How to prevent constipation in a small child

Ways to prevent child constipation are quite short, if properly and in time to begin treatment. For effective prevention of constipation of the child, make sure that the small child moves a lot, received the appropriate amount of proper healthy food and enough liquid. How to prevent constipation in a small child?

What is constipation in a young child?

Doctors diagnose constipation in a child when it is difficult for him to defecate. They also say about constipation that this is a condition when defecation occurs no more than once every 3 days. This situation can be dangerous to the health of the child, so it is very important to prevent constipation in children, in whom the digestive system has not yet been completely formed.

Child constipation warning

In order for a small child not to suffer from constipation, adults must take care that he can take a lot of fluids. If the child cannot make a stool, he should be given a little water - a teaspoon, and then another. It should be boiled and cooled water. This is enough to help the child's digestive system and thereby prevent constipation, and, as an additional means, you can gently massage the child’s belly.

It also helps the child when he is lying on his back and moving his legs, to prevent constipation, it is better to move them slightly to the baby’s chest. You can do the exercise "bicycle", when the child's legs twist like when riding a bicycle - this will stimulate defecation.

Such exercises should be performed every day and intensify the intestines. Another way to prevent constipation in a small baby is to breastfeed regularly. In case of irregular breastfeeding, children take extra food and suffer from constipation much less often than children fed with milk replacer. 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 changes in diet or malnutrition. Therefore, the mother should observe the reaction of the child, especially the quantity and composition of the food he takes. When the baby doesn’t drink more breastmilk, the formula should be added to the diet as soon as you notice that your baby has digestive problems.

However, parents usually do not change the proportions of the mixture - you must prepare them as indicated in the manual.

If the mother breastfeeds the child, he will not be prone to constipation, especially if the mother begins to use an appropriate diet. First of all, products should be easily digested. Nursing mothers should avoid consuming sauerkraut, carrots, cooked rice, fried foods, or dried berries to prevent childhood constipation. But you should drink an infusion of anise, fennel or chamomile tea - these herbs affect digestion and easily help defecation.

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Normal bowel movement in young children

During the first week of life, babies have about four soft or liquid bowel movements per day (usually more when breastfed.

During the first three months of life, infants have about three soft stools per day. Some infants produce a bowel movement after each 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 babies up to one year old with breastfeeding have between two and three bowel movements per day. If feeding a baby is artificial, the number of bowel movements per day depends on the composition of the liquid that replaces breast milk.

Some supplements from soy and cow's milk can lead to more difficult bowel movements, while other milk formulas that contain partially or fully hydrolyzed milk proteins (the so-called "hypoallergenic" formulas) can lead to more free bowel movements.

• At the age of two years, the child usually has from 1 to 3 feces per day.
• At the age of four, the child has one or two bowel movements per day.

[5], [6]

Incorrect bowel movement

An infant who suffers from constipation usually has feces that look hard or in the form of pellets. A baby may cry while trying to plant it in the pot. Because of constipation, a child may have a bowel movement less often than before. Poor bowel movements can mean that a child has a bowel movement once every one to two days, while normal bowel movements are three to four times a day.

You may be concerned that your child has constipation if your child is straining during bowel movements. Because children have weak abdominal muscles, they often tense up during a bowel movement, and their faces turn red. A child is unlikely to be constipated if he experiences a soft stool for several minutes without straining.

If your child has less bowel movements than usual, or complains of pain during bowel movements, he may have constipation. A child may suffer from constipation if he has not had a bowel movement for two days.

[7], [8]

Details of defecation

A child who usually has a bowel movement every two days does not suffer from constipation, as long as the bowel movements are soft enough and the act of bowel movement itself is not very difficult or painful.

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

Babies may arch their backs, pull their buttocks and cry when they are urged to stool.

Babies can swing back and forth while their buttocks and legs tighten, arch their backs, stand on tiptoes, fidget, squat, or in another unusual position.

Children can hide in a corner or other places, hiding from adults who want to plant them in a pot.

Although these movements may look like a child is trying to defecate, in fact, children try to avoid bowel movements, because they are afraid to go to the toilet or are worried that the bowel movement will be painful.

Why small children develop constipation

The first reason for the development of constipation in young children is delayed bowel movements if children cannot defecate in a familiar place where they feel comfortable with bowel movements, or if 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 provoke children to hold their fecal masses in an attempt to avoid even more pain.

