It can be difficult to watch your child dealing with constipation. Constipation in children is a common problem that affects your child’s normal pooping pattern.
Stools are harder and sometimes larger than usual with painful bowel movements that may be hard, dry, or painful to pass.
Toddlers and preschool-age children are the largest age groups that face this problem and it can be related to various factors- like forgetting to use the bathroom due to playing or any other activity. Sometimes, eating outside, or eating low fiber food can also cause constipation.
Constipation In Kids
Constipation is a common problem. The causes of a child’s constipation may not always be clear, but may include:
- Fear of using the toilet, crying, or refusing to sit on the toilet
- Painful bowel movements
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bloating and feeling of fullness
- Eating a low fiber diet and not drinking enough liquids
Constipation In Kids: Home Remedies Can Help Soften Stools
- To prevent constipation from affecting your child, increase the amount of fiber in their diet. The best sources of fiber are fruits, veggies, legumes, and oats, which include apple, peas, pears, bananas, berries, avocado, broccoli, beans, lentils, and oatmeal.
- Massaging the abdomen and bicycling the legs for infants and children helps your child to pass stools.
- Getting enough water helps prevent constipation and promotes regularity. About four-five glasses of water per day at a minimum.
- Sometimes children forget to use the washroom as they don’t want to stop their activity to go to the bathroom. Try to schedule your child’s meals by developing a habit of eating regular meals. It will help kids to develop routine bowel habits.
- Schedule your child’s meal a little earlier to give your child a chance for a relaxed visit to the bathroom before school.
- Make sure your child stays active. Make it a priority to encourage your child to play and do physical activities. This will help the food move through your child’s digestive system easily.
- Fruit juice is also effective for relieving constipation as it helps in bowel emptying. Fruit juice contains a sugar sweetener sorbitol, which can function as a laxative.
- Cereals because of its low fiber content can trigger constipation. Reducing the amount of cereal from your baby’s diet can help to relieve constipation.
- Make sure your child develop a habit of using the bathroom after meals. Have your child sit on the toilet for about 10 minutes after eating so that bowel movements become a regular part of their routine.
Small changes in your child’s diet and habits help most kids feel better and get the bowels moving the way they should. Constipation in children is often short-term, however, see your pediatrician if constipation becomes chronic and doesn’t resolve with home remedies.