Children commonly suffer from Constipation between infancy and adulthood. Up to five percent of visits to the pediatrician are because of constipation. Your child might have constipation if he/she:

• has less than three bowel movements in a week
• has trouble having a bowel movement
• has a stool that is hard, dry, painful and unusually large

There can be many possible causes of constipation in children ranging from easy-to-solve problems like dehydration or eating habits to an underlying medical condition such as Hirschsprung’s disease.

Continue reading the article to know some measures which will help you to prevent and treat constipation in your child: –

Dietary Measures

1) Increase Fluid intake

Make sure your child is drinking plenty of water or other liquids every day as it helps stool move more easily through the intestines. It will also help in softening the stool naturally. Younger children should have 3–4 cups daily and a teen should drink 5–8 cups of water per day. Try to serve your kid apple, pear or prune juice (4 ounces or less per day) as juices promote bowel emptying. Avoid using sweetened beverages, especially sodas or carbonated drinks, to increase fluid intake.

2) Increase in Fiber intake

Increasing fiber intake helps in reducing constipation as it will make stool softer, bulkier and easier to pass. It’s important to add fiber slowly and with more fluid intake as rapid increase can lead to abdominal pain and bloating. The best sources of fiber include:

• Whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, etc.
• Legumes, such as lentils, black beans, kidney beans, soybeans, and chickpeas
• Fruits, such as berries, apples with the skin on, oranges, and pears
• Vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, green peas, and collard greens
• Nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, and pecans

3) Foods to avoid

Some foods can slow digestion and contribute to constipation such as bananas, white bread, and fast food, sugary snacks, and dairy products. Reduce constipating foods such as highly processed foods and carbohydrate-rich foods as they lack fiber.

Lifestyle Measures

1) Regular Meals

Regular meals help to keep the bowels moving as Eating stimulates the bowels naturally and helps your child to regulate their bathroom habits.

2) Fewer snacks

Snacking or eating small amounts of food in between meals can reduce the amount of food eaten at meal times resulting in poor gut motility and constipation.

3) Exercise

Kids who do plenty of exercises seem less likely to get constipated. Regular exercise helps in regular bowel movements. It also has other benefits in terms of weight control and fitness. It can be as simple as riding bikes, playing catch, or shooting a few hoops

4) Toileting routine

Get your child into the habit of going. If he/she fights the urge to go to the bathroom, simply encourage him/her to try for at least 10 minutes twice a day. Encourage your child to use the toilet first thing in the morning, after meals and before going to bed.

Alternative Measures

1) Massage

Gently massage your child’s abdomen clockwise as abdominal massage helps in relaxing the muscles that support the bladder and intestines, and helps to promote bowel activity. You can also massage your child’s anus with your finger, or gently insert a cotton swab to help stimulate bowel movement.

2) Positioning

Proper positioning can be very helpful in relieving constipation in children. Make sure your child’s feet rest on a box or step stool while they are sitting on the toilet so that his knees should be above the hips. Ask your child to lean forward slightly, and rest their elbows on their knees and push out their tummy gently. This position encourages the pelvic floor to relax and make bowel movement more effective.

3) Warm baths

A warm bath once a day makes it easier for your child to have a bowel movement by relaxing the muscles of the rectum.

Homeopathy Medicine

Homeopathy can help in treating your child’s complaint in the safest, gentle and effective way. Homeopathic medicines work wonderfully in treating constipation by treating the roots of the disease, improving bowel motility and reducing pain and discomfort. There are several medicines available to treat constipation in Homeopathy such as Alumina, Bryonia, Nux Vomica, etc. But the exact selection of medicine depends upon the detailed case taking of the individual patient.

If your child is suffering from constipation, pay attention to it ASAP, and get in touch with us. Here at Dr.Thind’s Homeopathy Clinic, effective and complete treatment for constipation is provided which not only controls the symptoms but also improves stool motility.

For more information, you can visit WebMD and NIDDK.