Constipation in children is a common, and potentially painful, occurrence. Fortunately, a simple change in diet can often relieve constipation and bring back a child's regular bowel movements. In some cases, dietary changes need only be temporary and the child can return to normal eating patterns after his intestines heal themselves. For others, eating to avoid constipation may be a concern throughout childhood and beyond.
Constipation
A child with constipation may have less than three bowel movements a week, and have difficulty passing stool. A constipated child's stool is usually dry, hard and unusually large. Sometimes constipation lasts more than two weeks, after which it is considered chronic. It's important to remember that frequency of bowel movements is not the only determining factor when determining whether your child is complicated. Some children naturally have infrequent bowel movements that are soft and easy to pass and this is not considered constipation.
Dietary Causes
A lack of fluids and fiber are common culprits in childhood constipation. Because constipation often occurs when the intestines pull too much water out of the stool, a child who doesn't get enough to drink may be more prone to developing the problem. Fiber helps ease constipation by drawing water into the stool, making it softer. A change in diet, including the introduction of solids during infancy, may also lead to constipation in children.
Dietary Solutions
Increasing the amount of fluids and fiber in the diet is the first step to combating childhood constipation. Encourage a constipated child to have two or three extra glasses of water or diluted juice over the course of the day to increase overall fluid intake. Apple juice and prune juice are the best juices for promoting soft stool. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and legumes can provide added fiber to a child's diet. In particular, peaches, plums, pears, apricots, peas, beans, broccoli and prunes all soften stool. For infants and toddlers, prune juice mixed with baby cereal or oatmeal may improve symptoms.
Foods to Avoid
For a child who has constipation or who is prone to constipation, try limiting sweets and fats. Fat, sugar and starch all crowd out high fiber foods in the diet and cause food to move more slowly through the digestive tract. The longer food spends in the intestines, the more water is removed, leading to an increased risk of constipation. Parents should avoid feeding their constipated child bananas, soy, rice and products made from refined white flour, since these encourage solid stool.
