My eight year old dd is constipated...she says she can't go to the bathroom and that her lower belly hurts when she tries...what can I do for her? Any recommendations? She only had this problem once as a baby and prune juice did the trick. Should I try that again? I had her drink more water and fluids in general today and still nothing....
Does she like coffee? Maybe with a little cream and sugar?I know she's 8, but regular caffeinated coffee can get the bowel moving.
Just an idea if the prune juice doesn't do the trick.
All great suggestions so far. I sometimes use tea with senna when I'm constipated. Traditional Medicinals Smooth Move works well. Just make it on the weak side for her since she's young. You could also try a stool softener that contains docusate sodium. Good luck, and I hope she finds relief soon.
My ped recommends miralax for my kid.
Definitely increase her water intake and continue to keep it up. If she'll drink the prune juice, try that. Mine won't. What works for us is Miralax. It's not a laxative, but it draws water into the bowels and soften things. Talk to your doctor first, though.
Prune juice or puréed prunes (stage 1 baby food). Being active also helps move things along.
Our Dr had us get mineral oil. We gave him about 2 tablespoons mixed with some juice. It works immediately. But before t you try have given her juice? Cherry juice is great.
Our pediatrician recommended Miralax for my daughter (age 5). We fill the cap halfway and pour it into any drink. She doesn't taste it at all. we also do prunes and dried apricots. It usually works within 24 hours to relieve it, but sometimes we have to do it multiple times to really clear it all up.
FYI, she weighs 40 lbs so your dosage might be different.
Try the prune juice. Even if it doesn't help with the constipation its goofs for her. Go for a walk. Walking helps to get the digestive system moving. You can also try some mineral oil.
If she is in pain or really uncomfortable use a suppository or enema. Otherwise Miralax should eventually work unless she is impacted.
Prune juice if she'll drink it. Otherwise, prunes (tell her they are giant raisins).
No bananas, no rice, no applesauce, no white toast/bread. That's the BRAT diet for diarrhea so avoid all those foods for constipation. I'd get her off dairy too, and absolutely no cheese.
I'd still run it by the pediatrician because constipation, while usually based on dietary imbalance, can be the sign of a bigger problem. Your pediatrician has a 24 hour advice line - call now and the pedi on call will call you back and ask a few key questions about the belly ache. Otherwise, he/she will recommend the right amount of something like Miralax. You can also talk to the pharmacy manager at your local 24-hour pharmacy.
yes, try the prune juice. if that does not move things along a suggest you call her dr so they can recommend something safe for her based on health history not what random internet mommas say
Our girl probably has IBS with the constipation. The doc didn't think she was blocked at one point but went ahead and did an X-ray when I asked him to. She was so blocked up it was crazy.
He gave her Miralax and the instructions were that she could take it up to 4 days in a row. If there were no results after 4 days she needed to come in that day, to tell the receptionist that he said so. She always had results but one time. He checked her out that day and said to do it one more day. If no results she would be scheduled for surgery to get the blockage out. She went that night, clogged up her toilet too...joy, right?
If this is a problem that comes up more in her future then you might need to consult with the doc and find out if you can do anything different.
One thing that I will say is that fiber isn't always the solution to every little bowel problem. Fiber blocks me up and I have such intense pain that I literally fall to the floor doubled over screaming in pain. If I eat some "high fiber" food that is. My body can't tolerate a lot of fiber.
So see what happens. Some foods are horribly constipating too. Bananas are awful. I had a guy in one of the group homes I worked in. If he saw a banana he would want it so the other residents have to keep their bananas in their rooms or in the med room. This guy would eat one banana and he'd be constipated to bad he'd have to go to the doc. He did have to have surgery to take care of it.
There are lots more foods that can cause this sort of thing. Perhaps you can look back at her diet and the research a bit to see if anything she's eating is causing the issue.
To prevent constipation or solve a little one eat often prune and kiwi. To solve quickly even a bigger one use Miralax or an enema.
Other than what moms have mentioned below, I'd massage her tummy and just get her to bring her knees up to her chest and repeat a bunch of times. I was told to do that with my baby once (with prunes) and it got things working.
Prune juice and prunes.
Oatbran cereal.
Make sure she drinks lots of water and gets lots of fiber not just for a few days but as a continuing habit.
You can add Benefiber to her water or juice - she'll never know it's in there.
A walk or running around every day - make sure she gets some good exercise - might help things move along too.
Give her prune juice but warm it up. I know, gross. That's what a nurse recommended for me after my hysterectomy and it worked. Cherries are great too. No cheese and avoid other dairy for a while.
