How to prevent constipation in a young child

The ways to prevent childhood constipation are quite short if you start treatment correctly and on time. To effectively prevent constipation in a child, make sure that the little one is moving a lot, has received the appropriate amount of proper healthy food and enough fluids. How to prevent constipation in a little child?

What is constipation in a small child

Doctors diagnose constipation in a child when it is difficult for him to have a bowel movement. Constipation is also said to be a condition when bowel movements occur no more often than once every 3 days. This situation can be dangerous for the child's health, so it is very important to prevent constipation in children whose digestive system is not yet fully formed.

Prevention of childhood constipation

To prevent a small child from suffering from constipation, adults should ensure that he/she can take in plenty of fluids. If the child cannot pass stool, he/she should be given some water - a teaspoon, and then some. This should be boiled and cooled water. This is enough to help the child's digestive system and thus prevent constipation, in addition, as an additional measure, you can gently massage the child's stomach.

It also helps the baby when he lies on his back and moves his legs, to prevent constipation it is better to move them a little towards the baby's chest. You can do the "bicycle" exercise, when the baby's legs are rotated as if riding a bicycle - this will stimulate defecation.

Such exercises should be performed every day and activate the intestines. Another way to prevent constipation in a small child is regular breastfeeding. With irregular breastfeeding, children take additional food and suffer from constipation much less often than children who were fed with milk substitutes. In addition, in slightly older children, fruit juices are diluted (1:1) with water, which also prevents constipation.

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Mom's Diet as a Way to Prevent Constipation in a Child

Sometimes constipation can occur in children as a result of a change in diet or malnutrition. Therefore, the mother should monitor the child's reaction, especially the amount and composition of the food he takes. When the child no longer drinks breast milk, formula milk should be introduced into the diet as soon as you notice that your child has digestive problems.

However, parents generally do not change the proportions of the formula - you must prepare them as directed in the manual.

If a mother breastfeeds her baby, the baby will not be prone to constipation, especially if the mother uses an appropriate diet. First of all, the food should be easily digestible. Nursing mothers should avoid sauerkraut, carrots, boiled rice, fried foods or dried berries to prevent constipation in children. Instead, they should drink anise, fennel or chamomile tea - these herbs affect digestion and help bowel movements easily.

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Normal bowel movements in young children

During the first week of life, babies have about four soft or loose stools a day (usually more if breastfed.

During the first three months of life, breastfed babies have about three soft bowel movements per day. Some breastfed babies have a bowel movement after every feeding, while others have only one bowel movement per week. Babies who are breastfed for more than three months also rarely suffer from constipation.

Most infants under one year of age who are breastfed have two to three bowel movements per day. If the baby is bottle-fed, the number of bowel movements per day depends on the composition of the liquid that replaces breast milk.

Some soy and cow's milk formulas may result in more difficult bowel movements, while other milk formulas that contain partially or fully hydrolyzed milk proteins (so-called "hypoallergenic" formulas) may result in freer bowel movements.

• At two years of age, a child typically has 1 to 3 bowel movements per day.
• At four years of age, a child has one or two bowel movements per day.

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Incorrect bowel movement

A baby who is constipated will typically have stools that are hard or lumpy. The baby may cry when you try to put him on the potty. A baby who is constipated may have fewer bowel movements than he used to. Poor bowel movements may mean that the baby has one bowel movement every one to two days, while normal bowel movements are three to four per day.

You may be concerned that your baby is constipated if your baby strains when having a bowel movement. Because babies have weak abdominal muscles, they often strain when having a bowel movement, causing their faces to become red. A baby is unlikely to be constipated if they have soft bowel movements within a few minutes without straining.

If your child is having fewer bowel movements than usual or complains of pain during bowel movements, he or she may be constipated. A child may be constipated if he or she has not had a bowel movement for two days.

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Details about defecation

A child who normally has a bowel movement every two days is not constipated as long as the stools are soft enough and the act of defecation itself is not very difficult or painful.

Many children with constipation develop unusual habits when they feel the urge to defecate.

Babies may arch their backs, pull their buttocks up, and cry when they have the urge to defecate.

Babies may rock back and forth while tensing their buttocks and legs, arch their backs, stand on their tiptoes, fidget, squat, or take other unusual positions.

Children may hide in corners or other places to avoid adults who want to put them on the potty.

Although these movements may look like the child is trying to have a bowel movement, children are actually trying to avoid having a bowel movement because they are afraid of going to the toilet or are worried that having a bowel movement will be painful.

Why do young children develop constipation?

The number one reason for constipation in young children is delayed bowel movements, either because children are unable to defecate in a familiar place where they feel comfortable doing so, or because they are busy playing and ignore the need to use the toilet. When the child then has the urge to defecate, it can be painful and cause children to hold in their stool in an attempt to avoid more pain.

In some cases, a child may develop bleeding from the anus (called anal fissures) after a large or hard bowel movement. The pain from the tear may cause the child to hold in the stool the next time they have a bowel movement. Even infants can learn to hold in their stool because of the pain.

