Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 > Nice subject heading I know! > > Has anyone got any advice about a three year old who wont eat because he is > worried the food will get stuck. He has been on/off constipated for months, > and his mum has sent him to us with lkaxatives from the Drs. The only stuff that seemed to work was lactolose - which softens the stools and makes it easier to go - these are given for a few days and then senna etc is given in moderation to help it out. This has to be done in consultation with a doctor though as it can be a bit tricky to work out what to give when. He may have a fissure which is a little tear in the anal area - this will make him hold it in. I have been through nightmares with DS2 so i know exactly what this is like. Fresh orange juice and prune juice seems to work - and lots of liquid. He is just beginning to realise that it isn't as awful doing poos as he thinks and has managed to do them about 3 times a week which is a miracle - he was holding them in for at least 10 days, meaning i was having to change pooey pants all the time and everything stank of poo that he sat on ;((((( Can't really think of any particular advice apart from this as I don't think we have dealt with it terribly well and the problem has been going on for a lot longer than I had hoped. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 > Nice subject heading I know! > > Has anyone got any advice about a three year old who wont eat because he is > worried the food will get stuck. He has been on/off constipated for months, > and his mum has sent him to us with lkaxatives from the Drs. The only stuff that seemed to work was lactolose - which softens the stools and makes it easier to go - these are given for a few days and then senna etc is given in moderation to help it out. This has to be done in consultation with a doctor though as it can be a bit tricky to work out what to give when. He may have a fissure which is a little tear in the anal area - this will make him hold it in. I have been through nightmares with DS2 so i know exactly what this is like. Fresh orange juice and prune juice seems to work - and lots of liquid. He is just beginning to realise that it isn't as awful doing poos as he thinks and has managed to do them about 3 times a week which is a miracle - he was holding them in for at least 10 days, meaning i was having to change pooey pants all the time and everything stank of poo that he sat on ;((((( Can't really think of any particular advice apart from this as I don't think we have dealt with it terribly well and the problem has been going on for a lot longer than I had hoped. Caroline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 I'm no expert - but my daughter gets constipated a) when she's away from home (for the first day or two, even staying with family) and if she doesn't drink enough. Lots of water (and other drinks) should help - and as its not eating, might be successful for your little one. If I ever have that prob. I get either Linuset or Isogel from health food shops. They're basically fibre with something slimy that swells in water and that absorbs more water in the intestines - you have to drink it, and its not nice, so I don't know how likely you are to succeed with this - but its much better for the intestines than laxatives, and its extremely effective. I just looked on my Isogel packet & it seems OK for children - don't know about Linuset which is slightly more palatable, as I remember! - but the other thing that works well are Starbucks wholemeal bran & raisin muffins; I started making them at home as was on a diab. diet during pg and was desparate for something sweet, but found they had this welcome side effect! Of course, they're a little bit of acquired tasted compared to usual muffins, but if you make them together he might go for it... (if you want the recipe, let me know - its not as good as Starbuck's though). And once you've got the extra bran, you might be able to sneak it into other things without being detected... hope this is useful, Siobhan Toddler constipation > Nice subject heading I know! > > Has anyone got any advice about a three year old who wont eat because he is > worried the food will get stuck. He has been on/off constipated for months, > and his mum has sent him to us with lkaxatives from the Drs. > > He strains like mad on the loo, even makes himself sick doing it, but I wont > let him do it, as I am worried he will damage himself and get piles! We give > him lost of fruit to eat, beans, veg etc, and his mum says she does too (and > I'm sure she does), but he is now screaming when we try to get him to eat, > and makes up all sorts of excuses why he shouldnt eat! > > Any suggestions? I forced him to eat a bit of toast with beans on last night > (took an hour), and he went to the loo painlessley