Consistently Constipated

[Skadiver13]

Hi all, so my lo goes from good poop to bad poop day after day. One day he'll have regular formula looking poop, you know thick but not solid like? His has ALWAYS been green since he went to the special formula, so I'm not worried about the color. But it seems like every other day I'm having to help him poop by giving him prunes or a supository (recommended by the GI specialist). He woke at 4:40 this morning tried to get back to sleep but started crying out because he was so uncomfortable. When he was farting this morning he looked in pain. He finally pooped a large harder nugget I could tell it was bothering him. But yesterday he had normal poop. What could be causing this. He doesnt get a lot of carbs, but he did have some extra pasta bits yesterday. We have upped his protein amounts lately. But also his water intake. If you want what he's been eating specifically I can do that.

[We Three]

We have chronic constipation too, but not that back and forth that you describe.      Watch his calcium....too much can bind.  Avoid bananas and cooked carrots too.

 So, he's dairy free, then?

[Skadiver13]

He's dairy free yes, doesn't eat much carrots and never eats bananas :/
So far finger foods the only thing he'll eat is
Avacado, pasta, cantelope, sweet potato, sometimes carrots but not really, cheerios (the baby kind), chicken pieces but not a lot
Purees he has a mixture of fruits and veggies, but I have added some turky/chicken in there too. Mostly apple, pear, mango, squash, sweet potato

[Buntybear]

I think a lot of LOs can be like this as they are weaned onto solids. I *think* (struggling to remember now!) that sweet potato bothered Olly on this front so we took it out for a while.

[Skadiver13]

Oy he had it for lunch today. Ok I'll take that away and see if that helps. Thanks. He's been on solids since 6 months and only recently had the issue. He woke early from his nap today crying

[Lemonthyme]

It's always water intake with my LO.  He still gets problems now when he refuses water and insists upon milk.  I think sweet potato used to bung up my LO too.

[Skadiver13]

How much water are they supposed to have?

[Lemonthyme]

It's difficult, I never mentioned it but I always tried to get him to take some with meals.  I also put a sippy cup out on the side just containing water so he could have some and chose to take some as he played.  Nowadays he's getting reluctant with water (he's nearly 3 so we've not done too badly).

[Buntybear]

Maybe take the potato out for a few days but it can different foods for different LOs. Will prob be trial and error for a bit whilst you work out if there are triggers x

[Skadiver13]

I just don't know how as all the puree's are mixes? oy.. I'll keep trying and I'll give him more water.

[Lemonthyme]

Have you tried making your own?  It's really easy and cheap.  Just batch cook and freeze in a silicone ice cube tray then put into a bag when solid.  It's good anyway and gives you more control over the kind of things they eat.

[Skadiver13]

I just dont hbave the freezer room or the machine to do it.

[Lemonthyme]

I've just realised that at 10 months you're looking more at mashed / soft lumps / finger foods and more grown up foods anyway.  Could you cook for all of you and give your child some?

[Skadiver13]

He really only eats purees and occasionally will put finger foods in his mouth. I always offer a carb/protein/fruit/and veggie finger foods. This morning he had squished blueberries, avocado, cheerios and an egg yolk. He ate 3 small bites of avocado, 3 blueberries, 5 cheerios and he was done.  I gave him a jar of chicken and apples puree. Ate about 3.5oz. Typically he just puts the finger food in his mouth mashes it around and then spits it out. So I supplement with puree's but I just honestly don't have the time to make my own.  He'll be getting some prunes for lunch and we'll cut back on some of the high fiber fruits to see if that helps. Trying to get more water into him as well.  Poor guy woke up at 4am this morning with gas pains.

[Skadiver13]

Just wanted to let you all know he's doing better , think it may have been a combo of not enough water and too much sweet potato. I realized some of the organic puree I have has sweet potato in the ingredients but not in the title so he was probably getting way too much. I'm pretty good at reading labels looking for milk and soy but not potato .. Thanks all.

[<Catherine>]

I think you're probably getting great help from the ladies here, but there may be some additional information here that may help Constipation and Laxative Foods

[Skadiver13]

Wonderful. Info is never too much. Always helpful

[Buntybear]

Just wanted to let you all know he's doing better , think it may have been a combo of not enough water and too much sweet potato. I realized some of the organic puree I have has sweet potato in the ingredients but not in the title so he was probably getting way too much. I'm pretty good at reading labels looking for milk and soy but not potato .. Thanks all.

Great news! These LOs with sensitive tummies are hard to work out sometimes but together we can get there lolol x

[Skadiver13]

He pooped 4 times yesterday. His poops aren't so liquidy as when he was just formula fed. They're pastie if that make sense?

