My poor Arden has been fighting constipation for a year now. When it all started, I noticed her not going for up to a week sometimes and then I would notice her actively holding it. WEll I tried natural sollutions: slippery elm bark, juices (she has never drank more than a whole sippy cup in a day....not a big drinker unless boobies are involved.) I tried making tonics and when the constipation continued the doctors insisted on a laxitive. Now a year later, she has been taking a laxitive daily (if I can get her to drink it) And sure it keeps her from being constipated but at what cost. I know something else could be done. I've heard trying to keep vitamin c in her and accidophilus might help. Maybe I should try larger doses of the slippery elm.??
If any of you natural mammas have a suggetion I would love to hear it.

If you can get some natural apple cider (has lots of fiber in it!) that should do the trick! (it's usually in the "cold" section of the store.)

Yeah I'll try that. I give her the natural apple juice....does the cider have more fiber? I guess it does which is why it is so textured and thick, right?

I usually can't get more than 4 ounces of any juice in her. She's just not a fan. Sometimes she will drank a whole juice box and I'll be so shocked and happy. Isn't that hillarious. I know so many moms that worry about their child getting too much juice...guess I can throw out that worry.

don't know if she will drink it but THANKS for the tip.

We had lots of constipation problems until recently. Here's what I did:

~Prunes (VERY effective). Other dried fruits work too, but prunes are the most potent.
~pancakes with plenty of flax seed meal and wheat germ (most kids love pancakes)
~cut out some dairy (my dd was drinking a lot of milk and eating lots of cheese)
~high fiber cereals--she eats them dry as a snack. She likes Quaker Oat Squares and Corn Bran the best.
~Daily fiber chewables

HTH and good luck! Constipation is definitely not a good thing to be dealing with...

Thanks for the good suggestions. Does anyone have any herbal remedies or recomendations. Sometimes she will take a tincture better than she can eat cereal. I'll have to try the pancakes with a punch. I bet she will eat those.
She is quite picky so finding things she will eat as well as tring to get lots of fiber in her is hard. She loves soup so I can usually put good stuff in that.
Anyway..thanks

Hey, Stephanie, glad to see ya here :)

First off, your ped has had her on laxatives for a year non-stop? Those things are 'habit forming', meaning that they'll impair the normal bowel system if used longterm. Yikes! Can you get a second opinion? There's a great natural medice group in Brookwood that sees kids over a year. If your insurance covers them, they're fantastic. Advanced Family Medicine if the name of the practice.

Have you looked into homeopathic treatments? I've got the name of a fantastic homeopath. I also have a great book 'Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child' which has allopathic treatmenrs, herbal remedies, massage therapy, diet recommendations, and homeopathic treatments for various ailments. I'll bring it to the next playgroup if you like.

Lastly, what is she eating? What's her daily diet like?

Poor Arden. Not much fun :(

Hey Hey Mama...What a cute picture of your kiddos. I've gotta learn how to do that.
Anyway I have not tried any homepathic remedies but I would love too. I looked up a remedy once and I couldn't find it at Golden Temple or whole foods. Arden loves taking those "candy pills" so I really wish I could find one. I can't remeber what the constipation remedy was called.
I'd love to see your book. I have a book called Naturally Healthy Babies and Children. I love it. It had good herbal suggetions that I did try but maybe not enough. I'm too conservitive with herbs when sometimes I think I should use more. I also try massage and such on her belly.
As for her daily diet.... Not much....here is what she ate yesterday.
A cereal bar for breakfast (only ate 1/2)
Half a peach for snack.
maybe a tablespoon of salsa with about 4 tortilla chips
maybe 4 onces of tea made with Red Rasp leaves, nettle and oatstraw (this is what I put her dose of Miralax :mad: in)
and 1 bite of her dinner--rice with chicken pot pie---I slaved and she ate ONE bite. That is usual.
I try all day to get her to eat fruit or cereal or raisins . I know all about high fiber foods , she just doesn't eat much of anything.
She had been without the laxitive for 3 days but I had to give it to her yesterday because I can tell when she needs to go. It's so sad, and frustrating.
Anyway, I guess I should check out that family care at brookwood but I might also want to try a homeopath. You say you know one? I've looked in the yellow book and didn't find one so I gave up.
Wow..sorry such a long response
oh BTW her ped didn't prescribe the laxative. When the problem started he referred us to a GI at Children's. So that's where we go. Their main sollution is diet and laxitives :(
Poor Arden

