Children may become constipated because of their diet or changes to a routine. The change can be anything from toilet training to starting school. Constipated babies should see a doctor, as pediatrician Marjorie Hogan of Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis notes in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Children." For other children, some home remedies may be able to help.
Diet
Eating too many dairy products can cause constipation in children, according to Hogan. Other constipating foods commonly included in children's diets include applesauce, bananas and white rice. The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting foods that have little or no fiber, such as meat and processed foods.
Fiber and Liquid
Make sure your child is drinking lots of fluids if he is experiencing severe constipation. Additionally, foods high in fiber can help. These foods include fruits and vegetables with the skins, whole-grain breads and bran cereals. If the child doesn't want to eat fiber, make the food fun, such as including bran in blueberry muffins. You also can hide bran and wheat germ in meatloaf and hamburgers. Children may be happy to eat crunchy raw vegetables for a snack, and you might spread peanut butter on celery for added enticement.
Bathroom Routine
Children can benefit from a bathroom routine, as explained by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Kids sometimes delay going to the bathroom if they're having fun playing, for instance, and delaying can cause constipation. Explain the importance of going to the bathroom at the first urge to have a bowel movement. You also can coach your child to sit on the toilet for at least 10 minutes at around the same time every day. You might try this after breakfast, so she gets in the habit of going before school. She can listen to the radio, read a book, look at a picture book or play with a toy on the bathroom counter to keep from becoming bored.
Relaxation Techniques
Gently massaging your child's abdomen may help relax the muscles that support the intestines, according to the Mayo Clinic, thus helping to promote bowel activity. Additionally, you can teach your child relaxation strategies for when he's sitting on the toilet, which may be especially beneficial if he's feeling anxious about the process. Taking slow, deep breaths may help. Also teach him visualization techniques, in which he can think about a favorite place or activity while sitting on the toilet.
References
- The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Children; Prevention Magazine Editors; 1995
- AAFP: Constipation in Children
- Mayo Clinic: Constipation in Children