Treatment is recommended if your child has hard or painful stools. Treating pain early can prevent your child from holding in, which can lead to chronic constipation or leaky stools.

Medical problems of the child

Medical problems cause constipation in less than 5 percent of all young children. The most common medical problems that cause constipation include Hirschsprung's disease (an abnormality of the nerves in the colon), developmental abnormalities in the anus, problems with absorption of nutrients, abnormalities of the spinal cord, and certain medications.

In most cases, your doctor can rule out these problems by asking questions and recommending stool, urine, and blood tests.

Constipation and Child Development

Constipation is especially common in three situations in a child's infancy:

• after introducing grains and pureed products into the diet,
• during toilet training
• and after school started.

Parents can help by being aware of these high risks, doing their best to prevent constipation, and recognizing a problem if it develops and acting quickly to prevent constipation from becoming a more serious problem.

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Transition to a solid diet

Babies who are transitioning from breast milk or formula to solid foods may experience constipation. Babies who develop constipation over a long period of time may be treated with one of the measures described below.

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Toilet training

Children are at risk for constipation during toilet training for several reasons.

If a child is not ready or interested in using the toilet, then he or she may try to avoid going to the toilet (called holding), which can lead to constipation.

Children who have experienced hard or painful bowel movements are even more likely to try to hold in stool, which only makes the problem worse.

If your child is holding in stool during toilet training, you may need to temporarily stop the toilet training process. Encourage your child to sit on the toilet as soon as he or she feels the urge to defecate and provide positive reinforcement (hugging, kissing, or saying encouraging words).

Also, make sure your child has a footrest (like a high chair), especially when using an adult toilet. Leg support is important because it gives your child room to move their hips on the toilet and avoid pain when defecating. The high chair also helps your child feel more stable.

All children should be encouraged to take their time when going to the toilet. The best time to go to the toilet is after meals because food stimulates bowel movements. Reading to your child can help keep your child interested in toileting and encourage him or her.

Enrollment in school

Once your child starts school, you won't know if they have problems going to the toilet. Some children don't want to go to the toilet at school because it's an unfamiliar place or too "public" and this can lead to fecal retention.

Continue to monitor your child's toileting habits on time when he or she first starts school (for example, monitor this process in kindergarten) and after a long absence from a public place (for example, in the summer or winter when the child is on vacation).

You can do this by asking your child how often he or she has bowel movements, and at home pay attention to this, especially on weekends. Ask your child if he or she has any problems with bowel movements away from home, if the child is limited in time, or if embarrassment is an issue. Then you can work with your child and/or teachers at school to jointly find a solution to constipation.

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Recipes for treating constipation

You can try using home remedies as a way to relieve your child's constipation. These remedies should be in effect for 24 hours if your child is unable to pass a bowel movement within 24 hours or if you are worried, consult your doctor or nurse for advice.

Babies

If your baby is younger than four months, talk to your doctor or nurse about treating constipation. Call your doctor if you have symptoms of constipation, such as: severe pain during bowel movements, bleeding from the rectum.

Treatment of children with constipation who are older than four months

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Dark corn syrup

Dark corn syrup has been a popular folk remedy for constipation for hundreds of years. Dark corn syrup contains a complex of sugar proteins that help retain water in the stool.

For a healthy baby, your doctor or nurse may recommend adding one-quarter teaspoon to one teaspoon (1.25 to 5 ml) of dark corn syrup to four ounces (120 ml) of formula or expressed breast milk to your baby's diet to help prevent constipation.

Use low doses initially, and you can increase the amount to a total of one teaspoon (5 ml) to four ounces (120 ml) while your baby is still having daily bowel movements. After this preventative, and your baby's bowel movements are softer and more frequent, you can slowly wean off the corn syrup. You can give corn syrup to your baby when his bowel movements start to become too difficult until your baby starts eating cereal or solid foods.

Fruit juice

If your baby is at least four months old, you can give him certain fruit juices to treat constipation. These include prune, apple, pear (other juices are not as helpful). You can give a total juice amount of two to four ounces (60 to 120 ml) of fruit juice per day for babies 4 to 8 months old.

You can give up to six ounces (180 ml) of fruit juice per day for 8- and 12-month-olds.

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High Fiber Foods

If your baby has started eating solids, you can replace the barley with rice cereal. You can also offer other high-fiber fruits and vegetables (or purees), including apricots, sweet potatoes, pears, plums, peaches, plums, beans, peas, broccoli, or spinach. You can mix fruit juices (apple, plum, pear) with cereal or fruit, or with vegetable purees.

Praise your child for trying these foods and encourage them to eat them often, but don't force foods on your child if they don't want them. You should offer the new food to your child 8 to 10 times before giving up. You may not give it to your child (or give it in smaller amounts).

Be aware that certain foods can cause constipation in your baby, including cow's milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream.

