This may be a bit vague as Im asking advice on what I know for a friend, she is at her wits end.

Background, her daughter was born 6 weeks early, 6pound 8 (so decent size) healthy no issues other than bowel issues later. She is turning 3 years old very soon.

She always has had, and still has bowel issues. WHen she was a baby she was forever changing formulas trying to get something that agreed with her to no avail, when she started on solids no difference, she will go upto and beyond sometimes a week with out pooing, she is in pain, and when she does go its massive, and hard.

She has tried every parachoc, lactoloose, etc laxitive on the market.

She has seen a paediatrician and has bowel biopsy and the result being - nothing wrong.

Her child is starting school next year and she really wants this sorted before it impacts her life permanentally.

Please any advice, or suggestions are welcome. If you ask qu's I can check with her mum for the answer.

Thanks in advance.

Could she have a food intolerance that's causing constipation? I'd probably start with cow's milk if it was apparent when the only food she was having was formula. This is where a dietician specialising in allergies would be very helpful.

My DS hated to go to the toilet and would hold on for days. It would become hard etc and be unpleasant for him.
He basically did not get enough fibre, even though he ate lots of f&v and drank 5 cups of water each day.

The dietician told me he had to up his water/liquid intake, try and get more veges into him( he was a very fussy eater). We also added Benefibre ( tasteless fibre powder) to his milk which helped the whole process and got things going to normal.

The childmaybe needs to go to the loo more often to try and get things moving? But try the extra water and maybe fibre supplement. I would consult the Dr though .

My DS has always been constipated and I've also tried all types of formula etc. He is now 3 and still constipated but at the moment we are managing it. He is on Parachoc 13mls and Benefiber 2 teaspoon a day. He has been on it for 2 months now and if I decrease the dose or stop it for a few days he becomes constipated again. I've been told that some kids needs a lot more Parachoc than the recommended amount for it to work. Basically keep increasing the dose by 5 mls every couple of days until the right dosage is reached.

a friends daughter has low muscle tone throughout her whole body which makes her constipated. She was also prem (12 weeks) and it is apparently very common in prem kids to have some form of low muscle tone.

Maybe your friend could investigate this??

Helen

Maybe look at a gluten intolerance

Hello.
Our GP said no to parachoc and told us to use Motivol Half.... My DS1 is now 4 and still has problems, we use motivol 2-3 times a week and he still only goes to the toilet once or twice a week.

I would check this out too.

My friends daughter struggled on for years and years... now she is on a wheat free diet she is so much better, the doctor finally suggested it (her mother raised it as a possibility) and at that point they tested her iron levels to discover they were dangerously, dangerously low.

Her whole life has improved tremendously. Health and happiness.