Constipation in Toddlers
Constipation is a very common and frustrating problem for everyone, but especially for children. Once a child becomes constipated, he tries to hold in his bowel movements to prevent it from hurting. This creates a cycle that makes the constipation continue and become worse. Infants and children with constipation are treated differently than adults. To assist toddlers who are constipated, it is usually best to use all natural products before attempting any medication.
Causes:
- Eating less fibre like fruits, vegetable and cereals
- Less intake of water or any liquid
- Consuming too much milk or cheese combined with not enough high fibre foods or water
- Less physical activity
- A genetic disorder that affects the digestive system
- Avoiding body's signal to have a bowel movement
- Anxiety over toilet training
Call your doctor when your child has dry, hard stool along with:
- blood in the stool
- fever
- vomiting
Help your child through natural method:
- Decrease constipation foods like milk, yogurt, cheese, cooked carrots, and bananas. Offer water and liquid diet in good amount.
- Change food diet; include more fruits, cooked vegetables, grain bread and cereals.
- Offer your toddler fruit juice if he refuses to eat any fruits or vegetables.
- Encourage your child to play and indulge in more physical activity. Exercise helps to prevent and reduce constipation.
- Measuring three finger widths below child's navel, apply gentle, firm pressure with your fingertips for about three minutes.
- Support child's feet when on the toilet
- Sometimes, a toddler can get carried away playing and may ignore the signs of a bowel movement. Doing so may lead to constipation. So try to avoid this situation.
- Don't pressurize your child for toilet training.
Medical treatment:
- When all your efforts fail you must consult doctor before the constipation problem becomes acute.
- If a child has a large amount of hard stool present in the colon, disimpaction will need to be done, i: e the stool needs to be removed. This is done using either oral or rectal medications, or a combination of both.
- After disimpaction, preventing the reaccumulation of hard stools is the key to maintaining good bowel habits. This is done with long term medicines.
- Stool softener can be used, if prescribed by the doctor.
- Regular visit to the doctor is important.
Your child needs your support and help at every stage so just be with them, try to understand their problem and consult doctor in right time.
(Sources: ehow.com, emedicinehealth.com, keepkidshealthy.com, healthlinkalberta.ca)
