HI Moms - remember the 4 year old who swallowed the metal ball? We got the x-ray per his pediatrician and it's literally RIGHT at the bottom ready to come out. He hasn't pooped yet today so I'm hopefull this will all be "behind" us tomorrow cause they recommended I not go to work till we know it's out (Sigh!).
Does anyone know of NON-chemical ways to get a 4year old to poop sooner rather than later? I'm hoping he'll eat some prunes. I do NOT want to use laxitives at all. We weren't prescribed anything anyway, so I don't want to go there. The doc suggested Activia yogurt, but I never heard of it acting that quickly. Suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
FINALLY - it's out, but I can't even have a souviner cause it fell into the hole in the toilet front. GRRR!! (LOL:)
the best is WARM prune juice...my son has severe boughts of constipation regularly and we use that, but be ready...it works quick!
getting him to eat prunes might be tough but get some prune juice. Worse case mix it with sugar or koolaid just this one and get him to chug it.
Go to the healthfood store and buy some powder probiotics. They come in capsul form but you can open them easily and mix them into his juice or applesauce. It should work in a day or so. It balances the natural bacteria in the intestines so it pushes thing outs sooner and ends diarrhea sooner as well. You can not OD but only give him 1 or less.
You can buy suppositories (sp?) at the store. He will poop right away.
You might try the Activia yogurt, with some prune puree mixed into it. Just buy some prune babyfood, and mix it with the yogurt. Apple juice might get him going too... :)
You might try an abdominal massage too. When my DD is plugged up, that usually gets things moving. It works for me too... rub clockwise circles, concentrating on the area under his belly button. :)
French fries washed down w/prune juice? Flax seed works miracles too. It comes ground up, or as a cereal.
Or salt water.
Kids Culturelle probiotic--works better than Activia and can be mixed into his milk/drink.
When my daughter was 15 months I was told apple juice, which she hated. I was able to get diluted prune juice in her, about 2 ounces, but it did take awhile. I don't know if it works for 4 year olds, or if he would even let you do it, but my sister used to stick a thermometer up their bottom and that would make everything start working immediately.
You could try prune juice or pear nectar.
Good luck! :)
Maybe some extra activity. Sometimes that can get things moving.
Pear juice
Our ped recommended it when my oldest got constipated from baby cereal. I've been using it every since for the whole family. For a baby I would only use half of one of those single serve Gerber bottles, I use a little more when they are older. I would use at least a full bottle. Too much can really cause the runs.
Miralax mixed in pear, apricot or prune juice. Miralax is a non-stimulant stool softener (not a laxative) and will help get everything going. My son is about 33 pounds and his urologist recommended 1/2 cap full when we were having voiding problems a while back.
have him drink prune juice! i mixed my daughter's half prune juice half apple juice (just like the prepackaged gerber baby juices) and she loves it. now i can give her straight prune juice and she drinks it like a champ. it works within the day normally. just an ounce or two should do the trick! good luck!
Some warm water or warm water with lemon juice (heat it then let it cool down) will help.
Other than that, just keep pushing the fruit and fluids.
T.
My 2 year old has problems often and we just put a teaspoon of benefiber in her milk once a day. It worked better for her than Miralax or Pedialax. The company that makes Pedialax also makes glyerine enemas if you need to go that route (both meant for kids 2 and up). It works fast even though it isn't the most pleasant expereince.
running around working up a sweat usually works.
Graham crackers will help . Good luck!
An enema? I'm sure there are homemade reciepes online. I gave my son one the other day but it was a glycerin one. It worked with in 45 minutes!
Enema is fastest. Not popular option these days but it's no big deal and perfectly natural.
Ask your pharmacist for a glycerin suppository.... works REALLY quickly. Used them on my babies when nothing else worked.
Magnesium citrate (you can buy it at any drug store) It's just the mineral magnesium and usually it comes in cherry flavor (easier for kiddos to take that way) it gets things going quickly and is not a laxative (but definitely helps move things along by relaxing the muscles in the bowls). I use it for my kids and myself when constipated. Good luck!
It doesn't sound like he is constipated, but just doesn't need to go yet. Just feed him and it will help. Any food with water or milk will stimulate the intestines to go. How many times have you had dinner and a few minutes later needed to go? Same thing with him. No need for harsh stuff or things he won't like, just give him a sandwich or some veggies, or a slice of pizza,, and he will go.
