Growth question and constipation 13mo old

BiscuitEater21

I have few questions about the stage my son is in right now. He's 13 months old and he has always gained weight really, really fast. Usually a pound every two weeks, and sometimes more than that, almost since he was a newborn. But recently he has started to slow down with the weight gain, although he eats a TON. 

He seems like he might be getting taller, but he seems short, when he used to be in the high percentiles for weight and height. Now he is in the middle to 70's, so I'm not too worried. I know he is a big boy like his daddy, just not as big because he has some of me in there too lol.

 Well, he has also been having a hard time pooping lately. I am doing everything I can to keep him regular, but he is still having harder stool than usual. He seems to be in pain when he goes, but he still has a lot of gas like usual. Could it just be from having milk along with formula? And is the growth thing just a stage?? 

memali26

Growth tends to slow quite a bit after 12 months. They can't maintain that rapid rate of growth from their first year forever. If I'm remembering right, DD1 only gained 4lbs between her 1 year and 2 year well checks, but didn't drop percentiles at all.

BiscuitEater21

Okay, I did think the growth slowing was normal. And even if he isn't still gaining and growing like crazy, I know he's eating enough with how much he eats! He must just burn it all off now that he's walking around everywhere But I still want him to be regular, I hate seeing him in pain because he can't go poo...

chicsahm

Slowing down with growth is normal and so is constipation when you switch to whole milk.....plus the fact they all the sudden are eating more solids. Formula helps keep them regular. DS got constipated as soon as we stopped formula. Dr. suggested to switch to soy or almond milk.... I choose almond milk which helped a bit but we still battle it all the time! Every morning he has canned pears (any fruit starting with "P" is good) and he gets prunes every day.... (I get the prune pouches and DS sucks it right down). He has a "milk" zippy in the morning and in late afternoon and water the rest of the day. If needed he has 2 prune pouches. Dr. said to do pears, prunes etc until he has a soft stool and then continue that. When I pull back in anything he gets stopped up again. It sucks but I like the fact that I am not resorting to meds.Good luck!

StacyJYay

For the constipation, try adding Miralax to LO's bottle or sippy. (Doublecheck with your pedi to make sure it's okay with him or her.)  Additionally, try giving LO prunes or dried apricots -- if you cut them up into small pieces, they should be easy to eat.  My LO really likes these dried fruits and they keep him very regular.  Finally, try giving LO avocado or guacamole every day.  They're very nutritious and contain a ton of fiber. 

BiscuitEater21

All great suggestions! Thanks a bunch, I don't know why I haven't thought of giving LO cut up prune pieces, dried apricot and even other fruit before!!

I've just given him a little juice here and there when he gets very constipated. Or give him extra fruit purees and lots of water, he has Metamucal wafers that he seems to enjoy, so that is a nice extra bit of fiber too.

And I will also try the avocado or guacamole! I love them so I don't know why we don't buy them more often. He only has 2 bottles of milk a day, the rest we still give him formula because we still have a few cans left from WIC. But he eats mostly solids now, so the formula doesn't matter much, but I think it is still helping keep him regular. 

Hopefully he just grows out of it soon and gets readjusted (: 

CheezeFace

Growth does start to level off right around your DS's age.  That's normal.

My LO has constipation issues and I have to be fairly vigilant to keep him moving. You probably already know this stuff:  Lots of water (a bit of apple, prune or pear juice added if needed.  Lots of fruit and vegs.  Avoid bananas, carrots, rice, apple sauce.  We've never had a problem with WCM so I don't know if that would do it or not...but I did have him on WCM and formula for a bit and never noticed any difference.

Once I have LO on a good schedule I just have to pay attention to what he's eating a add or subtract some foods.  

If it helps, this issue is working itself out by itself over time:) 

BiscuitEater21

Thank you, that is what I'm hoping for. I just hope he gets readjusted quickly, because I hate seeing him in so much pain. And I really hate it when he sounds like he's in so much pain

He seems to be doing better since he had his last bad back up about a week ago. I need to be better at remember which days he was having such a hard time going..usually the problem is solved that day or within the 24 hours, with whatever changes I make to his diet in the meantime.