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Fiber in a child's diet

They may be recommended for some children with constipation. Fiber supplements are available in several forms, including wafers, chewable tablets, or powdered fiber that can be mixed into juices (or frozen as popsicles).

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Milk

Some children develop constipation because they are unable to tolerate the proteins in cow's milk. If other constipation treatments do not help, it may be wise for your child to avoid cow's milk and other products made from it for one to two weeks. If your child's stools do not improve during this time, you can begin giving him cow's milk again.

If your baby has not been drinking milk for a long time, ask your doctor or nurse to make sure your baby is getting enough calcium and vitamin D.

Medical examination of constipation

Some babies and older children still suffer from constipation that does not improve with home treatment. In these situations, you should contact your doctor or nurse.

When taking the medical history, the doctor or nurse will ask you (and your child, if appropriate) questions about when the constipation began, whether bowel movements were painful, and how often the child has bowel movements. It is also important to mention any other symptoms (such as pain, vomiting, loss of appetite), how much the child drinks, and if you have seen blood in the child's bowel movements.

The doctor or nurse will do a physical exam and may perform a rectal exam. Most children with constipation do not need lab tests or x-rays.

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Recurrence of constipation

If your baby or older child experiences repeated episodes of constipation (called intermittent constipation), you'll need to work with your child's doctor or nurse to figure out why it's happening.

Possible causes of occasional constipation include

• Fear of pain due to hard stools or anal fissures (small tear in the anus)
• Fear of using the toilet away from home
• Not having enough time to use the bathroom

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Cleansing treatment

If your child has occasional constipation, he or she may also need a cleansing treatment to help empty the bowels. This treatment may include polyethylene glycol [PEG, such as Miralax ®] or magnesium hydroxide [magnesia ®]), enemas, or rectal suppositories (tablets or suppositories you insert into your child’s anus), or a combination of these. Talk to your doctor before doing any of these treatments.

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Supportive therapy

After the cleansing treatment, most infants and older children are treated with laxatives for several months or longer. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is often used for this purpose. You can adjust the amount of laxative so that your child has one soft bowel movement per day. Although some laxatives are available over the counter, it is important to consult with your doctor before giving laxatives on a regular basis.

Parents are often concerned about giving their child laxatives and fearing that the child will not be able to have a bowel movement when the laxative is stopped. Using laxatives does not increase the risk of constipation in the future. Instead, careful use of laxatives can prevent long-term constipation problems by breaking the cycle of pain and retention and helping the child develop healthy toileting habits.

Some children need to continue using laxatives for several months or even years. Once your child has had a bowel movement and is going to the toilet normally for at least six months, it makes sense to talk about reducing the risk of constipation and eventually stop the laxative in consultation with your doctor. Do not stop the laxative too soon because constipation may return.

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Life-saving treatment

It is quite possible for a child to accumulate a large amount of fecal matter that accumulates in the colon even with the use of laxatives. Then it is necessary to develop a rescue plan with the doctor in case this happens. If the child has not had a bowel movement for two to three days, it is necessary to begin cleansing treatment and increase the dose of laxative.

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Behavioural changes in older children

Children who frequently experience constipation experience behavioral changes, so it is recommended to help the child develop normal bowel functions.

Encourage your child to sit on the toilet for 30 minutes after each meal (for example, 5 to 10 minutes, two to three times a day). Do this every day.

Develop a reward system for your child to recognize his or her efforts as successful. Give your son or daughter a reward after the child has sat on the toilet for the required amount of time, even if the child has not had a bowel movement.

Rewards for preschoolers can include small stickers or treats, reading books, singing songs, or giving special toys that are used only during toilet time.

Rewards for school-age children may include reading a book together, playing handheld games that are only used while sitting, or coins that can be used to play.

Keep a diary of your child's bowel movements, medications he or she takes, and pain during bowel movements. This will help you and your doctor develop treatment for your child if constipation is a problem.

Re-treatment

Once treatment for constipation has begun, most doctors and nurses will recommend periodic phone calls or visits to check on your child's health. Babies and children with constipation often need adjustments to their treatment as they grow and experience changes in their diet and routine.

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When to See a Doctor for Help

Call your doctor or nurse immediately (during the day or night) if your child has severe abdominal problems or rectal pain.

Also, call your child's doctor or nurse if any of the following occur:

1. Your child has not had a bowel movement within 24 hours of starting treatment for constipation
2. Your baby (under 4 months) has not had a bowel movement for 24 hours in his or her normal routine (for example, if a baby who normally has a bowel movement every two days has gone more than three days without a bowel movement)
3. Your baby (under 4 months) has hard (rather than soft or pasty) stools
4. Your baby or toddler is not eating or is losing weight
5. You see blood on the diaper
6. Your child experiences recurring constipation
7. Your child complains of pain during bowel movements.
8. Do you have questions or concerns about your child's bowel movements?

More information about constipation in children

Your child's healthcare provider is the best source of information for your questions and solutions regarding your young child's constipation.

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