Oh, wow! I have no idea why she would be constipated on that diet. It sounds perfectly healthy to me! At 2 years old she's at that 'fresh air and sunshine' stage but she shouldn't be constipated. Have they checked the function of her intestines to make sure everything's working as it should?

Smart Meds for a Healthier Child recommends the following:

Psyllium seed increases the bulk of the stool, softens the stool making it easier to pass, and initiates peristalsis (contraction of the intestine to move the waste along).

Serving warm liquids or hot cereal every morning acts to gently stimulate the intestinal tract (you can give her sweetened oatmeal with flax seed or psyllium seed).

Acidophilus is strongly recommended

Chlorophyll is also strongly recommended

Oatmeal cooked in flaxseed tea

Licorice tea or tincture

Liquid food grade aloe vera

1-10 drops organix flaxseed oil, given twice daily in food

HOMEOPATHY:
Actually, you're welcome to call me on this on, I'll PM you my phone #. There's way too much to type. Or I'll bring the book to the next Workshop.

My homeopath's name is Joan Scott Lowe and her number is (205) 939-0071 or
(205) 871-1288

Here's her website:
http://www.mindspring.com/~jslowe/

She's fantastic and has helped us through colic, ear infections, and a scary bout with RSV.

I'll PM you my #

It's $10 for a bottle of 60 gummi bears. I gave my 5yo 4 gummi bears and he got relief in a three hours.

http://www.yummibears.com/store/detail.cfm?pid=101&pn=Yummi%AEBears%99%20Fiber

Have you tried giving drinks in different cups like egg cups sports bottles, cups with straws, etc.? Dehydration can be a factor in constipation especially if your daughter is chronically constipated.

I hope you find a solution for your child soon.

Just piping in with a couple of more suggestions.

Prune juice would also be good--we used to mix it with other juices (apple or grape) to cut the flavor a bit.

We stopped dairy all together and went with soy milk. You could also substitute rice milk.

Raisins are good for fiber.

Graham crackers are also good for fiber.

And I second the "special" cup idea--this has always worked for us. :)

due to hypotonia. The only thing that seems to work is giving her mineral oil. We mixed it with juice or milk. Sorry don't know if anything natural. The prunes and juice did nothing for her. You can get it over the counter. I give it to her once a day and usually a tablespoon. At one time, we had to give her 6oz a day. That was rough. But, she never notices it mixed in her drinks. Hope she gets relief soon.

Thanks so much for everyones suggetions.
I was so excited to hear about the Fiber gummy bears. I ordered them immediately. Arden loves the gummy viatamins so I know she will take these. I have been looking for a fiber supplement that she would actually take.
I'm trying to wean her from the laxitive so I've been heavily pushing juice and fruit and other fiberous foods.
Her main problem seems to be mental. She "holds it" when she does need to go. This is what started about a year ago. The Doctors said it was normal for potty training age so after a blood and stool test they cleared her of any "problem" other than just being scared to go. I guess it hurts sometimes and that is why she started holding it. This is also why the doctor has kept her on the laxitive, so she would have no choice but to go when she needed to.
It is so sad to watch her holding it when I know she needs to go. I hate having to give the laxitive. I wonder if the mineral oil would work instead. I'm gonna try my herbal remedies for a few days and see what happens.
Blessings to all and Thanks again!!!!!!