[angaustinbrody]

my 8 1/2 m/o ds has had constipation troubles since we started solids at 6 1/2 months. he gets ground flax seed with his breakfast but i slacked off for 2 days and now he is plugged up again. hes drinking prune juice now but from past experiece it doesnt help him. any ideas how i can get things flowing. he doesnt get any liquids other than the odd bottle of prune juice and then breastmilk. he still nurses roughly 8 times a day and 2 times at night.

 

[delicious]

<a href="http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyills/babyconstipation/79.html" target="_blank">http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/bab...pation/79.html</a>

 

[MaryC1999]

Are you sure he's constipated? Is he uncomfortable?<br><br>
Mine used to go like three times a week once they were on solids. Weird, but they weren't constipated.<br><br>
If he's truly constipated and small amounts of juice don't move things along you may have to call the ped and get a suppository. We had to do that once for one of my twins. I think they sell them OTC but you should reall talk with the doctor first.<br><br>
Good luck!<br><br>
Mary

 

[angaustinbrody]

He may not be totally constipated yet....but something is up. He's been like this since he was about 6 months. We went to the ER once because he tore pretty bad <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> Dr perscribed lactalose and supposatories to get things flowing. We gave him a supposatory last night and it just came out when we put his diaper on so we put it back in. A couple of minutes later he started screaming and had tears coming down his face. I took off is diaper and he had a poop coming out about the diameter of a quarter. The skin was so stretched out and looked like it was almost going to rip. It was almost stuck in there it seemed. I had to press on the skin. He screamed and screamed and screamed and it finally came out. Very large and not really hard.....but firm. I'm just not sure what to do. I feel so bad for him <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> I have started giving him yogurt and cottage cheese and tiny bits of cheese, but I am going to stop since constipation can be a sign of a cows milk intollerance and he did have a cows milk intollerance from my breastmilk (me consuming dairy) for the first 6 months of his life. When he was 6 months old I was able to eat cheese and drink milk without him getting soooooooooooo gassy and grumpy but then the constipation started. Anyways, I'm rambling....

 

[MaryC1999]

Definitely cut out the dairy. Solids should really be fruits and veggies, not dairy. Cheese can be very binding too.<br><br>
Start giving him some fruits and grains rich in fiber. Either puree them up or steam them in diced bits and give it that way.<br><br>
No more dairy! He doesn't need it and it won't help the blocking up issue. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""><br><br>
At 8 months mine loved soup too. Just puree it up or make sure all the veggies are minced. (that is after you've introduced the veggies in it separately).<br><br>
Mary<br><br>
Oh and you can give soy yogurt if you want to give yogurt. The active cultures are actually good for digestion. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[angaustinbrody]

Yeah, today I started him on some flax oil....I had been grinding flax seeds but I guess it wasn't working so well. Ever since dinner when he had the oil in his oatmeal, he has pooped 3 times. YAY! I am not giving him anymore dairy products either. Thx for the help.

 

[zoebird]

sounds like he's dehydrated, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense. does he just drink water occassionally? i know he's still nursing which is very positive for him and because of this he shouldn't need any other dairy, so like Mary said i would cut out other dairy (i find that pasturized dairy, as opposed to raw dairy causes constipation in me) and perhaps try to give him a bit of water throughout the day. large, hard poops often happen because the body is drawing moisture out of the poop because it needs or wants that moisture--that water. so giving him water may help.

 

[karenlovessnow]

I have also heard that when increasing fiber you need to increase fluid intake, otherwise the stool will become hard and difficult to pass. Fiber can acutally constipate you without enough water.

 

[angaustinbrody]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">does he just drink water occassionally?</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
Nope, just mama milk. I did give him a small botte of water yesterday and he drank it really quick but then I worry because I don't want him to start weaning because of the bottle. I know, it's probably a really stupid worry....but nursing is THAT important to me that I don't want to jeperdize it.

 

[zoebird]

nursing is important--i certainly value that. i do not think, though, that bottled water will turn him away from nursing.<br><br><br><br>
i know many children who nurse through age 5 or 6 and drink all sorts of other fluids from water bottles, sippy cups, and regular cups and glasses. it doesn't stop the nursing. nursing is about a lot more than nutrition for momma and baby!

