For over a week now, my 3 year old recently potty trained son has been having digestive issues. We took him into the doctor, because he kept complaining of a stomach ache and he'd been having some really soft stools. The did an x-ray and found out he was chock full of poop, and felt like maybe he'd been withholding for some time. Even though he pooped a couple of times a day, she said he could just "poop around the blocked poop." Anyway, long story short, I had to give the poor little guy 2 enemas to flush it out of there. So....
What should I be feeding him now, and what should I avoid? We eat very healthy around here - lots of fresh fruits and veggies, yogurt every day, barely any juice, some milk, mostly water, no sweets (except for potty bribery). I used to give him pears/prunes/kiwi, and it would be all over the place. Now, of the three, he would only eat pears, and that's a big maybe. I don't want the poor guy to have such loose stools that he poops himself, but I also would like to find food that helps keep things soft so that he has no choice but to poop it out! :)
Anyway, thanks in advance to your diet advice.
A. K
apple juice! works every time for my kid....juice with cranberries in it helps too. my kid loves the white cranberry strawberry juice from Ocean Spray. it's mild and slightly sweet - i even drink it and i don't like cranberries!!
Hi Amy---You've gotten some great advice. Keep up with lots of fruits and veggies. Whole grains are also essential. LOTS of water. I would cut back or eliminate the dairy, and that includes yogurt. Dairy actually causes all kinds of health issues in the human body, and constipation is one of them. Please check out these resources: www.pcrm.org, www.strongbones.org, and read The China Study by T Colin Campbell. It seems, at the very least odd, that cows milk could be such a health problem when we are told by healthcare professionals to get our calcium from milk. But we get lots more absorbable calcium from dark green leafy veggies without the saturated fat. Did you know that 2% milk gets a full 1/3 of it's calories from fat? Anyway, I am a reformed milk drinker so I know how weird this seems. One other source of info is www.notmilk.com.
I highly recommend adding ground flax seeds to the family's diet. Ground flax has LOTS of fiber, protein, omega 3 fatty acids and many disease fighting vitamins and minerals. OPTIMALLY, it should be ground fresh every day, but I grind about 1/4C seeds at once and then store in the fridge. We use it up in about 2 days. Organic golden is preferrable. You can put it in cereals. Hot is easiest to 'hide'. My 19 yr old son will not use it in cold cereal as it 'floats' on the plant milks. You can put in smoothies, pancakes, cookies, muffins, sprinkle on salads, etc. Prepared fiber products do not work like fiber from foods do, like added inulin in yogurt or other food products. Be sure to become an excellent label reader. Lots of additives they put in foods, artificial colors, sweeteners and preservatives, can all contribute to disease and ultimately how the digestive system works.
I also use and recommend a whole food supplement, made from 17 different fruits and veggies that have been juiced and then dehydrated and put into capsules and gummies. They also contain the bran of 2 grains. One of the first comments people make when they consume this extra 'food' is improved regularity. But that's only the start. There are about 12 independent research studies to show a positive impact on the immune system, reduced free radical damage, cardiovascular system support, and DNA protection and repair.
So, I would love to share what I am learning if you have any additional questions. I have been taking a series of wellness classes, taught by a Naturopath who has her PhD in Nutrition. There is a lot of misinformation out there and some of it even comes from the medical community. Dr. Pam's advice comes from long term research, not just the health news/suggestion of the day, which is often reversed soon after.
Good luck with your research. If there is anything else I might help you with, feel free to ask. In health, D.
I say give him X-lax. Just shoot the poop right out of him.
if you go to:
www.marketamerica.com/katek and search might-a-mins they have an isotonic product for children that is for digestive enzymes - this product has done wonders for my duaghter's digestive system! If you sign up as a preferred customer (it is free), you can also earn cash back on all your purchases. Let me know if you have any questions - it really is an amazing product!!!! Good luck - it is amazing how many ailments are linked to the digestive system, it is something we all want to keep in check, especially with our little ones!!!!!!!!!
