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Children's health

2.5yo with v v soft/runny poo - normal or not?

20 replies

LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 15:31

I'm wondering whether or not I should take DS to the doc about his poo - it's hardly ever 'formed' and is often completely liquid, is that normal at this age?

We've tried potty training in the summer (totally not ready) and again recently, and now he's able to do his wees in the toilet and the potty, and will even hold it (ie said he wanted a pee before putting his night nappy on at bedtime and held it while DH ran downstairs to get the potty!), but can't seem to tell when poos are coming, only telling me after.
He used to tell me every time he pooed "Big poo Mummy/Little poo Mummy" etc, now it's more 50/50, but he doesn't seem to know when it's coming.

He poos between 1-4 times a day, at unpredictable times, no regularity it seems.

For extra TMI, consistency is 'peanut butter' at best, watery with flakes at worst. Often acidy, which burns his bum a bit, fortunately he has amazing skin which heals v fast.
Very occasionally he does a formed poo, but they're still pretty soft. I poo diamonds so may be a bit unsure of 'normal' iyswim!

Do you think I should see the doc about this?

He's never had a vomiting bug, but this is like living with constant diarrhoea.
He's a skinny boy, but on 9th centile for height and weight, and has always been a small eater so I'm not really concerned about his size.
Pretty good diet, only dislikes sausages (weirdo), doesn't drink enough IMO, I keep citrus to a minimum as I think it makes the burny poos worse, and he loves bananas and scrambled eggs ('binding' foods I've been told, but obv not in the same meal!!).

Help please? Thanks

I've posted the same OP in Potty Training as well if that's ok, just trying to garner opinion! T'other thread

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MrsSpencerReid · 11/11/2013 15:37

My DS only ever had formed poop when he is constipated, it's usually peanut butter consistency, although not often looser unless teething/unwell, there is a thing called toddler diorhea -can't spell it! But if you're worried I'd def get it checked, could he have an intolerance to something? My poop goes really loose if I have too much dairyBlush

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 15:55

Thank you, good to know he's not completely unusual!
I was wondering about dairy today, but am very reluctant to cut it out as we do rely on milk and cheese for fat and protein on non-eating weeks.

Maybe I should try a food/poo diary to see if there's a correlation...

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Gileswithachainsaw · 11/11/2013 16:02

Was also going to post asking if you'd had him tested for any intolerances.

The food diary is a very good idea.

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MrsSpencerReid · 11/11/2013 19:32

My DS is now ok with dairy products but not fresh milk if that makes sense so he might tolerate a bit! I'd def keep a food diary sometimes you don't see patterns till its all written down Smile

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hettienne · 11/11/2013 19:37

Sounds like it could be toddler diarrhoea - usually caused by not enough fat in their diets. Toddlers diets should be about 40% fat and whole milk/cheese/dairy is a good source. Too much fruit juice and not enough fibre can be a problem too.

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 19:44

Ok, I think that's a v good idea, I'll cut out dairy from tomorrow and see how we go. Will still butter his toast tho, seeing as its spready butter and not all dairy anyway!
If there's no improvement in a week or so I'll start a food diary and go proper all-out dairy-free too, as I am def rubbish at spotting patterns.

Cheese will be much missed as his favourite lunch (and only thing I can guarantee will be finished) is cheese and tomato pittas, but I reckon the rest will be fine.
I had to go dairy-free for a while when he was small as he had reflux, tried it for a few months, and discovered Oatly milk is great for porridge, as it's double oatyness! Also the chocolate Oatly is bloody yummy :)

Thank you Thanks

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 19:49

X-post hettiene!

I'm going to research toddler diarrhoea now, but I think DSs diet is pretty good for fats, he always has full-fat milk, we don't give him reduced fat anything, and tend to eat the fatty tasty versions of things, ie DH buys the 20% fat beef mince for bolognese etc.
I'm always trying to get him to eat tho, even tho I've chilled out about it a lot, as he has such a small appetite.
He prob has one cup of diluted juice or squash a day.

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 19:52

Argh - by which I mean he drinks only one cup of juice/squash as I limit it, other drinks are water or milk.
He still takes a sippy/straw bottle of water to bed, as he sometimes wakes thirsty in the night.

