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Parenting & Farm Kids:  HELP! Violet is having difficult B.M's...  |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 08:09:18 AM
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I've discussed how irritatingly picky Violet is as an eater and for a time, I was doing quite well because she would eat these Spinach dinosaurs, but now she's even refusing to eat those. At my wits end, her meal choices (what she will eat) are: grilled cheese, pancakes, spaghetti with little sauce, pizza, breaded organic chicken nuggets. See a theme here? No veggies, unless you count tomato sauce.
Last night, I kept hearing her whimpering while she was playing in her room. When I went in, she was standing up, trying to go potty, and really in pain. So, I put her on the potty (because we're also trying to work on THAT) and she just panicked and cried and cried. When she did finally go (immediately AFTER I took her off the potty!) I noted a little blood in the stool. So, while I'm just really sad that she's feeling so poorly in her tummy and digestive track, I'm very frustrated because I can't seem to get fiber into her diet anywhere, even though we eat high fiber cereals, bread and pasta.
Any suggestions, girls?
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 08:46:34 AM
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Do you put veggies on her plate EVERY meal any way? Also do you do the one bite rule. It may be hard this late in the game, but I would start impementing the one bite rule ASAP. Sometimes it takes several tastes of something to aquire a taste/liking for it. So the one bite rule helps them taste it at least once each time you offer it. This way after a while they aquire a taste for it. I've had my girls eventually love things they hated at first, just because of the one bite rule.
OTOH, my mom is raising my 12 y/o niece and even though I had the one bite rule when I was growing up, my mom has been severely lacking in judgement for some years (kind of like alzhiemers, I'm serious here, it's her health mainly causing this), anyway I started doing the one bite with her and since my mom has never made her eat anything she didn't want and let her fill up on candy and crap! She has been crying about even having to eat one bite......but.....I'm just afraid she's not going to eat anything healthy ever if we don't. One day she told me she only liked "good" food, and went on to tell me what good food was, ALL CRAP food! UHG!
You are making the grilled cheeses on high fiber breads, and adding fiber to the pancakes, using high fiber pasta for the spaghetti, right? Is it possible she isn't drinking enough water? Also for the pancakes I find my girls like things in them, even dandelion flowers. Have you tried adding fruit to them?
Also pumpkin can be diguised well in a lot of things and is high fiber. I add it to spaghetti sauce (a lot of pumpkin as it really dissolves well!), pancakes, chili, and pumpkin makes the best cake and brownies. Just use a cake or brownie mix and don't add anything else (I literally mean NOTHING else) but a 14 oz can of pumpkin stir it up, and bake at time and temp on the box, and it makes lovely baked goods, muffins too! My girls love them, it lowers the fat/calories and ups the fiber!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 08:52:26 AM
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Basically, I make what we're having (which always consists of veggies), give that to her, along with one thing I know she'll eat, at which point, she'll push the other stuff away and eat chicken. She's very willful, as are most 2 year olds, but this is sometimes more frustration than it's worth. The one bite thing? I gave it up--sitting there, listening to her scream and yell for an hour at a time after I've worked all day and walked in the door at 7 pm, still in a suit and heels isn't how I want to spend my evening. Besides, I'd literally have to stay there the whole time with her because she'll feed her food to the dogs, taking more hours out of my day than I actually have.
I like the pumpkin idea, and sweet potatoes I know are high in fiber, too. We already do high fiber pancakes, pasta, etc. She does drink a lot of milk, so maybe I'll cut that down to once or twice a day with the rest watered down apple juices and things like that.
Thanks for your suggestions--I'm pretty frustrated at this point.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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oldbittyhen
True Blue Farmgirl
1511 Posts
tina
quartz hill
ca
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 09:34:43 AM
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Have you thought of some type of disipline for her temper tantrums, cause thats what it sounds like to me, she is getting her way, cause you are are tired from working and she knows it...instead of putting the one thing she will eat on her plate along with what she won't, just put the latter, and until she takes at least one bite of each, shes not getting the other, and sitting her in a corner for those tantrums, won't hurt her...Who is she with when you are at work, are they allowing her to act this way also, if so, they need to be on the same page as you...
