5 Ways To Promote Regular Bowel Movements In Children
After successfully toilet training my daughter, I believed we have surpassed the biggest hurdle. However, there have been instances when she was really distressed because she was constipated. Young children may respond in a different way to constipation, but younger ones are typically frustrated and unhappy. Constipation is typical among children, and it can stem from various causes.
The common cause of constipation in children is their diet. Inadequate fluid intake and too much cow's milk can bring about constipation. Similiarly, too much intake of refined foods can also lead to constipation. A kid who is so engrossed in his activities may put off a bowel movement, that can also be a reason for irregularity. Absence of physical activity and a sudden change in the kid's environment are also culprits. Rarely, constipation is induced by medical conditions impacting the thyroid gland and the intestines. To prevent constipation, here are some basic recommendations:
1. Ensure that the little one gets sufficient fiber in his diet. Add more fruits, veggies, bran muffins, oatmeal, whole-grain cereals and breads because they are good sources of fiber. Dietary fiber is bulky and it can soften stools, therefore preventing constipation.
2. Increase the child's fluid intake. It is essential that parents offer liquids from time to time, and not rely solely on a kid's requests for water. It is particularly important to provide more fluids during hot days, or when your child is engaged in a physical activity. It is possible to also provide prune juice simply because it can effectively promote a bowel movement.
3. Set a routine time for bowel movements everyday, ideally after a meal. A child can easily get caught with the activities throughout the day that he will put off defecating. Once this occurs, stool builds up in the lower bowel and may turn out to be bigger and harder to pass. Condition your child to go to sit in the toilet for at least ten minutes, in order to promote regular bowel habits. Praise your child for the effort in sitting at the toilet, even if he was not able to defecate.
4. Encourage your child to engage in active play because it can increase peristalsis. Lack in activity has been identified to lead to constipation, and it is important that parents help in modifying sedentary practices at home.
5. Be certain that your child is not taking in too much dairy products. Though dairy products are excellent for young children, too much of it can also result in constipation. Dairy food sources include milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. A one year old child usually needs four servings of dairy in a day. This is equivalent to ¾ cup or six ounces of milk, or one ounce of cheese.
Although there are a lot of stool softeners which can easily be bought, it is never wise to use them without your pediatrician's consent. If a child is used to having stool softeners often, it may not help in promoting regular bowel habits. Constipation is typical among kids, and it requires time to establish normal bowel habits. No matter how frustrating it can be, parents need to be supportive so that a kid will not develop negative behavior because of it.
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