[Buntybear]

Sounds like he is having a clear out now!

[Lemonthyme]

He pooped 4 times yesterday. His poops aren't so liquidy as when he was just formula fed. They're pastie if that make sense?

Playdoh poos?  Yep they gradually change from being more liquid poos to more solid as they increase solids in their diet.

[Skadiver13]

YES exactly. I was so worried it wasn't normal, because occasionally he'll have more liquidy poops but more than often now they are playdoh poops that's a perfect description. Easier to clean for sure, but boy do they smell AWFUL. One tiny little bit smells like a blowout would have smelled 4 months ago LOL.

[Lemonthyme]

One of my friend's is vegetarian and she doesn't cook much meat for her LOs but when she does give them meat, apparently she really noticed the poos got very smelly. 

[Skadiver13]

LOL well his poo's have always been really smelly, but these are ripe.

[Lemonthyme]

Oh now my nearly 3 year old has a poo, he's not potty trained yet and OMG some of them are yeuch!

[*Kara*]

LMAO!  I have a 2.5 yr old who can clear a room too

As for texture of poop, mine was pasty on formula (and green from the iron)... but it went to formed poops (like a normal person) by about 8/9 months of age consistently.

Cooked carrot and apple can cause constipation... as for making your own, I just steamed a single pot of things together... an apple, a couple carrots, a small yam, some pear, zucchini... and then would randomly mix up combos of two things or more   I used one of these to mix everything super smooth: http://www.williamsfoodequipment.ca/cuisinart-smart-stick-immersion-blender.html?mkwid=SQ38Cun7&pcrid=27265844593&gclid=CNe87rvz67YCFSFxQgod4HQA_Q  The key is the wee food processor attachment (Mine wasn't a Cuisinart - and only cost me about $40).

That said, at this age, you could mash the steamed fruit veggies with a fork.  It used to take me about 45 mins with cleanup to do a weeks worth of food for her.  You can do chicken too... just cook it, then chill in the fridge, the pulse it until it's powdered then add to whatever you like

[Skadiver13]

Thanks. his poops are never formed, more like playdoh.

[*Kara*]

They will firm up a bit as he starts to have more in terms of solids

[ZacsMumme]

Hugs siobhan. We are dealing with constipation and normal poops back and forth her since solids were introduced. We're back to just pumpkin, pear, prunes and chicken broth. The Ps for poop any who interesting you all say sweet potato constipates as I have found the same thing!

I've heard prunes and dried apricots puréed help with constipation. I, too scared to try with T as the apricots will no doubt give him wicked reflux.

[*Kara*]

I used to make Poop Cubes (as we affectionately called them here):

Combine:
1 ripe pear
10 dried prunes
12 dried apricots (but you could sub more pear and prunes if refluxers don't get along with apricots or something like dried blueberries/cherries)

Add water until fruit is just covered... simmer over medium heat for about 20 mins, then toss the fruit in the blender and puree, add cooking liquid to get to the consistency you want...

I used to freeze it in ice cube trays overnight and then pop out and store in a freezer bag.  Keeps for a good month... reheat a couple cubes every few days and magic!

[eva026]

I used to make Poop Cubes

Love the name, lol.
We did sth similar, stewed pruned and pears. It takes 2 min to make in the microwave so I just made sure DD got some every day. Didn't even bother freezing.
On bad poop days we stay away from rice, apple sauce, cooked carrots and banana. Only brown bread and whole grain pasta, that and the "poop cube" keeps her pretty regular.

[Skadiver13]

I LOVE the poop cube idea that's awesome.  I guess I should invest in a blender. I've gotten away with just a small food processor but I think it's time.  He seems to Love Prune puree will eat it right up and he likes cooked pear. I didn't realize that apple could cause constipation but now that I think of the BRAT concept that makes sense. I've been giving him apple/chicken puree a lot. I'll lay off it for a bit.

[*Kara*]

Just be careful with apricots - not a good friend of most refluxers

[Skadiver13]

Thanks, i havent done apricots at all because of it. thought I'd wait till weaning the meds. So We're on day 8 I think of no AM meds. He's much harder to burp and wont sit still for me to do it but I think that might be behavioral. He's drinking 6pz and then refuses more even after burping so not reflux i dont think. Doesnt seem to bother him at solids time or his afternoon bottle?

[*Kara*]

sleeps are still okay?

[Skadiver13]

Yep still doing a short am and long pm nap, still waking early but sleeping throuh the night.