"Knowlege is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad" |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 09:45:20 AM
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Tina, you're right about the tantrum--she's certainly trying to get her way. I wish I had all day to deal with it but since I don't, I am struggling with losing my mind or giving in. I'll give it a shot tonight.
During the day she's with her grandmothers (3 of them, 3 days of the week). I have to admit, as much as I love my mother, she gives in to her every whim and basically she eats crap food there, and my one mil is the mother of an eater just like Violet--at 12, he was drinking ensure because he wouldn't try any foods. My other mil is awesome, and makes sure she eats her entire meal, but she's a disciplined person and there is a schedule in her house that isn't in the other two.
When she was really small, she ate all kinds of things, even Amy's organic lentil soup and I was so happy, thought we'd have no problems whatsoever, and she's just turned into this "anti" food toddler and I'm beside myself. If I had all darn day to cook and be creative with her food, I guess I'd do it, but since I don't, I'm feeling pushed into a corner and stressed about her health and well being.
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 09:48:25 AM
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My oldest DD is very willful too. In fact to get her to eat at all at first it took a entire day! Literally! She just wanted to drink milk and didn't care at all to eat. But, by 2 y/o it was time to eat solids! So it took a whole day and I wouldn't let her have any milk ALL day till she ate a bite of food. there was screaming, crying, craziness! By the end of the day we all had headaches and my husband wanted to give up! But, it only took that one day. As for the one bite thing, we too have to sit there with her. But, it only took a few times of doing it-crying temper tantrums and all, and then she learned we were stronger willed then her. And she gave it up, and just does it now. But, it took several times of hours on end, of crying, sitting there, etc. But, I think it was worth it in the end.
I've seen the outcome of my SIL (sister in law) she as a adult she would only eat pizza. ONLY! And never anything else! She was around 400 lbs, she died at 35 years old. Plus she was a real pain to go any where with cause she would complain the whole time if there was no pizza where we were to eat. And she was a grown woman. UHG. After spending so many vacations and what nots with her, I was determined I couldn't deal with that with children, and raise them to be like that as adults. I have a friend with a husband who will only eat plain hamburgers (no other foods) again weird, and irritating.
Not only that, but it's just plain not healthy-like the constipation, could actually later cause pancreas and other cancers.
In the end though it is all control issues, which could later spill into other areas. I do understand the tiredness though, but at the same time like I said, I learned with my DD it only takes a few times, then she learned I wasn't giving up, and she gave it up and just does it now.
That being said, the pumpkin does work well! And I personally wouldn't keep putting the food she will eat on the plate either, I would do like tina, and require the other food first. Eventually she will give in to that, cause a child won't let themselves starve. However, yeah it will be a pain till she gives in......but so is a lot of things with parenting. lol
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 09:51:37 AM
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sounds to me like your mom and one MIL may be part of the culprit. For sure they need to get on board too. Or it will be heck! I know the same for my DD1 and my MIL! Thankfully my step mom is on board with me and also requires healthy food at meals! UHG! I don't really leave DD with my mom......except when I had our last baby, then she was asking what she should feed her, we feed her healthy food with us, but my husband laughed and just said tell her to just feed our kids the same crap she feeds her's it'll be ok for a weekend I guess. lol That was his exact words! lol haha And yup that's what she feeds her kids now, crap! lol I agreed with hubby for a weekend it just wasn't worth it to go over it all with her, but if she was my daily child care provider we would have to have a pow wow!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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LuckyMommyof5
True Blue Farmgirl
500 Posts
Suzanne
OH
USA
500 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 6:38:35 PM
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Have you tried fruit smoothies? I use orange juice or pomegranate juice as a base in the blender and throw in all kinds of frozen organic fruits (pineapple, mango, peaches, strawberries, raspberries, etc) and blend it until smooth for the girls (and me too!). Sometimes I throw in frozen shots of wheatgrass juice and even a little frozen spinach (if you just use a little there is no spinachy taste).
