[Judydoll]

DD in the last few weeks has developed constipation. I have had her to Dr's and was recommended to put her on coloxyl drops and prune juice morning and night.

This doesn't seem to be helping with most days DD ending up in screaming pain before managing to have a bowel motion.

She eats grapes and strawberries as far as fruit is concerned and no vegetables at all - not from lack of offering on my part. Her plate at dinner time always has vegies on it she just refuses to eat them.

I have never had to deal with this before with my other child. Does anyone have any ideas as to how else I can help DD?

[Paddlepop]

I have a 27 month old who has had constipation issues pretty much since birth. She used to scream and shake with pain when pooing, so I really feel for you.

Some things that have worked for us:
- Add some Benefibre to her drinks or food. It completely dissolves with no taste or texture.
- Make sure she is drinking plenty of fluids, especially water.
- Give her the actual prunes, not just juice. Perhaps stew them with some pears for some super-pooing powers, and add some custard if she doesn't like the taste.
- Try to hide some pumpkin or sweet potato in her food somewhere. Pumpkin seems help for my daughter.
- Reduce the refined foods in her diet, like biscuits, cake, and white bread.
- We use coloxyl drops and have since she was about 6 months old. The thing that has made the biggest difference has been Parachoc. It is chocolate flavoured liquid parrafin. We give it to her in some yoghurt and she doesn't notice. Works brilliantly! It lubricates the poo and bowel to help the poo slide through the body, and isn't a laxative. Just make sure you read the warnings about keeping the child upright for 2 hours after taking it to prevent breathing it into their lungs. Sounds scary but I just make sure DD stays up and busy until 2 hours is up before she can lie down.
- Lots of people on here use other products like Movicol, Lactulose and Osmolax. All are available from pharmacies on the shelf with no script required.
- Make sure your daughter is getting plenty of exercise and movement to move things along.

Has anything changed in her diet or activity in the last few weeks that might have made her constipated? Have you introduced a new food, or taken one out? Food intolerances can also contribute to constipation but if she has only be constipated recently then hopefully that isn't an issue.

Is is possible that your DD did a particularly big poo and tore her bottom a little bit (anal fissure)? That would make her reluctant to poo because of the pain, and make the whole problem worse. Anal fissures will often heal by themselves after a few weeks. Did your doctor check her bottom? We find that some Amolin or other moisturiser applied to DD's actual bottom hole can help to make it easier to poo because it will help it to slip out more easily.

I hope that some of these suggestions will help. It is so horrible to see your child in pain from trying to poo. Thankfully now my DD poos twice a day with no pain instead of twice a week with horrendous pain and screaming.