Child's Stool Very hard...........please Help!!!!!!!!!

My daughter had the same problem. First thing I did was take her off the formula with Iron and put her on the low Iron brand. Then I didn't give her the rice ceral it made her worse I gave her oatmeal. Also the pediatrician told me to put dark karo syrup in her bottle. About 3 tablespoons to 8 and 8 0z bottle. It worked and soon she was fine and I stopped they syrup and only used it when I needed it.

A.

Hi, J.. When my 12 yr old son was a baby, he had the same problem. He was a good eater but was always constipated. I did have to make him drink water or anything because he wasn't (still isn't) a big drinker. I still have to force him to drink a whole glass of juice or water with his meals. But anyway, when he was constipated his pediatrician suggested using dark Karo Syrup. Place 1 tablespoon per 4 oz of milk. It worked. Ever since then I have used this idea on my other son and my mom even did it when she cared for her niece. Hope this helps.

J.

I have occassionally had the same problem. I give my little guy some warm apple juice to get things flowing. You dont have to heat it - I just give hime a juice box out of the pantry so its not cold. Works like a charm and works for older kids too. However, I think if you have this problem ALL THE TIME there may be some food allergies. Milk does it for my little guy. However, I would see another Doctor. ITs not normal for you and little one to have such stress. I recommend Dr. Michael Wilsey. He is a pediatric gastroenterologist with offices in St.Pete, Tampa, Brandon, Sarasota. He is a specialist who really helped us. Ph# ###-###-####. Dont take it too lightly. My little guy ended up straining so hard that now he has a light case of intestinal prolapse which means that a little fold of his intestines actually protrudes out of his rectum when he is going #2. (fun stuff huh :-) Anyway, maybe she needs more fiber, maybe the warm apple juice will help solve the problem, but I would see a doctor if it continues regularly. Good luck!

1st, she should always have whole milk, she needs the fat content... Have you tried peach juice?Pear? Prune ? It's the "3 P" rule. If my daughters stools are hard, I give her peach juice and no problem after that. Try it half water,half juice at first, then more juice less water if that doesnt work. Giving her full strenth juice wont hurt her once in a while. I still water down my girl's juice but everyonce in a while i give it to her full strenght. good luck!
C.

I have a daughter 13 months too! I have found that prunes or prune juice work great. My daughter likes the baby food prunes as well as the juice. Good luck

L.

I agree with everyones advice, more juice less milk. When my little girl gets constipated or has hard stool I give her Milk of Magnesia, reccomended by her doctor. This hepled during potty training as well, when she was apprehensive to use the toilet and would make herself constipated. It's harmless as long as she doesn't need it every time. Glycerin supossitories(stimulant free) are also helpfull when necessary.

Hi J., I am a stay at home mom of four. 9, 8, 4, and 2, so I understand what you are experiencing. I know that you submitted this in Oct., but I have been in the hosptial and I am just getting to my computer. There are many things that you can try such as giving her more bread or any type of fiber, like instant oatmeal. Also, you can give her Karo Syrup, the light colored one in her water or juice, also try to warm her apple juice when she drinks it. I used to also be a preshcool teacher and I learned that Juicy Juicy, tends to give the children the runs and that may loosen her up.

I hope something I have said will her your daughter. I will be in prayer about this situation.

Hi....I have a 3 year old grandson that has had that problem alot lately. My pediatrician told me to cut down to 10 ozs of milk product per day which is hard because he loves milk, cheese, ice cream etc. but I also went to the drug store and bought over the counter suppository's and use them when needed. It took about 2 days of using them and then he felt alot better and it was much easier on him going to the potty.

Hello, my daughter had the same problem really bad. I got those baby Lax in the Lax asle of the store. Do not squeeze the whole thing in her bum just about half and follow the directions. She should be good to go in on time. But the first time she goes it will be hard still but after it should be ok. D.

Hi J... I know what you are going through. Me and my husband went through the same thing with our daughter. The pediatrician told us to watch what we give her. Not so much starchy food and more veggies and fruits. We started giving her brocolli, cauliflower, carrots and peaches, pears, pineapples. The peditrician told us the fruits that start with the letter P are the ones to give her.. Stay away from corn because that is a starch (which we didn't know). I also give her a half cup of Prune juice and the other half of regular juice. That usually helps with the stool to get soft.. Our daughter is going to be 3 in a few months and we still have to watch what we give her to eat. If we give her to much starch we know to give her more veggies and friuts the next day and also some prune juice. The doctor also gave us a RX of Meralax.
I hope this helps.. I know it helped us ALOT.. Hang in there..

J.,

My daughter has the same problem. My pediatrician kept telling me to give her more fluids and more fiber, etc. When I explained that I had tried all that. Then my pediatrician said to try nectar. Nectar is found in the juice isle. My daughter loves the different flavors and I give her 6oz of this a day and it keeps her BM's soft. It has worked since she was about your daughters age. There are different name brands but I have found Looza to be the best. My daughter loves the pear and mango flavors. I cannot find it in walmart though, I have to go to Winn-Dixie to get it. But I haven't looked in other stores. Good luck!