We're vegetarians, so my girls usually don't have constipation, but sometimes when there's an issue I also get them this organic yogurt that has probiotics and fiber in it and encourage them to have some granola on top with it as a snack.
I have a family member who has her MIL watch her kids a lot and the MIL gives the kids butter straight out of the keeper to eat as a "treat" or bowls of sugar to dip their fingers in to eat "for fun." It's gross! It's weird, because I know for a fact that when her MIL was raising her own children she wouldn't even let them have cake on their birthdays because she said it was "junk!" Go figure!
Farmgirl Sister #3243
"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
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melody
True Blue Farmgirl
3318 Posts
Melody
The Great North Woods in the Land of Hiawatha
USA
3318 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 8:01:56 PM
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Jonni, What about those neat little prunes wrapped up individually to look like a piece of candy? Nothing like good old fashioned prunes to keep the pipes clean!
Lord, I know what you are going through my DS was awful. We actually had to take him to the ER TWICE thinking he was having appendicitis when it turned out to be compacted stool. He is a teenager now, but takes Acai berry on a regular basis. It really helped him. And oh...he is STILL a VERY finicky eater....Kids!
Melody
Farmgirl #525 |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 9:49:09 PM
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I just made a huge batch of prune brownies! They taste great and the prunes are completely undetectable. They were on the website for the california dried plums company. Dried plums are, after all, prunes! They had tons of recipes, so maybe some of them would be helpful.
I had to make the brownies, by the way, before I would recomend them to you. After all, I will use any excuse to bake anything chocolate, but I don't want to risk my reputation by recommending anything without trying it first.
YEAH RIGHT!!!! Like any woman needs a legitimat reason to eat something chocolate! LOL!
They were really good and the pan is half empty already!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Tapestry
True Blue Farmgirl
1223 Posts
Cheryl
Wisconsin
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - Oct 28 2011 : 10:39:40 PM
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I know that my 2 yr old grandson loves green seedless grapes and these sure seem to loosen him up if he's a little constipated. Also maybe a small amount of prune juice or graham crackers?
Happy farmgirl sister #353
Look for rainbows instead of mud puddles 
http://pinterest.com/ctapestry/
http://tapestrysimaginings.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2011 : 06:29:54 AM
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Johnni- one thing we do to make sure there are lots of veggies in food is that when we make spaghetti sauce I puree carrots, onion and celery in the blender and then put the mush into the sauce. It enhances the flavor, increases the veg content and thickens the sauce. It really helps. Another thing we do is make frozen banana smoothies- we freeze bananas once they get over ripe and then blend them in the blender with milk. It tastes great and has tons of fiber too.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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Canadian farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
482 Posts
Lori
Ontario
Canada
482 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2011 : 07:32:26 AM
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Here are some titles of cookbooks specifically aimed at sneaking vegetables, etc. into foods for picky eaters:
The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals -- by Missy Chase Lapine
Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets To Get Your Kids Eating Good Food -- by Jessica Seinfeld
Maybe you could get these at your library for some new inspiration. Ask them to interloan for you if they don't own them.
Also, along with lots of fibre, we need to drink lots of water, too, to aid with digestion. I hope you can get all the caregivers on board with this--it's hard, good luck!
I found with this age, making mealtime a battle is not going to work. Lots of praise when they eat up, but they are at a rebellious stage, so if they can challenge you on something, they sure will!