afterwards (third attempt, > without straining) which helped, but hes hardly eaten for the last few days. > He shouldnt strain that hard should he? > > Thanks, > > > Mum to Rohan (5 mths) , SM to Craig (3.5yrs) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 No he shouldn't strain like that. I also wouldn't get into battles over food or he could use it to manipulate everyone. Kieran had a huge fear of having his bowels open and would hold onto stools until his tummy was distended and he was crying in pain. We used lactulose syrup but only in quite small quantities. I mainly found it helpful to wait until he had a sensation of wanting to go and then sitting with him doing a sticker book to take his mind off it. I've also seen suggestions about putting vaseline around the anus but didn't try it. If he didn't go then we just tried again later with as little emotional reaction as possible. I also taught him to breathe through the pain, just like contractions Lots of love, cuddles and letting him see us/big sister sit on the toilet also seemed to help too! Eventually, after more and more painless poos we weaned off the lactulose totally and it all stopped. Lesley ANT, tr BFC, Mother, Wife, Friend, Mender of Broken Hearts, Keeper of Secrets, Chauffeur, Cook, Maid, Writer. Overweight, Over thirty, Over here in Worthing.. " Believing Oneself to be perfect is often the sign of a delusional mind! " Star Trek. Toddler constipation > Nice subject heading I know! > > Has anyone got any advice about a three year old who wont eat because he is > worried the food will get stuck. He has been on/off constipated for months, > and his mum has sent him to us with lkaxatives from the Drs. > > He strains like mad on the loo, even makes himself sick doing it, but I wont > let him do it, as I am worried he will damage himself and get piles! We give > him lost of fruit to eat, beans, veg etc, and his mum says she does too (and > I'm sure she does), but he is now screaming when we try to get him to eat, > and makes up all sorts of excuses why he shouldnt eat! > > Any suggestions? I forced him to eat a bit of toast with beans on last night > (took an hour), and he went to the loo painlessley afterwards (third attempt, > without straining) which helped, but hes hardly eaten for the last few days. > He shouldnt strain that hard should he? > > Thanks, > > > Mum to Rohan (5 mths) , SM to Craig (3.5yrs) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 No he shouldn't. How awful for you! is he old enough to take fibergel? it tastes like orange jelly and goes thick after a couple of minutes so he could eat it with a spoon? Ask the chemist. If not prunes or prune juice is the best and it works quite quickly. If he won't eat maybe he will drink it. Can you make it fun for him and explain that if it doesn't come out again you body needs it to make energy to run around and if it does come out then it wasn't needed? Maybe that way he will worry more about not having the energy to play rather than worrying about eating! We have the opposite problem, my SS comes to us with the most horrendous upset tummys and he gets so embarrassed. last time he came had told me he had a tummy upset for nearly 2 weeks but was too worried to tell his mummy! How she hadn't noticed I don't know, but still! No wonder he is so thin! Hope he gets better soon!:-( Kirsten Mum to (2 years, just!) Step-mom to Shelby (6yrs) Trainee ANT, and Memb-sec Woking and Knaphill Branches. Toddler constipation > Nice subject heading I know! > > Has anyone got any advice about a three year old who wont eat because he is > worried the food will get stuck. He has been on/off constipated for months, > and his mum has sent him to us with lkaxatives from the Drs. > > He strains like mad on the loo, even makes himself sick doing it, but I wont > let him do it, as I am worried he will damage himself and get piles! We give > him lost of fruit to eat, beans, veg etc, and his mum says she does too (and > I'm sure she does), but he is now screaming when we try to get him to eat, > and makes up all sorts of excuses why he shouldnt eat! > > Any suggestions? I forced him to eat a bit of toast with beans on last night > (took an hour), and he went to the loo painlessley afterwards (third attempt, > without straining) which helped, but hes hardly eaten for the last few days. > He shouldnt strain that hard should he? > > Thanks, > > > Mum to Rohan (5 mths) , SM to Craig (3.5yrs) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 No he shouldn't. How awful for you! is he old enough to take fibergel? it tastes like orange jelly and goes thick after a couple of minutes so he could eat it with a spoon? Ask the chemist. If not prunes or prune juice is the best and it works quite quickly. If he won't eat maybe he will drink it. Can you make it fun for him and explain that if it doesn't come out