Constipation is a common problem among toddlers. Their diets often consist of just a few choice foods, many low in fiber. Constipation is an uncomfortable and often painful problem for young children, who may try to hold in their stools if they experience pain. This, in turn, worsens constipation so it's important to act quickly to relieve your toddler's discomfort. To prevent and ease constipation, limit your child's intake of these foods and make sure she's getting plenty of fiber and fluids.
Milk
Milk is a popular beverage among toddlers and for good reason. It has the protein and calcium their growing bodies need. It's easy for them to sip on throughout the day without taking a break from the fun of playtime. But milk is a major contributor to toddler constipation for two reasons. It is low in the fiber that helps keep your child's bowel movements regular, and a form of milk protein allergy can cause constipation, according to Columbia University.
Yogurt
As a milk-derived product, yogurt constipates toddlers for the same reasons milk does. Cut out yogurt when your child is suffering with constipation, and then slowly reintroduce small portions. In this way, you can monitor how much yogurt and other dairy he can tolerate without a recurrence.
Cheese
Cheese is one of the foods many toddlers will eat day after day, even during their pickiest eating phases. But just like milk and yogurt, cheese is a dairy product that can cause constipation, especially when eaten in place of fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables.
White Rice
Most parents struggle with their toddlers' fussy eating habits. Many find their children go through phases of eating only bland foods like white rice. But white rice tends to bring on constipation because it's very low in fiber. Brown rice, on the other hand, is a source of fiber and can help ease your child's constipation.
Cooked Carrots
Cooked carrots are chock full of vitamins, and many parents offer them to toddlers in place of raw carrots to avoid the choking hazard hard carrots present. Unfortunately, the binding properties of cooked carrots can cause constipation in some toddlers.
Bananas
Bananas are part of the recommended and well-known BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce and toast) to help relieve diarrhea in children and adults. However, bananas tend to make stools firmer, thereby exacerbating a constipation problem.