Hugs,
Lori
Farmgirl Sister #183 |
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countrymommy85
True Blue Farmgirl
898 Posts
Krystle
MT
USA
898 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2011 : 09:04:19 AM
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My son gets like that too every once in a while. Since I've switched him to raw milk it's only happened once and I believe that is because I ran out and had to give him regular store bought milk so until I was able to get more real milk I gave him a little kefir every day and it cleared up. I don't give my kids any juice, it's a treat for them when they go to grandma's so they have one glass of milk in the morning with breakfast then water the rest of the day. I have a 27 month old and a 16 month old and they eat anything as long as they see mom and dad eating it. But they also watch other people too so I get upset when people come over with what I feel are nasty habits. (one of my pet peeves is people not eating crust.) I HATE scraping squished crust off the bottom of a plate because of how people stack their plates at the end of a meal. My policy: you don't eat crust of my good bread you get to do the dishes. Guest or not. I can't stand icky crust removal. haha ok back on the subject!
My advice: limit juice, lots of water, see if maybe it's not enough fiber, too much dairy or some other food item that is maybe causing intestinal trouble to cause the constipation. LIke I said, for my son it is too much wheat and store bought dairy. My daughter never had that problem. Best of luck and hope it clears up soon, its never fun seeing our babies hurting!
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
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levisgrammy
True Blue Farmgirl
9329 Posts
Denise
Beavercreek
Ohio
USA
9329 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2011 : 09:16:20 AM
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Jonni,
I'm not going to give you any advice in the discipline area but I did want to mention that Activia yogurt is good for bm's. Keeps it moving.
farm girl sister#43
http://www.ladybugsandlilacs.blogspot.com/
O, a trouble's a ton or a trouble's an ounce,
Or a trouble is what you make it!
And it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts,
But only--how did you take it?
--Edmund C. Vance.
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Christy925
True Blue Farmgirl
476 Posts
Christy
Midland
Michigan
USA
476 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2011 : 4:52:11 PM
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Both my kids had problems...the only way they would eat prunes was the little jars of pureed baby food prunes...graham crackers with a little milk on them...Mini Wheats as a snack. When they got older I gave them a vitamin called Lecithin. When I had my first baby I read a book called "Feed Your Kids Right" by Dr. Lendon Smith. I was kind of a hippie/natural kind of mom....I loved it. Making my own baby food and using cloth diapers. He is the one who suggested Lecithin for constipation. It worked...I squeezed it into my kids water when they were babies and then into their fresh squeezed orange juice when they were old enough for it. Sigh....I miss my babies...they are 32 and 26 now.
Farmgirl Sister #2315
http://smallfreckleddog.blogspot.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/WildThymeCreations?ref=pr_shop |
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Farmer Judy
True Blue Farmgirl
433 Posts
Judy
North Aurora
IL
USA
433 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2011 : 08:08:20 AM
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My youngest now thirteen had problems since he was born. At first we used baby prune juice and he ended up calling it baby power juice. Since he is older now and has a more active response to everything of NO we have been sneaking veggies in that sauces we make and giving him probiotics as a supplement. More of the time it works depending on how much junk food he gets at school from his friends.
God bless,
Judy
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
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annielaurel
True Blue Farmgirl
912 Posts
nancy
fernandina beach
florida
USA
912 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2011 : 07:05:42 AM
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The best thing I can tell you is to go to this site for great answers to your questions about eating problems. www.parentingfromtheheart.com. I have learned so much since raising my own two children. Battles over eating behavior is not where I would go today as it only caused me frustration and I got nowhere. Tantrums in 2 year olds are normal as are picky eaters. Bowel problems are not as rare as I thought they were. There are so many things I did not know about the stages that are normal that children go through. Also so much research has now been done on the brain development of children. Please if you can look into the site above. It may be able to answer some of your questions.
God bless you.
Hugs,
Nancy
Farmgirl Sister 32301
Laughing is good exercise. It is like jogging on the inside.
