BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Eating For Toddlers => Topic started by: Erin (redstarfalling) on November 10, 2007, 14:01:02 pm
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My 3 year old doesn't poo often enough (I think) so when she does, they tend to be hard, and difficult, sometimes painful to pass. We're constantly trying to get her to drink more and offer milk, juice or water whenever we think of it - definitely at meals. But it's a constant struggle. Our most recent effort is to give her some juice when she gets home from daycare in the afternoons or in the morning - usually a mix of prune juice and something else (grape, apple or orange juice) and we give it with a fun straw to make it more interesting. Sometimes I'll alternate drinking with her (I have a sip or pretend to, then she will) to encourage her. But she probably drinks maybe 2 or 3 oz at a time of juice (she doesn't love it - she'd prefer milk). Veggies are an issue - she likes lettuce and she'll eat veggies mixed into sauce or at daycare, but she's really picky at home. Fruit - she eats grapes, bananas, pears, apples, plums, peaches - something every day.
I also give her probiotic yogurt, but she won't eat the prune flavour or eat it if it's mixed with prune puree.
So what else can we do? And how often should she realistically be pooing? I'm thinking at least every 2nd day...right now it's often only once or twice a week... ???
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I'd offer prune and icecold apple juice, the fun straw is a good idea...
Maybe cut out on carrots, bananas, rice and wheat just now... Have you checked if she's got a small fissure and is holding it back?
Hugs :-*
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Thanks for the hugs especially!
No sign of fissures, but she definitely holds it back. She's had a few poos that I swear were the size of footballs and she said they hurt...and no wonder! I keep telling her that she has to drink more because it's "good for your poo". ::) The only wheat she tends to eat is whole wheat and this am she had a really high fibre cereal for breakfast, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for today, but....
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I would mention it to your doctor. We actually didn't think Ella was constipated as she would go every second day. Some she strained with but most were not too too bad. She still has major digestive issues going on right now and her paed. said constipation can affect reflux too. Anyways it is my understanding from this that no matter what the cause they need to get it all out. kwim? We were given polyethylene glycol which needs an rx here in BC anyways. It has worked wonders! I swear I had no idea such wee children could make so much. :-[
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Will she eat raisins as a treat on their own? If yes I would give a few in the am and early pm and hope they do the trick. DD is the same age and is pretty much regular 1 a day and sometimes every 2nd day though I can usually set a clock to her.
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We've tried raisins but she doesn't seem to like them.....I can't understand it because I'd love to eat them by the barrel myself....
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What about other dried fruit? Apricots are particularly helpful....dried blueberries, cranberries and raisins are good in oatmeal. Will she eat oatmeal? What about fruit smoothies?
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Hmmm....good thought....lately she's really into candy too.... ;D
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Its def worth trying to break the cycle - Holly would hold on for days on end till she literally exploded. Now she's got in the habit of going when she 'gets a poo feeling' and not holding on to it. She goes nearly every day now and they are easier for her to do.
We had to really work hard at getting her to go cos she was scared. we rewarded her, we encouraged her till the cows came home, we got cross when she held them in, we explained how it would be easier if she just did them. Eventually it worked, took about a year! My mum came up with the best tactic, if you ask Holly - do you need a poo? Do you want a poo? the answer is always no, But if you ask her Have you got a poo feeling in your bottom, she will always be truthful. Then we negotiate how we are going to get the feeling out, on the potty/toilet with or without mummy there (she does vbetter on her own) etc.
With my IBS its not really what I eat, its about non ignoring the signals when I need to go - Holly is the same.
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You could try ground flaxseed in her yogurt. It has tons of fiber....
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Can you see it when it's mixed in? She's has....texture issues... ::) I'll see if I can find it at the health food section...I can always eat it if she hates it!
But good news - we had a poo last night (yay!) and I did tons of positive reinforcement and we gave her stickers for even having the poo.
I'm off to buy some dried fruit, ground flaxseed, and maybe some oatmeal. I'm going to work on the "poo feeling" idea too - thanks everyone!
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Yes, you can see the flaxseed but the texture is not bad at all.
There is also flaxseed oil but that won't do you any good, no fiber....
Good luck