Is your child having trouble pooping? Your child is probably constipated and fortunately, most cases of constipation in children are temporary.
Constipation in children is a commonly seen problem that comes with a change in diet or early toilet training. Simple dietary changes that include consuming fiber-rich food, fruits and vegetables and drinking an adequate amount of water can help with constipation but let’s look deeper into what to do if your child is constipated.
There’s no specific normal bowel activity in children, but there definitely are three stages when your child is most likely to get constipated:
- While s/he is still an infant and you first begin the switch from formula to solid foods
- For toddlers, it starts when toilet training first begins
- Older children start getting constipated around the time they start school
Your child may be constipated if they are having any of these symptoms
- Abdominal pain
- For children, fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, for babies, no bowel movement for 2 or 3 days
- Your child attempts to hold in their stool
- Hard, dry stools that don’t pass easily
- Stains or small stool marks in your child’s underwear
Your child maybe constipated because of these reasons
- Withholding stool
- Low dietary fiber
- Not enough fluids
- Certain medicines
What to do if your child is constipated?
There are several remedies you can try at home to manage your child’s constipation:
- Make sure your child is getting enough fluids
- Ensure they’re eating enough fruits, grains and vegetables
- Make sure your child isn’t overdoing fast food and junk food
- Create a toilet routine
- Promote physical activity
- Regularly remind your child to not withhold
- Be supportive
Constipation in children isn’t usually something you should worry about unless your child is constipated for more than 2 weeks. Consult your holistic health practitioner if you see any signs of :
- Swelling in the abdomen
- Weight loss
- Stool that contains blood
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Tears in the skin around the anus
There are many reasons for your child to be constipated and it’s usually nothing to worry about. With a few dietary changes, your child should be back to pooping again in no time.
Want to learn more about constipation?? Get answers to your questions about allergies or find a holistic practitioner specific to your needs.