Constipation is characterized by difficulty in passing bowel movements and infrequency of bowel movements. If your child is constipated, his stools may be small and hard. He may also experience abdominal pain. It can be difficult to identify the exact cause of your child's constipation. In some cases, consuming a lot of chocolate may give his digestive system problems.
Sweets and Dairy
According to Kids Health, a diet filled with sugar and fatty foods can cause bowel movements to slow down. If your child eats a lot of chocolate in addition to other sweets, it may lead to constipation. Filling up on sweet foods like chocolate can also prevent your child from getting enough fiber in her diet, which is necessary for regular bowel movements. MayoClinic.com states that if your child has difficulty digesting dairy foods, including milk chocolate, she may experience constipation.
Considerations
If you are breastfeeding your baby and notice that he experiences constipation after you eat chocolate, he may be reacting to it in your diet. Try eliminating chocolate from your diet for a few days to see if your child's constipation goes away. If that doesn't help, you may need to eliminate other sources of dairy or caffeine from your diet until you find the culprit. Introduce foods that you've eliminated back into your diet one at a time and watch for your baby's reaction.
Recommendations
If your child is constipated due to eating chocolate, the issue will most likely resolve itself within a few days. In the meantime, encourage her to drink water regularly and to eat plenty of fiber sources, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Exercise can also get her bowels moving, according to Kids Health. Avoid giving her chocolate or large amounts of dairy products until she is able to move her bowels again.
Warnings
Your child may need medical care if he is constipated and has a fever or blood in his stool. Call his pediatrician if you notice these symptoms or if he tears the skin around his anus trying to pass a bowel movement. Severe constipation may also lead to weight loss. If you are concerned about your child's behavior and his constipation does not seem to be resolving on its own, his doctor may be able to help.