In some cases, the child may develop bleeding from the anus (so-called anal fissures) after a large or hard bowel movement. The pain from the rupture can lead to the retention of feces at the next bowel movement. Even babies can learn to hold feces due to pain.

Treatment is recommended if your child has a hard or painful stool. Treating pain in the early stages can prevent your child from holding off, which can lead to chronic constipation or leakage of bowel movements.

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 (nerve anomaly in the large intestine), developmental abnormalities in the anus, nutrient absorption problems, abnormalities in the development of the spinal cord, and certain medications.

In most cases, the doctor can eliminate these problems by asking questions and recommending feces, urine and blood tests.

Constipation and child development

Constipation is especially common in three cases of a child’s infant life:

• after the introduction of grain and pureed products into the diet,
• during toilet training
• and after starting school.

Parents can help by being aware of these high risks, making maximum efforts to prevent constipation, and also recognizing a problem if it develops, and should act quickly so that constipation does not become a more powerful problem.

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Going to a solid diet

Babies who switch from breast milk or a milk replacer to solid foods may experience constipation. Babies who develop constipation for a long time can be treated with one of the measures described below.

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Toilet training

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

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

Children who have experienced hard or painful bowel movements are even more likely to try to hold the chair, and this only exacerbates the problem.

If your child keeps feces in the process of learning the toilet, you need to temporarily stop the process of toilet training. Invite the child to sit on the toilet as soon as he feels the urge to defecate and give him positive reinforcement (need a hug, kiss the child or tell him words of encouragement).

Also, make sure the child has a foot rest (for example, a high chair), especially when using an adult toilet. Supporting the legs is very important because it provides a place to move your hips on the toilet and avoid pain during bowel movements. The stool also helps the child to feel more stable.

All children should be encouraged to leisurely when going to the toilet. The best time to use the toilet is after eating, because food stimulates the bowels. Reading a book to a child can help keep the child's interest in the toilet and encourage it.

Enrollment

As soon as the child goes to school, you will not be able to know if he has any problems when going to the toilet. Some children do not want to go to the toilet at school, because it is an unfamiliar place or too "public", and this can lead to the retention of feces.

Continue to monitor whether it is convenient for a child to go to the toilet on time when he goes to school for the first time (for example, follow this process in kindergarten) and after a long absence in a public institution (for example, in summer or in winter, when the child has holidays ).

You can do this by asking questions about him: how often a child has stool, and at home pay attention to it, especially on weekends. Ask your child if he has any problems with stool away from home, if the child is limited in time or his problem is embarrassing. Then you can work with your child and / or teachers at school to jointly find a solution against constipation.

[11], [12], [13]

Recipes for constipation

You can try using home remedies as a way to relieve your child’s constipation. These funds must be in operation within 24 hours if your child cannot defecate within 24 hours or, if you are worried, consult a doctor or nurse for advice.

Babies

If your child is under four months of age, talk to your doctor or nurse about treating constipation. Consult your doctor if you have symptoms of constipation: severe pain during stool, rectal bleeding.

Treatment of children with constipation who are older than four months

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Dark Corn Syrup

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

For a healthy child, in order to prevent constipation, the doctor or nurse may recommend adding one quarter of a teaspoon to one teaspoon (1.25 to 5 ml) of dark corn syrup to four ounces (120 ml) of the mixture or expressed breast milk to the diet.

Use low doses initially, so you can increase their total amount to one teaspoon (5 ml) to four ounces (120 ml), while the infant still has daily bowel movements. After such prevention of bowel movements, your baby becomes softer and more frequent, you can slowly stop taking corn syrup. You can give corn syrup to a child when his stool begins to become too difficult until your child begins to eat porridge or solid food.

Fruit juice

If your child is at least four months old, you can give him certain fruit juices to treat constipation. These include prunes, apples, pears (other juices are not that useful). You can give a total amount of juice from two to four ounces (60 to 120 ml) of fruit juice per day for children from 4 to 8 months.

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

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High Fiber Foods

If your child starts eating solid food, you can substitute barley grits for rice cereal. You can also offer other fiber-rich vegetables and fruits (or mashed potatoes), 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 puree.

Praise the child for trying to eat these foods and encourage them to eat these foods often, but don’t impose food on the child if he doesn’t want it. You must offer a new meal to a child 8 to 10 times before giving up. You can not give it (or give in smaller quantities).