C.

Hey J.. I had the same problem with my daughter. It started with her when she was only 3 months old, soon after I stopped breastfeeding. The doctors said there isn't anything we could do at that age. After she turned one I started to give her juice and water all day. She only got milk right before bed. That worked for me and now she has no problem. I was also worried about the effects it would have on her potty training. She turned 2 in Aug. and is doing a great job with it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We had the exact same problem, except that my daughter would "hold it" for days until we would finally have to give her a glycerin suppository. First, I would try an over the counter stool softener. In addition, start giving her Acidophalus tablets--it's the same "good bacteria" that is in active yogurt. You can get them at GNC and they come in different flavors (like strawberry). Yogurt with active cultures is also a good choice. Also, cut out any constipating foods like bananas, white rice, apples...

I know it's hard (no pun intended)--we had to deal with this problem for at least 6 months and there were times when I would cry right along with my daughter! She would even get so constipated that when she would eat, she would vomit! It's really important that your daughter be able to "go" without pain or else she is going to be afraid of defacating and will start holding it...then you've got a whole new set of problems.

You may want to try not giving her milk or cheese, my girls (3 and 7) both get constipated, my 7 yr old when she has too much cheese and my 3 year old I am just figuring out that when she drinks milk even 1 cup a day she gets very hard stools. In place of milk you could try calcium enriched OJ or something like that or even Soy or Rice milk. I know it is soooo sad when your baby is screaming cause their stool hurts them so much. You may also try going to a vitamin store and asking them if they have anything for kids lactose intolerance or something like that, I have not tried that I may do that too.

I don't think that extra water helps too much if they are milk intolerant, at least it doesn't in my girls and they drink lots of water.

Hi J.,

I agree with the water your doctor recommended. A little juice in it is fine...anything to get her to drink it. Make sure she has a sippy cup of water available at all times. I have noticed that my little 14 month old will down the water, it I constantly offer it to her. However, she doesn't ask for it if it is not offered.

I would also try to get her to eat foods that naturally soften the stool. You might want to give her some rasins or prunes (or prune juice). I know that sounds gross, but she doesn't know.

Keep her away from cheese for a while, as that is known to "stop you up".

And finally, if all else fails, try a little bit of mineral oil. Put a teaspoon of it in her morning juice. My little brother had that problem (he would actually hold it so long that when it finally came out, it was too big). His pediatrician recommended that my mom put a teaspoon of mineral oil in him morning juice. It worked wonders. However, this should only be used after you try a diet change, like mentioned above.

Good luck!
T.

I have the same problem with my 15 month old daughter. her stool is hard I use to give her full strengh juice which helped out a lot. when she was done with the juice she would go in no time We would call it (she's inploding) cause it would go all over her clothing. But she felt better after she went. hope that this helps. L. T

Try mixing a table spoon of Karo syrup in her water that always help my kids when they were little.

Try Flavored water. My son was the SAME WAY. We did not want to give him fruit juices becasue they gave him the opposite effect... so our Dr. said to try flavored water. we go to target and get them by the case...he thinks its juice :)

good luck!

E.

maybe try some prune juice or prunes..they make a good natural laxitive..they are packed with fiber. they might help loosen her up some.and continue to give her lots of water too.

J. -
I understand what you are going through. My 2 year old started having this problem about a month ago. The PED. said to reduce dairy, crackers and meat etc..... Also apples and bannanas can also be a cause. The juice is okay but just not the fruit. LOAD up on green veges. Try including veges at breakfast :). It's so hard to see your little one in pain. Good luck!

Dear J.,
Doctors can be so insensitive when it comes to "simple" problems. I have some advice. Give your daughter all the juice she wants. Juice can actually cause diarrhea. Most of the time juice should be cut with water due to the high sugar content but you could go full strength (or mostly juice, part water) for a while. What the doctor didn't tell you is that all fluids (except milk) not just extra water are good for proper stool formation. The keys to preventing constipation are fluids, exercise, and fiber. From what you said fluids seem to be the issue. You may also want to try giving her Activia yogurt or Danactive yogurt drink. Good luck!! K.

Hi! When my son was an infant we had a huge problem with this. We had to give him prune juice straight up (not watered down). Its strong in flavor but worked great. Good luck!

Dear J.,

Check the cereal and make sure there is not added iron, which hardens stools. Cut back on anything dairy. The other thing is try to get your hands on chewable enzymes and chewable acidofulous (spelling is incorrect) from the healthfood store. She needs enzymes and beneficial bacteria for digestion. There is also a calcium magnesium drink that is great for kids it is called cal-mag fizz, manufactured by Baywood. You can find it on the internet for 13.00, and can give her half a scoop. It tastes very good and helps the digestion as a side benefit.

D.