!?" Anyway, she suggested Mirolax too. She said some kids stay on it for years, others just a few months to get thing moving on a regular basis. She also said prunes (which we tried but he hated) as well as prune juice. He too LOVES his fruits and veggies, so fiber isn't the problem. We are starting the Mirolax(sp) today.

[ChromaKelly]

Bea tends to get constipated, and we've also had issues with her holding it since potty training. I've found mixing wheat germ in her yogurt works well to keep her regular, as well as occasional apple juice. She got really backed up once from holding it, and I had to give her a couple teaspoons of mineral oil, that helped. Good luck, we really have to keep an eye on what she eats.

[boysmom324]

This is something we learned when ds was in the NICU- in addition to doing all of the things you are doing now- fruits, fiber, etc. substitute pear juice (or any juice that starts with "p"-- pineapple, papaya, etc "p for poop!") for your regular juice. In terms of amounts of juice, I wouldn't go over 4 oz a day total. When ds got older we did have to switch to miralax and especially around potty training time, he had to have enemas a couple of times. Just a slow moving gut, but what a pain in the butt, literally!

Good luck and maybe this little trick will work, especially if he's not that constipated yet.

[mommieof2cuties]

thank you, I will try that! Keep them coming!

Summer

[Beth.]

Another vote for Miralax. It's the only thing working at our house. You can buy it over the counter; but if you get a prescription, the pharmacy can give you a really big generic bottle for a lot cheaper. Maybe your insurance would pay even.

For a laxative it's very gentle. It sometimes takes a few days for it to start working. It doesn't cause cramping or explosive poo ... just pushes some extra water into the bowel. Might be a good way to get him regular for a few weeks while trying to work in more fiber, "poop" juice, and fruits to his diet.

[Mil]

Prune juice works wonders. So does DARK Karo syrup. I used to put a little in my daughter's bottles when she was a baby.

[joskids]

yet another vote for Miralax. Our daughter is 2.5 and so used to it "hurting" that she holds it in. Miralax makes the passage easier. I use it only every other day because the one time I used it a couple of days in a row, we had the opposite problem.

[momtutu]

My son's gastroenterologist prescribed a teaspoon of milk of magnesia. He says that my son could take it every day for the rest of his life and it will not cause harmful side affects. Also the magnesium supplement is believed by some to enhance memory capacity.
Lisa

[mommieof2cuties]

Thank you for the great ideas! I will try all of this!

Summer

[JenC]

Around here, we do the "p for poop" theory too! I'm seriously contemplating the miralax when he's a bit older, because even with the fruit/fiber, it's still really firm.