Constipation in children: Addressing constipation in children with 9 great tips

Constipation in children is a fairly common problem that occurs when there is a change in a child's diet. However, this situation is only temporary and if you know how to treat the constipated baby, everything will be resolved.

There are many cures when your baby is constipated and what is really effective? In the following article, aFamilyToday Health will reveal tips to treat constipation in children and the accompanying signs to help parents easily recognize.

Signs of constipation in children

How can you tell if your baby is constipated? In addition to your baby's discomfort every time he goes to the bathroom, you can observe for the following signs:

Flatulence

Stomach pain

Bloody stools

Tension in the abdomen.

Sometimes a child with constipation can accompany diarrhea and confuse many parents. This is because hard stools get trapped in the rectum and loose stools slide through and pass out first.

How to cure constipation in children

Some tips to help relieve constipation in children include:

1. Give your child plenty of fluids to treat constipation in children

Frequent dehydration can cause constipation in children. To prevent this, you have to let your baby drink plenty of water as well as stay hydrated. When your baby is constipated, you can try to improve the situation by giving him some carbonated mineral water.

Some studies have suggested that this water is more effective than filtered water for relieving constipation, including chronic idiopathic constipation or with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) . However, do not use carbonated soft drinks as this is an unhealthy option and can make constipation in children worse.

2. Add fiber, especially soluble, non-fermented fiber

Young children with constipation are often advised to consume more fiber. This is because the increased fiber in the body will support the bowel movement, making the stool easier to pass. In fact, a recent review found that 77% of people with chronic constipation could get a lot better off just by taking in extra fiber.

However, there are some opinions that too much fiber can make constipation worse in children. Although fiber may increase the frequency of going to the bathroom, it does not help relieve other symptoms of constipation, such as excessively solid stools, abdominal pain, flatulence ...

This is because of the fiber you add to your diet. There are different types of fiber, but in general, there are 2 common types:

Insoluble Fiber: Found in wheat bran, vegetables and whole grains. This fiber helps the stool softer so it is easier to pass through the digestive tract.

Soluble Fiber:  Found in oat bran, barley, nuts, lentils and peas, fruits and vegetables. This fiber absorbs water and forms a gel-like mixture that helps soften baby's stool.

Studies have yet to find the effects of insoluble fiber in treating constipation in children, but it can make children with bowel problems having difficulty going to the toilet.

Some fermented soluble fibers may also be ineffective in treating constipation, as they are sometimes fermented by bacteria in the gut and lose their ability to retain water.

To treat constipation in children, choose to include unfermented fiber in your baby's daily diet, such as  psyllium .

3. Additional beneficial bacteria for children with constipation

Probiotics can help effectively support the treatment of constipation in children. If your baby has bowel problems, sometimes the cause is an imbalance of gut bacteria. Therefore, you can give your baby a probiotic supplement from foods or drugs, such as yogurt, probiotics, probiotic gummies , Enterogermina ...

4. Prunes cure constipation in children

Plums and prune juice are commonly known as natural remedies for constipation . In addition to fiber, plums also contain natural laxative sorbitol. Plus, scientists have determined that prunes are more effective than fiber.

If your baby is constipated, prunes may be the easiest natural solution, just give your baby about 50g (equivalent to nearly 7 plums) twice a day.

5. Try to avoid dairy foods when your baby is constipated

In some cases, lactose intolerance can cause constipation as it affects bowel movement. If you think your baby has this, temporarily remove milk or dairy products from your child's diet to see if constipation symptoms improve. However, you still have to make sure your baby is getting enough calcium from other foods .

6. Give your baby more exercise

Although it may sound unbelievable, regular exercise can help support constipation in children as well as reduce the symptoms because at this time, your baby's intestines have the opportunity to move. So, encourage your child to have 30-60 minutes of fun a day.

7. Set a regular toilet time

Encourage your child to use the bathroom at regular times of the day, especially after meals and whenever he feels like going. Let your baby practice sitting for at least 10 minutes / time. Put a small stool under your baby's feet because this will help the stool come out more easily.

As for young children, you can create a habit of going to the toilet by saying, "It's time to go to the toilet" instead of asking if they want to go to the toilet or not.

8. Use a stool softener

Stool softeners are considered safe for children (eg  Duphalac ), but should be used under the direction of your doctor. Two common mistakes parents make when giving their child a stool softener to treat constipation in a child are not taking a dose or stopping the medication too soon.

9. Massage your baby's belly

You can massage the baby's belly to treat constipation for children by following these steps:

Step 1: Warm your hands by rubbing them together, then use a baby safe massage oil and place a few drops on the palm of your hand.

Step 2: Place the baby on his back, use his fingertips, slowly press lightly on the baby's abdomen to form an inverted U shape, starting from the bottom left to move up, pulling across the navel, then moving down.

Step 3: Repeat this operation from 10 to 15 times, 2-3 times / day.

In addition to this constipated baby massage, you can place your baby on his back, hold his or her legs and create a bike ride. This method also helps the baby have good bowel movements.