Children’s constipation is a prevalent issue. Children who are constipated have hard, dry stools or infrequent bowel movements.
Encourage your child to eat more fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and to drink more water. These modifications to diet can help your child’s constipation a lot. However, if your child is constipated, this article will provide you with a great sense of relief as it has all the information you may need about constipation in kids.
What are the Symptoms of Constipation?
Constipation symptoms in infants and children are very similar to those in adults. The primary distinction is that babies and some children are unable to express their emotions, so you must pay attention to their bowel movements to spot irregularities.
Children’s constipation symptoms and signs can include:
- Less than 3 bowel movements in a week.
- Uncomfortable, dry, and hard to pass bowel movements.
- Having a bowel movement causes pain.
- Your child’s underwear may include traces of liquid or pasty feces, which is a symptom that the rectum is backed up with stool.
- Blood on the hard stool’s surface.
- Your child may try to avoid going to the bathroom if they think it will hurt. When trying to hold a stool, your child may cross his or her legs, clench their buttocks, twist their body, or make funny faces.
To help in preventing childhood constipation:
Give your youngster foods high in fiber. Your child’s body can produce soft, thick stools with the aid of a high-fiber diet. Increase the amount of high-fiber foods you give your children, such as fruits, vegetables, beans, whole-grain bread, and cereals. Start by introducing just a few grams of fiber per day if your child isn’t used to a high-fiber diet to stop gas and bloating.
Establish a bathroom routine
After meals, give your youngster regular time to use the restroom. If required, give your child a footstool so that they may sit comfortably on the toilet and have the necessary leverage to lift a stool.
Remind your child to respect the call of nature
Some kids lose themselves in their games to the point where they ignore their bowel movements. Such delays can cause constipation if they happen frequently.
Be supportive
Reward your kid for effort, not for outcomes. Give them little incentives if they try to urinate. Stickers, a unique book or game that is only available after (or potentially during) bathroom breaks are some examples of potential prizes. A child who has soiled their underwear should not be punished.
Review medications
Consult your kid’s doctor about alternatives if your child is taking a medicine that makes them constipated.
Medical treatment for constipation
Your pediatrician may perform a mild enema to remove impacted feces if home remedies for constipation are unsuccessful.
Your child’s pediatrician will perform a physical examination and look for any impacted stool in your infant’s anus before starting any treatments. To diagnose constipation, they could inquire about your child’s nutrition and physical activities.