again you body needs it to make energy to run around and if it does come out then it wasn't needed? Maybe that way he will worry more about not having the energy to play rather than worrying about eating! We have the opposite problem, my SS comes to us with the most horrendous upset tummys and he gets so embarrassed. last time he came had told me he had a tummy upset for nearly 2 weeks but was too worried to tell his mummy! How she hadn't noticed I don't know, but still! No wonder he is so thin! Hope he gets better soon!:-( Kirsten Mum to (2 years, just!) Step-mom to Shelby (6yrs) Trainee ANT, and Memb-sec Woking and Knaphill Branches. Toddler constipation > Nice subject heading I know! > > Has anyone got any advice about a three year old who wont eat because he is > worried the food will get stuck. He has been on/off constipated for months, > and his mum has sent him to us with lkaxatives from the Drs. > > He strains like mad on the loo, even makes himself sick doing it, but I wont > let him do it, as I am worried he will damage himself and get piles! We give > him lost of fruit to eat, beans, veg etc, and his mum says she does too (and > I'm sure she does), but he is now screaming when we try to get him to eat, > and makes up all sorts of excuses why he shouldnt eat! > > Any suggestions? I forced him to eat a bit of toast with beans on last night > (took an hour), and he went to the loo painlessley afterwards (third attempt, > without straining) which helped, but hes hardly eaten for the last few days. > He shouldnt strain that hard should he? > > Thanks, > > > Mum to Rohan (5 mths) , SM to Craig (3.5yrs) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 Lactulose is a very mild bulking agent and suitable for the elderly so I *presume* it would be OK for toddlers too. It tastes OK too, like a sugar syrup so may be acceptable. If your toddler is willing, the best cure for constipation I have found is dried apricots, a handful of half a dozen does the trick for me, so I imagine fewer would do for a small child. Ruthie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2001 Report Share Posted August 13, 2001 Lactulose is a very mild bulking agent and suitable for the elderly so I *presume* it would be OK for toddlers too. It tastes OK too, like a sugar syrup so may be acceptable. If your toddler is willing, the best cure for constipation I have found is dried apricots, a handful of half a dozen does the trick for me, so I imagine fewer would do for a small child. Ruthie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 In article 9l9bh0+7udf (AT) eGroups (DOT) com>, ruthie@... writes >Lactulose is a very mild bulking agent and suitable for the elderly >so I *presume* it would be OK for toddlers too. It tastes OK too, >like a sugar syrup so may be acceptable. Must be suitable for toddlers - dd1 has been on it on and off since she was 18 months old, and at twice the normally recommended dose for children her age for the last year or so (as prescribed by the paediatrician, BTW - I'm not recommending upping the dose without medical advice). AIUI, it isn't a laxative, so it doesn't matter if they have it for lengths of time (as you might be concerned about a laxative in that they become dependent on it to go at all). Cath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 In a message dated 13/08/2001 16:35:27 GMT Daylight Time, tim.a.wilson@... writes: > - but the other thing that works well are Starbucks wholemeal bran & raisin > muffins; I started making them at home as was on a diab. diet during pg and > was desparate for something sweet, but found they had this welcome side > effect! Of course, they're a little bit of acquired tasted compared to > usual muffins, but if you make them together he might go for it... (if you > want the recipe, let me know - its not as good as Starbuck's though). And > once you've got the extra bran, you might be able to sneak it into other > things without being detected... > > hope this is useful, > Siobhan Thanks alot for your advice, would love the recipe, please can you email it to me...thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2001 Report Share Posted August 14, 2001 In a message dated 13/08/2001 19:34:48 GMT Daylight Time, Kirsten@... writes: > We have the opposite problem, my SS comes to us with the most > horrendous upset tummys and he gets so embarrassed. last time he came > had told me he had a tummy upset for nearly 2 weeks but was too > worried to tell his mummy! How she hadn't noticed I don't know, but > still! > > No wonder he is so thin! > > How sad, poor little thing! Thanks for the advice, might try prune juice. > We make him drink lots of water, and eat fruit, but I think it is becomming > a bit of a power struggle now!! > > Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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