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

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Fibers in a child's diet

They may be recommended for some children with constipation. Fiber supplements are available in several forms, including waffles, chewable tablets, or powdered fibers, which can be mixed with juices (or frozen like popsicles).

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Milk

Some children develop constipation because they are not able to carry proteins in cow's milk. If other methods of treating constipation do not help, it may be reasonable for a child to avoid cow's milk and other products from it for one to two weeks. If your baby’s stool does not improve during this time, you can start giving him cow’s milk again.

If the child does not drink milk for a long time, ask the nurse to see the doctor to be sure that the child is receiving enough calcium and vitamin D.

Medical examination of constipation

Some infants and older children still suffer from constipation, which is not treated with home treatment. In such situations, you should consult a doctor or nurse.

When you form your medical history, the doctor or nurse will ask you (and your child, if it is appropriate) questions about when your constipation started, whether a bowel movement was painful, and how often your child has a bowel movement. It is also very important to mention any other symptoms (such as pain, vomiting, loss of appetite), how many drinks a child has, and if you have seen blood in your child’s intestines.

A doctor or nurse will do an examination and can do a rectal exam. Most children with constipation do not need laboratory tests or X-rays.

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Repetition of constipation

If your baby or older child is experiencing repeated episodes of constipation (so-called recurrent constipation), you need to work with your child’s doctor or nurse to find out why this happens.

Possible causes of recurrent constipation include

• Fear of pain due to hard stools or anal fissures (small tearing in the anus)
• Fear of using the toilet away from home
• Lack of enough time to use the bathroom

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Cleansing treatment

If your child has recurrent constipation, he may also need a cleansing treatment to help empty the intestines. This procedure may include polyethylene glycol [PEG, for example, Miralax ®] or magnesium hydroxide [magnesia ®], enemas or rectal suppositories (tablets or suppositories that you put in the baby's anus), or a combination of these. Consult your doctor before doing any of these procedures.

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Maintenance therapy

After cleansing treatment, most babies 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 laxatives so that the baby has one soft bowel movement with emptying per day. Although some laxatives are available without a prescription, it is important to consult a doctor before giving laxatives on a regular basis.

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

Some children need to continue using laxatives for several months or even years. After the child has defecated and goes to the toilet for at least six months, it makes sense to talk about reducing the risk of constipation, and ultimately you can stop taking a laxative by consulting a doctor. Do not stop taking a laxative too soon, because constipation may return.

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Rescue treatment

It is possible for a child to accumulate a large amount of fecal masses that accumulate in the colon even when using laxatives. Then you need to develop a rescue plan with a doctor in case this happens. If the child does not have a bowel movement within two to three days, you need to start a cleaning treatment and increase the dose of laxative.

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Changes in the behavior of older children

In children who often experience constipation, changes in behavior occur, therefore it is recommended to help the child develop normal bowel functions.

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

Develop a child reward system to recognize his efforts as successful. Give the son or daughter a reward after the child has sat in the toilet for the right amount of time, even if the defecation failed.

Awards for preschool children can include small stickers or sweets, you can read books, sing songs, or give special toys that are used only during the toilet.

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

Keep a diary of your child's bowel movements, medications taken by him, and pain during a bowel movement. This will help you and your doctor develop a treatment for your child if there are problems with constipation.

Repeated treatment

After starting treatment for constipation, most doctors and nurses recommend periodic phone calls or visits to check the health of the child. Infants and children with constipation often need to be treated better, as they grow and they undergo changes in their diet and daily routine.

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When to contact a doctor for help

Call a 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 events occur.

1. Your child has not had a bowel movement within 24 hours after starting constipation treatment.
2. Your child (younger than 4 months) did not have a bowel movement for 24 hours in his normal mode (for example, if an infant who usually has a bowel movement every two days has been living without bowel movement for more than three days)
3. Your child (under 4 months) has a hard (not soft or pasty) chair.
4. Your baby or older child does not want to eat or loses weight
5. You see blood on the diaper
6. Your child has repeated constipation.
7. Your child complains of pain during stool
8. Do you have questions or concerns about your baby’s gut?

Additional information about child constipation

Your child’s primary care physician is the best source of information for your questions and solutions to problems associated with your young child’s constipation.

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