Hi Amy,
Fresh fruits are great. Whole grains are necessary too. Avoid white potatoes and go for sweet ones. EVERYONE should "go" about one hour after every meal. If someone isn't then the "poop" is building up along the lining of the intestinal wall. Other issues than what you are experiencing can include lack of absorption of nutrition which can lead to immune disorders and also digestive disorders that can affect the kidneys and the heart.
You don't want to keep things soft (too soft can cause issues too), you want it to be balanced. If you can't do this with his eating, he can take slippery elm bark. It's simply food in supplement form that will balance everything. I keep my 92 year old Dad on it to keep him balanced.
Hope this helps!
M.
sounds perfect to me! Be sure he gets yogurt every day for the value of the probiotic. Does he drink smoothies? I add fiber to mine.
I would go to the co-op or a local natural foods store and buy some acidophilus for him. It comes in several forms, but my kids really like the children's chewables made by Animal Parade, which is shelf-stable so no refridgeration required. It also comes in a powder form that you can add to applesauce or juice, but must be refridgerated. It is a pro-biotic that promotes a healthy digestive tract and will also balance the good and bad bacteria in thier little intesitnes, especially helpful when/if they have to take an anitbiotic. It has been helpful, for me, to treat and prevent some early, major, constipation issues. Good luck!
what about those individual packed prunes in the dried food section? He may think he's getting candy. I'm not sure if you give him activia yogurt but you might try that.
Magnesium is a natural mineral that the body needs and it also keeps the body regular. Mangesium keeps the muscles relaxed so that calcium can't rush in and contract them. MOST people are deficient in magensium, it is safe, and it is needed for 300 body functions.
Mangesium citrate or malate would be advisable. There is a product called babycalm or kidcalm online that gives advice on the package of how much to dose a child.
Any iron supplements (or ALL formulas which have high iron)and iron fortified baby cereals will add to constipation- reducing iron can help.
Probiotics like lactobacciulus can help also.
If this is the first time it has happened I wouldn't worry too much about it but you might want to try adding a bit more fiber to his diet if you want. It sounds like you are giving balanced meals. Kids will always find away to make you scratch your head. one thing I did find with my oldest who had a smiliar problem was to increase his physical activity. Don't know if that would help you are not but it might be worth a try. Good Luck!
Add 1/4 tsp of acidophilus bifidus to his yogurt, applesauce, pudding, etc once a day. Acidophilus bifidus will regulate his gut, keeping the good bacteria in it. It will keep him from getting constipated and prevent loose stools. It sounds like you are feeding him healthy foods already.
I have a sensitive gut too, and the fiber one stuff upsets my stomach, and gives me gas pains. Adidophilus bifidus works great for young children as well as adults. The doctor I work for recommends Metagenics Ultra Flora DF for his young patients with digestive issues. You can order it on line through Nutrition Dynamics or you can ask your pharmacist to order it. It is pharmaceutical grade, and is one of the highest quality manufacturers there is.
How about adding fiber to his food or buying Fiber One stuff. The now make Fiber One bread, cereal, cereal bars, bread and toaster pastries. You could even get some fiber powder and sprinkle it on his food or in his drink, but only with a doctors approval.
Good luck, my grandson had this same problem for 2 yrs and now eats a fiber bar for breakfast everyday. Can't say his problems are totally over, but he sure is feeling better.....
Having the same issues with both my sons...Miralax is a terrific stool softener. It can be put in any liquid except milk, and will soften everything up and get everything flowing again. Constipation is very, very common in kids because they just dont take in fluids unless they are thirsty...and this time of year they are sweating so much. Miralax can be safely used daily (my pediatrician recommended it for a month once a day to get things back in order). One cap full in a liquid (gatorade) once a day and the stomach aches went away and everything went well. Additionally, Miralax will not give your child the runny - gotta run to the bathroom feeling. It will just soften everything and make it pass better when your child needs to go - no embarassment or worry of accidents. It is terrific! Additionally, it is bought over the counter and cheapest at S.'s Club - but can be found at Walgreens and Wal-Mart among other chains.
