Constipated toddler

Thank so much ladies!

I went and bought some bran and raisin muffins for my girl yesterday so she can have that as a snack. I have seen that albran porridge, it's new on the market isn't it? I'll go and get some today for the weekend. Can't do us harm to eat some as well!

I only managed to get to the pharmacy yesterday and the lady gave me some of the Lacson syrup so I'll give that a try for 3 days and see how we go.

Hi there. I'd like to add my two cents worth because my son also has the same problem. He doesn't like the sensation of pooping so he holds it in and holds it in until he becomes severely constipated where it is rock hard and painful to push out. We tried everything we could think of from changing his diet, to natural laxatives to medication to help the constipation. Nothing worked. Then we tried increasing bran in his diet and it works like a charm. Whenever we give him bran he poops like a champ, it comes out easily and is nice and soft. I buy the bran muffin pre-mix at the supermarket, bake a batch once a week and give him bran muffins as a snack or even for breakfast every once in a while. Luckily he likes them. There is also a new product on the market, it's All Bran Flakes but in porridge form, it's an instant porridge that you mix with milk. I also sometimes sprinkle the porridge powder on his oats because he likes oats for breakfast so I just mix the bran powder with his oats. So basically what I'm saying is BRAN BRAN BRAN is what does the trick (in whatever form you can get her to eat it).

Widget, my LG does exactly the same - she has so much fun there isn't much motivation to go when needed! I am amazed at times how long they can hold!

I will make sure I get a good probiotic for her as well then this afternoon.

I don't know if she holds because she dislikes going to the toilet, I think it might be more a case of "I am having so much fun playing now so I'd rather hold it in so I don't have to stop what I am doing." I notice when she needs to go (and it normally around the same time every day) and then I tell her lets go quicly and when we are finished we will come back and play some more. Then she is more than happy to go.

Thanks again, I will updet on what's happening.

YES YES YES!

Diet plays an important role, but sometimes we need a bit of extra help.

Probiotics enchances digestion.

Just a side note - it is very common for toddlers to become constipated at times and certain children are more prone to it than others and might not have that much to diet with diet alone, I know of many moms who give their children healthy food and between 2 siblings the one is fine and the other one isn't...Therefore certain people are often more genetically prone to constipation than others.

She is not "holding in" because she dislikes to go to the toilet? What often happens is that the pain from the constipation causes them to hold and it is a vicious cycle of encouraging even more constipation. If this might be the case, I would recommend a stool softner like Lacson just to help to get over the fear of the pain with bowel movement.

Hope she gets better soon! xx

Great! Thanks ladies.

I was wondering about pro biotics earlier....I stopped giving her probiotics at about a year because I didn't feel like I knew why I was giving it to her Will it help with softening stools?

I second what momtoc has said.

I give a big fruit fruit smoothie as dessert in the evenings which she loves.

I agree try natural first, but her doctor also recommended the Lacson and we use it once in a blue moon when needed.

Make sure you give a good probiotic daily.