 

[rincaro]

My son had horrible constipation when he was a baby. What worked for him was dark karo syrup. You can mix it in with the water. Offer it in a cuppy, not a bottle, and you shouldn't have any weaning issues. I think it was a teaspoon a day that we gave him and it amazingly made all of the difference in the world.<br><br><br><br>
Nowadays the boy needs at least one cup of 100% fruit juice to keep things going. And he's nearly seven.

 

[MaryC1999]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>rincaro</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
My son had horrible constipation when he was a baby. What worked for him was dark karo syrup. You can mix it in with the water. Offer it in a cuppy, not a bottle, and you shouldn't have any weaning issues. I think it was a teaspoon a day that we gave him and it amazingly made all of the difference in the world.<br><br><br><br>
Nowadays the boy needs at least one cup of 100% fruit juice to keep things going. And he's nearly seven.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
It's very easy to give too much though and end up with runny diapers and possible dehydration.<br><br>
Honestly, I would just stop the dairy before giving bottles of water or trying Karo syrup. You said he showed intolerance before and I would seriously doubt that he's suddenly cured himself in a matter of months and can now tolerate cheese. Babies under the age of one don't need anything but breastmilk. if you want to start experimenting by giving him a sippy or a cup with water, that's fine, but don't feel obligated to coerce him into drinking 4-6 oz of water everyday. If he doesn't want the cup or rejects the water, I wouldn't push it right away either. Truly I think if you lay off the dairy you'll find he starts to feel better. Constipation is one big sign of dairy intolerance.<br><br>
I hope he's feeling better soon for you. A sick baby is miserable all over.<br><br>
mary

 

[healthnut32]

My daughter went through this for years. What can complicate the constipation even further is the fact that they feel pain when having a large BM, then are reluctant to go. So it's a positive feedback mechanism-they are afraid of the pain and discomfort, so that leads to more pain and discomfort. It took me a long time to get my daughter even moderately regular. I slip a lot of beans and vegatables into her pasta sauce and soup, and she eats a lot of fruit. Good luck-it's hard to see your baby so uncomfortsable.

 

[angaustinbrody]

Thanks for everyones advice! I have completely stopped with the dairy, so now he's breastfeeding (a lot still) and then getting his fruits, veggies, flax seed oil and nutritional yeast. He is doing much much better. Thanks!!

 

[zoebird]

that's really great!

 

[VonJela]

High Fiber diet for your kid - that's what I do with my kid BUT now he is having the opposite problem ha - bits by bits constantly<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/hamster.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":hamster:">

 

[angaustinbrody]

LOL. Ever since I switched to a veg diet my 3 year old has been eating SO much fruit that he has the opposite problem too. He runs to use the potty probably 4 or 5 times a day to go poop.

 

[Wolfie]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>rincaro</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
My son had horrible constipation when he was a baby. What worked for him was dark karo syrup. You can mix it in with the water. Offer it in a cuppy, not a bottle, and you shouldn't have any weaning issues. I think it was a teaspoon a day that we gave him and it amazingly made all of the difference in the world.<br><br><br><br>
Nowadays the boy needs at least one cup of 100% fruit juice to keep things going. And he's nearly seven.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
I used to do that with my friend's baby, years and years ago. She used to intentionally not do anything about constipation because, in her words, it "saved on diapers."** So when I would baby sit, which was all the dang time, I'd feed the kid karo syrup, or go buy her baby food prunes and apricots.<br><br><br><br>
**Reason #370 why I'm only half kidding when I say there should be a competency test for anyone wanting to have a baby (or own a pet.) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/tongue3.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[ElliottsMom]

<span style="color:#FF0000;">Elliott seems to be a bit constipated now. he only goes about twice a day and it's really hard, sometimes it's like pellets. he's 7 months old and breastfed. I've been giving him apple juice once a day. he eats some solids: cereal, vegetables, some grains and fruits. the doc said not to worry about it but I'm a big worrier.</span>

 

[healthnut32]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>angaustinbrody</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
LOL. Ever since I switched to a veg diet my 3 year old has been eating SO much fruit that he has the opposite problem too. He runs to use the potty probably 4 or 5 times a day to go poop.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br>
That might be a bit too much-too much fiber can intere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals. I know-my son LOVES beans, fruit and veg. I have to stop him from eating too much, so he doesn't get the runs.