Constipation in Young Children In Wells ME

Recently I was asked by a parent what I could recommend for their toddler who was struggling bouts of constipation. This is an excellent question. First of all, these kinds of cases should be co-managed with the child's pediatrician. Constipation in toddlers in Wells ME can be very common, but in rare instances can be the result of a more serious medical condition that needs to be ruled out by a physician. Once a more serious condition has been ruled out, a physician will typically prescribe an over the counter stool softener like miralax. In many cases this will do the trick.

How To Help A Constipated Baby In Wells ME

There are several other things to consider if this does not solve the problem. The onset of bouts of constipation are often related to changes in routine. If the child is newly potty-trained, a small change in that routine can cause them to feel anxiety when going to the bathroom and can lead to changes in bathroom habits. For many children, bowel movements are like clockwork - same place, same time, every day. If entry into pre-school or elementary school interferes with their normal potty time, you may have the start of a problem. Thus, the first step should be to rule out any of these possible changes (habits, anxiety, and fear), after which you can begin to concentrate on dietary changes.

The first dietary suggestion is to add more water to the child's diet. Not enough water in their diet can be a major cause of constipation. The level of severity of the constipation will determine how aggressive you want to be in increasing water consumption. You may want to try something like this on the weekend to allow your child to make frequent visits to the bathroom to urinate. Notice I did not suggest fruit juices. Added sugar is often a contributing factor with constipation and most fruit juices are loaded with simple sugar. Prune juice and apple juice that are 100% fruit juice with no added sugar may be an exception in the short term, but be careful adding too much too soon as you may unintentionally cause diarrhea.

The sugars in natural fruit juices are poorly absorbed and therefore have to be voided by the body. This will make bowel movements easier. Bananas are typically binding and should be avoided if your child has been having chronic constipation. Baby foods, like carrot and applesauce, are sometimes thickened with tapioca and tapioca can also thicken the stool. Read the labels of all of the food your child consumes and look for tapioca starch as it is a common culprit. Fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber are typically good to add to the diet of a constipated child. Prunes, pears, apricots, and plums are good additions. Kiwis are an excellent food to add to the diet to soften stool as well. In general any fleshy fruit that has high water content is a safe bet. One thing I have also found to be helpful was having a child eat these fruits first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. If they are constipated, fruits can get caught up in the digestive tract because food further down the gut is slowing things up. This will cause them to begin fermentation within the digestive tract, adding gas and bloating to an already uncomfortable condition. Honeydew and melon are usually well tolerated and easy to consume in the morning. Avoid simple sugars, sweets, and processed foods.

If your child has been on antibiotics within the last year it is important to consume a good probiotic. An antibiotic can disrupt the normal gut flora and lead to constipation. Food allergies can also contribute to constipation - the ones most commonly associated with constipation being milk or dairy allergies. An accurate and thorough accounting of what your child is consuming is essential to getting to the root of the problem. Start a food diary and write down everything your child eats for at least two weeks and compare it to the days in which they were most constipated. You don't have to be a scientist to figure out which foods may be the culprit.

An often overlooked contributing factor that is common here in the U.S. is the position in which we sit while doing our business (potty). The natural position humans should be in when they have a bowel movement is in a deep squat. Most Asian countries go this way and public bathrooms have toilets on the floor designed for people to squat over them. With children, the poor positioning is amplified because of their small stature. A step stool can be placed under their feet while they are on the toilet to raise their knees up and create a more natural position. There is a device called a squatty potty that solves this problem and is gaining in popularity. It can help for children and adults. These are the basics of constipation. I hope this helps. Remember, prolonged constipation can be caused by more serious medical conditions in rare situations so don't hesitate to see your physician if these suggestions don't help.

In good health,

Douglas Neiverth, DC, MS