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Remedies for Constipation Issues in Children 2023 Updated

Constipation is a frequent issue among children. Constipation in most children involves passing hard stools (feces) with difficulty and less frequently than usual. Regular soiling (sometimes misinterpreted as runny diarrhea) may indicate that a kid has severe constipation, resulting in a blockage of the lower intestine (impaction). Idiopathic constipation occurs when no specific disease or ailment is causing constipation. It is recommended to treat constipation as soon as possible to avoid becoming a long-term (chronic) condition. You can consult a child specialist for constipation in children to avoid serious health issues.

What is a child’s normal bowel pattern?

Parents are frequently concerned about their child’s bowel habits. This worry can begin as early as the child’s infancy, with concerns over the number of soiled diapers. The most important thing to remember is that every child is unique. Normal might vary greatly. Often, a shift in the usual bowel habit of your kid indicates a concern.

Babies will urinate anywhere multiple times per day to once every few days. The frequency with which bowel motions occur is unimportant. What matters is that the stools (feces) are soft and easy to pass.

Breastfed babies typically have runnier, mustard yellow feces. These feces is because breast milk is more easily absorbed than bottle feeds (infant formula). Breastfed newborns may open their bowels with each feed. It is, however, usual for a breastfed infant to go up to a week without a bowel movement.
Because their feces are thicker, bottle-fed babies need to regularly open their intestines. Bottle-fed infant feces have a stronger odor (much like an adult’s).
It’s normal for your baby’s feces to change color and consistency from day to day. Constipation may result from a sustained shift to firmer, less frequent stools.
As newborns are introduced to solid meals, the color and odor of their feces will alter. The frequency may vary once more. In general, the feces get thicker, darker, and far more stinky.
You will notice that the consistency of your baby’s feces will change based on what you have given him or her. Some high-fiber meals, such as raisins, may even pass almost completely through your baby’s intestines, only to emerge in the nappies at the next change.
As your baby develops into a toddler and eventually a young kid, you may notice variations in the regularity and consistency of their stools, which are largely depending on what they consume.
Most children may have bowel movements 1 or 2 times a day, while Others may have bowel movements every 2 to 3 days.

What are the child’s constipation symptoms?

Constipation symptoms may include the following.

Stools that are hard or painful
Many days between BMs
Stomachaches, cramps, and nausea, as well as bleeding from the child’s bottom where feces come out
Soiling (brownish wet stains on underpants)
Feeling ‘off color’ (general malaise).
Behavioral changes, such as being more irritable or unhappy.

Your child may also have constipation if he/she:

Have BMs that stop up the toilet.
Make faces while they pass a BM as if they are in pain.
When they have a BM, they clench their bottom. Although this activity may appear to be your child attempting to push the stool out, they may be attempting to keep it in since it hurts to come out.

If your kid does not produce a bowel movement every 2 to 3 days or passing a stool upsets your child, call or make an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist immediately.

What are the Natural Remedies for Constipation in Children?

Most of the causes of constipation in kids are treated at home with the following remedies. However, consulting with a pediatric dietitian before adding anything new to their diet Is always a good choice.

Timing – Many youngsters hold it when they have to go because they don’t want to run in from outdoors or stop playing. Missing those signals might cause constipation in your child. However, they may disguise it effectively, frequently missing that little moment. To avoid it, make your kid Sit on the toilet at the same time every day or every other day.
Eating the “right” meals — This should be a major part of your approach if your child is constipated. Yet, some of these items may be challenging to incorporate into your child’s diet if they are a fussy eater. If this is the case, don’t try to impose a rule; instead, gradually begin to introduce these meals in pleasant and creative ways to spark your children’s interest.
- Pears
- Avocados
- Prune/Pear/White Grape/Apple Juice
- Most veggies, especially peas and broccoli
- Lentils
- Beans, especially black beans! (Adding these or lentils into burgers, rice, and soups is a good option)
- Oatmeal
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Whole Grain Cereals
- High Fiber Bread
Stool softener to clear the bowels – Stool softeners are usually safe for kids. Parents commonly give their children either little or too much stool softener for constipation. For example, you may assume you may stop giving your child a stool softener after their first normal-looking bowel movement, but doing so may cause another round of constipation. Some kids require a stool softener for a few weeks. Your child’s pediatrician can help you determine the proper dosage schedule as you continue to modify your child’s diet.
Plenty of fluids – If your kid is dehydrated, encourage him or her to drink lots of water and other liquids, such as naturally sweetened fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups, to help the fiber function more effectively.

Drinking enough water and other drinks also aids in avoiding dehydration. Staying hydrated is beneficial to a kid’s general health and can aid in the prevention of constipation. Please inquire with your pediatrician about how much fluids he or she should drink each day based on his or her size, health, activity level, and the environment where your family lives.

What foods and beverages should my child avoid if he or she is constipated?

Your kid should avoid meals with little to no fiber to help prevent or treat constipation.

chips
fast food
meat
prepared foods that include frozen meals and snack foods
processed foods like hot dogs
Microwavable dinners

Conclusion – Fiber-rich foods and their juice are a safe and efficient home treatment for treating constipation in your children. If your child is under the age of one year or has a history of food allergies, proceed with caution and see a Child specialist in Bangalore before consuming prune juice. When providing fruit juice to your child to ease constipation, precisely measure out dosages. Too much fruit juice may overburden their digestive tract, causing more discomfort.

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