Live everyday to the fullest. |
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Nov 07 2011 : 07:06:50 AM
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I am so grateful for each and every one of you taking the time to post and share your trials and tribulations. I've been beating myself up, thinking I'm such a terrible mom, but your posts have made me feel so much better--that it's something that many of you have dealt with, are dealing with currently and I'm so happy that you've given me some resources to pour over!!!
I will keep you posted on "how" it's going--I know 2 and 3 year olds can be incredibly challenging when it comes to battles of the will, so I will have to pick and choose wisely. As far as this food/fiber goes, I'm just going to be vigilant!
"Hey, I've got nothing to do today but smile..."
The Only Living Boy in New York, Paul Simon |
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marthajane
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
Anna
Orlando
FL
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Nov 08 2011 : 2:56:21 PM
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I'd like to suggest massage the lower back, tocks and legs with a open hand circular motion, might use powder, or some lotion depending on the skin. Usually you don't need any products. I found sometimes these areas get kind of cold, and this might be causing the circulation to slow down, which might affect digestion. I used to rub my baby this way, and it always relaxed him and his elimination would follow. I also rubbed his tummy and the hips. Using a circular motion gets the skin warmed up.
Happiness IS being a MOM |
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woolgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
901 Posts
Elizabeth
Great Lakes
IL
USA
901 Posts |
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buggysmum
True Blue Farmgirl
110 Posts
Shelly
110 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 2:15:17 PM
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How about a little Benefiber in her juice? It doesn't taste of anything and dissolves completely. Of course, you'd want to ask the pediatrician first, in case she is already impacted (sp?) which means the stool is stuck.
They may recommend a children's dose of Colace stool softener.
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22angel
True Blue Farmgirl
498 Posts
Pam
Manitoba
Canada
498 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 4:41:29 PM
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My sister uses something called lactulose (not quite sure of the spelling) for her daughter (who is 2 & probably couldn't poop to save her life :s). With her son (who is now 8), it was putting him in the tub & he'd poop no problem. Aubrie however, is another story. Poor kid. The lactulose works wonderfully, if you remember to put it in their milk/juice all the time....
Hopefully Violet's bm's are getting better...and you're not having food issues/temper tantrums so much...
Life isn't about finding yourself. It's about creating yourself.
"When I grow up, I want to be dirt." seen on a box through construction in Wyoming 2010 |
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momshopsalotta
True Blue Farmgirl
232 Posts
Connie
Hertford
NC
USA
232 Posts |
Posted - Dec 07 2011 : 4:49:47 PM
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| Could you possibly talk to her pediatrician about putting some of the tasteless, water soluble fiber in her milk and/or juice). |
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Ruby V
True Blue Farmgirl
220 Posts
Ruby
Chilliwack
BC
Canada
220 Posts |
Posted - Dec 10 2011 : 10:31:19 PM
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I know it's not the most healthly thing, but if you're desperate and she likes red licorice - it acts as a mild laxative. The black licorice causes high blood pressure, so don't use it. Years ago when I was pregnant, my doctor recommended I eat red licorice as a laxative. It worked and I've resorted to using it several times over the decades and it's worked every time for me.
Ruby ~ Sister #3597 |
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knead2garden
True Blue Farmgirl
359 Posts
Ashley
Spring City
TN
USA
359 Posts |
Posted - Dec 22 2011 : 10:45:48 AM
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I know you've had tons of wonderful suggestions, but I have one more that works to get bowels moving. Yoga! I do lots of twists when I'm bloated or constipated. My boys will do them too if their stomachs hurt.
Have violet sit cross cross apple sauce, raise her arms above her head reaching for the sky, and twist her torso to the right. Hold for a few breaths, reach arms back up toward the sky, go back to center, and do the same thing on the left side. There are several more postures if you are interested, let me know.
Hope she is feeling better!
Much love!
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
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Parenting & Farm Kids: HELP! Violet is having difficult B.M's... |
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HELP! Violet is having difficult B.M's...
