2 Year Old Having Problems with Bowel Movements (Diapers)

Fiber choice wafers, taste like candy. Have him eat popcorn everyday. Probiotics, like flora add to his drink, it is tasteless. I would do these things first. Be careful with using Miralax.

Hi J.,
will he eat apple sauce or grapes. both of those still work for my 17 and 18 year old kids. you can even try orange juice fresh if you can. Good luck! T.

My 8 month old has had constipation issues since birth and now her 3 year old sister is too. We are using Miralax it is safe and over the counter. We were told to by the dr. It works and you can raise and lower the does depending on the need. At first to get them regular i gave them the full dose and once they are going well I decrease the does until they are off and then use when needed. Miralax is very gentle I used it first to see. Good luck!

He might have had a bowel movement that hurt at one time and now he's afraid to go. My son used to hold it when he was potty training, which used to scare me too. Instead of giving him drugs, try something natural first. My doctor suggested 1/2 c of apple juice with 1/2 cup of prune juice. That made it where he couldn't hold it. It will also soften his stools so it won't hurt. Also try to give him more fiber. It worked like a charm for my son. He was 3 at the time. Good luck.

Does he drik alot of milk if he does try switching to soy milk. Als the miralax stuff should help. Also like someone else said it could be a food allergy. My son is 5 and if he drinks milk or rice he will either be constipated or have the runs. Just try giving him the miralax or switching to soy milk.

Hi J., seeing your child in pain is hard!! Not sure how serious his bowel problems are (did he have a painful movement and now he's afraid to go?), but my daughter had issues and what worked for her was brown sugar (pure cane sugar) water. Just warm the water a little so the brown sugar will desolve in it. We just added more brown sugar as needed. In about 15 minutes or so, she'd go. Also, I totally agree with the probiotics. Make sure they're getting them! Good luck!

I gave this exact response last year and a mama here emailed me to thank me and tell me how well it has helped her baby. So I'll repeat it here just to add to all the varied responses you'll get!
"Probiotics. Most folks on a modern diet don't have healthy gut bacteria. Esp. if she's ever been on antibiotics. Or if you have while breastfeeding. Supplements are OK. Real food ones are best. They are also exceptionally easy to make or get:
real, unpasteurized milk
yogurt (very few store bought brands will be high quality with no sugar and tons of live bacterial)
kefir
sauerkraut (again, not store bought vinegar soaked. Bubbies brand or a brand that only has cabbage, water and salt)
kimchi"

Our little boy had constipation problems from birth--he'd save it up and then poop all day long until his little bottom blistered. We'd have to do enemas sometimes. He had a generally cranky constitution, too.

My sister kept insisting we should take him to the chiropractor, and I kept avoiding it, but out of desperation finally did it. I found one that was highly recommended (always get recommendations for chiropractors!) and I kid you not, after one visit he was totally and completely cured. He has never had an issue with it again, either. His disposition picked up too, which leads me to think he was in pain before. I wish I'd done it sooner.

Also, I had a friend whose little guy loved cow milk and drank too much, which made him constipated as well. Those are the two suggestions I have for you. Good luck!

My daughter was older when she had her issues, but her doctor put her on MiraLax. It got really loose and messy, but her doctor to get her cleaned out. And he wanted her to get used to just going when she had to go. After a while, he had us tone down the dosage so it was a bit firmer. Now, she goes just fine. It's an idea you night want to run past his doctor. Obviously, don't try anything extreme(such as this) until you consult his doc. Whatever you do, I pray that things "come out" well for your little guy!
Steph

Food allergies and dehydration are two things that have caused this in my children. Have him allergy tested.

My now three year old had problems with this at your son's age. Even recently. We tried everything we could think of naturally, grapes, raisins, prune juice (she hated it because I forgot to mix it with something else), apple juice, etc. We ended up using 1 tsp of Milk of Magnesia. We gave it to her once a day and helped her to learn to become regular. She did regress, and we had to do it again. When I talked to my doctor about it, he said that sometimes you have to do it for a long time, and other times it doesn't last that long. I tried to not let it last too long, and now she is doing well since she knows if she just goes it won't hurt as much. Good luck!! It is so hard to see your little ones in pain.

My son around the same age had the same issue...he would scream in pain and hold it in...Miralax worked wonders...just put it in their drink everyday...

we had the same issue and it was hell since they kept giving her stuff that would cause more pain. Now that she is older we have figured things out:)
Vitamin C is amazing plus good for their immune system. Digestive enzymes as well as probiotics. For us we realized that dairy and wheat were huge culprits, so when we cut that out of her diet we saw improvement.
I think it is a good idea to go to a GI just to have it looked at but I am not fond of them since they want to do tests that are not necessary....but you have to be the judge of that. THey also gave her a med that is over the counter now and they swear it does not have any side effects, well it was hell for my child.
I believe in finding the reason the constipation begins not keep covering it up with meds. I do believe it can start from having one bad painful one, then they withhold. THat is why it is so important to make sure they are soft for a long time until they forget.
I would even seek a homeopath, naturopath if you want to. NOt sure where you live.
Hang in there, it sucks!

wow, omg, the Dr prescribed mineral oil!!??? MANY babies & children have died from drinking baby oil & it is 100% mineral oil. It suffocates the lungs.
Please please stop it immediately. Im sad to see that so many Drs are not informed of the dangers of swallowing mineral oil or even using it on the skin (the skin is the largest organ of the body & absorbs immediately). It is a crude oil, derived from gasoline..a petrol chemical & is a known carcinogenic. It forms a lining on the entire GI tract so the body cannot absorb nutrients. Its like wrapping the body in saran wrap so it cant breathe. The reason WHY it works is because it is so toxic, the body is trying anything possible to expel it.
I have a nursing background & have become extremely passionate about sharing safe products w/o mineral oil while doing my own research for years.
If you are in AZ, Dr Orona, a Naturopath in Phx & Tempe can actually desensitize people to their allergies. My daughter has been to 5 GI specialists in Phx & finally someone referred us to Dr Orona & she literally saved our lives.
We were told Miralax was safe even in small babies (sm dose) but didnt go that route.
Good luck. msg me if you'd like any more info or have questions.

I have had both daughters have this issue to different degrees. I have found these steps to help. When I notice they are beginning to have to go, but fighting it, I begin giving them pear juice. It works better than apple juice due to the sugars in it. Also, I would give them some tylenol, to help with the pain and anxiety, and then the thing that always worked- so put on a swim diaper- is a real warm bath. I have tried the suppositories (sp?) and even castor oil, which was to keep them from being able to keep fighting it. Tylenol and a bath always seemed to work the best (even at 3 in the morning!). I hope you find something that works. Good luck!

Try to use often:
yogurt
prune juice
pomegranate juice
Fiber Gummy bears

Our GI told us to avoid apples and hard cheese

My daughter has tried Miralax, perscribed by the doctor. It is now over the counter. Now, she is taking Aloe Vera, found at Sprouts in liquid form, flavored - I give her 1 tblsp. twice per day and she is doing great ( 6 years old).

My son started having this about a month ago. He was constipated for about 10 days. We had tried all of the dietary recommendations - even had him eating prunes! But it still wasn't budging. So we talked to the dr and she recommended Miralax. He took that for about 3 days and then he was regular again. We were able to stop giving it to him. There is discussion that the Miralax can be habit forming, so I was worried about that, but he seemed to go back to normal without it.
Seeing that your son is 2, like mine, is he getting his 2 yr molars? Since we've ruled out most other things, I think that may be the culprit in my son's case.

i heard that it might not be pain but the idea of something comming out or seperating from their body is what scares them.
good luck