Children's appetites can be sporadic with eating for two one day and barely eating at all the next. Picky eating habits can limit food choices and parents comply just to see their child eat some food. These habits can create constipation in your child, leaving him with hard and painful stools to pass. Adding fiber and fluids to your child's daily diet can alleviate constipation and make everyone happy.
High Fiber
Choose high fiber cereals and foods for children older than 4 months. Strained high fiber fruits such as apricots, peaches or strained prunes work well to help move your child's bowels again. Mashing sweet potatoes, peas, beans, tomatoes, dried fruit or corn stimulate children's bowels as well and have lots of fiber. Your child's age matches the number of grams of fiber needed each day, according to Keepkidshealthy.com. If your child is 5, she needs 5 g of fiber per day.
Fluids
Increase your child's fluid intake to move his bowels. Constipation can result from not drinking enough water or fluids, especially if your child eats lots of fibrous foods. Adding apple or prune juice to water helps to increase your child's fluid intake and improve his bowel habits. Your child needs to consume two to three 8 oz glasses of water per day, in addition to milk, juice and other flavored fluids.
Infants and Constipation
If your infant has constipation, try switching to another formula. Breastfed babies usually don't get constipation, because breast milk is easy to digest and designed for an infant's digestive tract. Milk proteins and sugars from cow's milk can be difficult for some infants to tolerate and lead to constipation. Switching to another brand or soy formula may help with constipation. If you are using an iron-fortified formula, Keepkidshealthy.com advises not to switch to low-iron or iron-free formula. Iron is not a source of constipation for infants. Dilute apple juice with water to increase your infant's fluid intake to soften stools.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods promote constipation in children, especially if these foods are constantly eaten by your toddler or child. Milk intolerance can show up as constipation, instead of the classic signs of diarrhea, gas and bloating, according to pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene. If your child is drinking two to three glasses of milk per day, this could be a cause for constipation. Decrease the number of glasses of milk by adding another beverage, such as soy milk. Other foods that can cause constipation include yogurt, cheese, bananas--used to help with diarrhea--and cooked carrots.
