Constipation - Columbia, SC

My girls (who are now 11 and 8 and still suffer from constipation), started having troubles as infants. We made their formula with prune juice instead of water, or a mix of prune juice and water. It worked will, although we did have to suffer from lots of questions from strangers about what they were drinking. We always answered, "Cappuccino!" But the prune juice worked for a long while when they were infants. As they grew and as their diet became more varied, we often had to try new things - mineral oil (not a hit with the kids), a prescription liquid laxative, and later Little Tummies (an OTC kids laxative that is chocolate flavored - you put a dropperful in a few sips of chocolate milk). Now we use Miralax and Benefiber (which we have found dissolves best in hot liquids, so they drink hot cocoa almost every morning). Too bad they got their daddy's stomach problems! Good luck!

Dear Mom,

Are your breast feeding? Because Some breast fed babies absorb the nutrients MORE.

If NOT then I suggest giving the girls 2 oz of water per day.

Also make sure your not mixing the formula to thick,

at around 3 months old you can introduce OATMEAL which will help them move their bowels.

And
http://www.walgreens.com/store/productlist.jsp?CATID=1003...

or Codliver oil for kids
http://www.walgreens.com/search/search_results.jsp?term=c...

Which believe it or not this old fashioned remedy is a great inexpensive solution. PLus they make it in cherry flavor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cod_liver_oil
Great for brain development'

***** Last little tid bit LOL, My BF baby would not poop for DAYS usually 4 days, I used to get the thermometer, put a little vaseline on the tip and insert it in the rectum, leave it in there til he was done Pooping.

The doctor said it was fine, not to worry, but what mom doesn't, at the time no one suggested these other things to me, or believe me I would have tried them aswell.

Prune juice diluted with water given several times a day works really well. At that age, give about 1 tsp 5-6 times a day, diluted of course. She is still very young. Also, at that age a baby should not be constipated. Why do you think they are constipated? Are their stools hard and dry? Lots of babies dont poop every day or even every other day. Some go for 3 or 4 days without going.

I agree with Sherry. My daughter had the same problem when she was that age. The doctor told me to put 1/2 ounce of prune juice to about 6 ounces of water. Worked like a charm. About 15 to 30 minutes later she went. I am a first time mom and cried when she was screaming from the contipation. I didn't know what to do for her. I called the hospital that I gave birth in and they told me to call them any time day or night if I had any questions. If you have any questions just call the materity ward at the hospital, they can help you with all your questions and concerns. Hope this helps and good luck!

F., if you are brestfeeding, have you considered maybe you're eating something their bodies can't take? Are you bottle feeding with formula? I have found that some formulas constipate babies and one of sons had that problem. I gave him a little, teeny bit of prune juice and it helped and I switched the formula to something else and can't remember what. The pediatrician should help you and tell you what to get. Call them again and discuss it and say what you have done and it is not working and you want to know what other formula to use. I pray that God will give you Wisdom if you ask Him. Let us know how it turned out and what you had to do.

My son, sho is now 3.5, had horrible constipation as an infant. My pediatrician recommended 1 teaspoon of brown sugar in 2 oz warm water. Sometimes that helped. We tried little tummies and it didnt help him at all. Same with benefiber. We saw a pediatric gastroenterologist who recommened mineral oil for him when he was around 9 months old. My pediatrician was horrifed when she heard that because mineral oil is a choking hazard for children that young...they could aspirate it. We finally got an appointment with another pediatric gastro at the childrens hospital in Morristown Memorial. They were wonderful. They prescribed a medicine called Enulose which is a solution made of a naturally occuring sugar (they didn't understand why it was rx only since its only a sugar solution!). Anyway, it helps to bring water back into the bowels to soften stool. Essentially, thats what prune juice and corn syrup or brown sugar does too. Enulose worked miracles on my baby. If things dont improve look up that practice. They are amazing. He hasn't had any problems since he was about 18 months old. I also remember the dr. telling me to stick to baby foods starting with "P" ie. peaches, pears, prunes, peas etc. as they have alot of fiber. Good luck. I know how awful it is to watch your baby in so much pain. It'll get better!

Miralx...buy it in bulk at costco...that's all you need...give it every day at the same time..don't skip days...should work after 5 days and get back on track!! dr recommended it to me for my daughter so it is safe..but check for their age since so young

good luck

Hi F.,
We didn't find out until much later that products with lactose made our little one bind up. I breastfed her and so it was even me having dairy products that got into her system that was causing her problems. Today at alomst 3 she can only have lactose free milk products or she'll be constipated for days. I know it's one of those one off instances but if nothing else seems to work maybe this will?

Good luck I know how painful for you to watch them be in pain from constipation.

~Kristal