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Yamyoid · 11/11/2013 20:03

I really think you should go to the doctor before you start cutting out dairy.
I've recently been with toddler dd who had loose poos for over a month. Dr was very understanding and said it could be leftover from a virus - the bug's still in her tummy. They're going to check a sample of her poo. She did say dairy slows down the recovery process and to cut down but it doesn't mean dd has an intolerance.
Wouldn't it be worthwhile getting a professional opinion first?

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Gileswithachainsaw · 11/11/2013 20:11

Would he eat better if he didbt have the milk til the evening. It's more a food than a drink it fills them up.

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 20:22

Giles I do tend to give him milk only if he's eaten a v small meal, I tend to treat it as a meal top-up, rather than giving it between meals as a 'thirsty' drink iyswim.

Yamyoid You're probably right, I'll call the docs tomorrow and make an appt. It's what I was pondering about doing anyway, and we have a v helpful doc. If she then agrees to try a month or to without dairy then at least it's on her say-so and is part of her diagnosis not mine.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 11/11/2013 20:33

Maybe that is half the problem? He knows that there's milk to come if he doesn't eat?

My two pick up habits very quickly, I would only have to do that once or twice and that would be it. They'd figure out I gave them milk if they didn't eat. It perhaps to him is more of a habit than you realise?

That's not a criticism by the way, we all know how obsessed with weight HVs can be when they are babies and it can leave people almost paranoid about it if they have children on the smaller side :)

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 20:57

Ha! Definitely! DS was 5lb 5oz as he was rather early, and the HVs wanted us to force feed him! They really put the frighteners on. Gits.

Honestly I don't think he's made the connection, he doesn't get the milk immediately after a half-eaten lunch. He doesn't ask for it if it doesn't appear, and isn't very 'habitty'. But you never know!

Do you reckon the Doc will want a stool sample? Tempted to just take photos of his nappies for a few days, really not keen on scraping them unless absolutely essential... Envy

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Gileswithachainsaw · 11/11/2013 21:04

I know what you mean. HV were obsessed with three hourly feeds due to lack of weight gain. Ffs she's been in hospital on a drip and allowed mere mls of milk. I repeatedly told them that the milk wasn't agreeing with her and their answer? To feed her more of it. True to awkward form of my dds all this force feeding I was meant to do would have resulted in her taking less as she'd take an oz cos she wasn't hungry. Luckily she was my second so I knew to nod and smile :o. Funnily enough in hydrolysed formula she did better. Funny that, I'd been asking for it.

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Gileswithachainsaw · 11/11/2013 21:04

I'd take pics and a sample that way they see the range and have option to send off.

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Sundaedelight · 11/11/2013 21:11

Get it investigated. Have a specimen stool tested. Doesn't sound normal TBH and it would set your mind at rest. Semi-close relative (sis-in-law's cousin LO to be exact!) turned out to have unusual stomach parasite. Child had lost weight and appetite and doing poos like peanut butter. LO now thriving, seems like he had had it for some time Sad

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LongTailedTit · 11/11/2013 21:25

Sundae I have to go past Docs on the way to preschool tomorrow, will make the appointment in person and get a stool pot at the same time, tho will ask if it's necessary first! :)

Thanks all! Thanks

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LongTailedTit · 17/11/2013 23:10

Thank you for everyone's responses, it was v helpful!

We went to the docs last week, saw someone new, and she agreed DSs poo was not normal - which weirdly was good to hear! I thought I was maybe just making a fuss.

We discussed exclusion diets and agreed that given DS is quite slim for his age and doesn't have a great appetite it wasn't ideal to cut out dairy and wheat - his two main sources of fat and protein that we rely on when he's in starvation mode!
I have to take him to Paediatrics at the hospital tomorrow for a few blood tests to rule out milk and wheat allergies - I had assumed that proper allergies would have rather more serious symptoms than runny poo, but she said it could well be the case.

If the blood tests and the stool sample all come back clear then we'll do exclusion diets to try to narrow it down.

Thanks

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MrsSpencerReid · 17/11/2013 23:20

Glad you're getting somewhere!!

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LongTailedTit · 19/11/2013 11:32

Oh the irony... Yesterday, while waiting at hospital for the blood tests to investigate his constant diarrhoea, DS did his first solid poo for six months... Grin

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