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Hello Parents,
We are sorry you might be going through that. This is a stressful and painful time for your little one and yourself. Our team at Parently Ready wants to help you resolve it as quickly as possible. Constipation can have negative effects on the everyday life, on physical and mental health that is why it’s important to react quickly when a child is constipated.
What are the typical symptoms when your child is constipated?
- Reduced bowel movements per week: 3 or less
- Hard, dry, or lumpy stools
- Difficulty or pain when passing stools
- A feeling that not all stools have passed
What should a young child’s bowel habits be like?
Bowel habits can vary greatly between young children.
Infants normally empty their bowels once a day and sometimes after every meal. An infant might also go days without a single bowel movement.
There is generally no cause for concern as long as the child is still eating and gaining weight.
Parents confronted to this problem with their kids are often feeling helpless when it happens. Kids might be constipated because of a diet issue, a sudden change in their life, or stress experienced for multiple days. Since it’s a common health problem we all desire to stop quickly, we’ll share here the most effective and natural ways to help relieve it.
1. Drink More Water
It could be a sign of dehydration in your child, so be persistent and offer water often, every hour or more. Avoid carbonated water.
2. Avoid Dairy
Pediatricians often recommend temporarily removing dairy from the diet, while increasing other foods rich in calcium, to see if it improves the symptoms.
3. Enjoy Fresh Watermelon
Watermelon is a fruit made of 92% water. It can naturally help you with bowel movements. If you eat watermelon at night, it should produce results in less than 12 hours or overnight.
4. More Fibers in Their Meals
Dietary fiber is found in many food items like fruit, cereals, cookies. It is knowned to improve stool frequency but may not help with other symptoms of constipation, such as stool consistency, pain, bloating, and gas.
5. A Spoon of Coconut Oil
Offer them a little bit of high-fat food such as olive oil, coconut oil or butter. It is considered a natural laxative in moderate amounts.
6. Exercise with Your Child
Encourage them to move more: dancing, crawling, or doing some fitness moves like jumping jacks.
If you feel that it’s been too long, apply all these solutions combined at the same time for faster results.
Finally, if your child is constipated today, be patient after adjusting his diet. It usually takes hours for the body to react. Consult a doctor if it goes too long. Find more tips on wellness for kids and parents here.
