Toddler constipation is a common complaint for kids aging 1 to 3 years of age. Parents might find it hard to deal with constipation since toddlers have the tendency to say that they are uncomfortable through actions like tantrums, mood swings, and crying. You might get frustrated if a day passes without your little kid pass out his stools.
Moms and dads shouldn’t worry too much about toddler constipation since most often, it is just caused by a problem that can be easily solved by some toddler constipation relief methods. Among the common causes of constipation in toddlers are related to diet, stress, or ignoring the urge.
How Do You Know if it’s Toddler Constipation?
The bowel movement for kids at this age group is a bit tricky. There is almost no single pattern that fits all kids and this would include their individual frequency in passing out stools. There are some toddlers that pass out stools for up to three times a day and it’s their normal range, while there are some that have it every other day.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics “any child with stools that are large, hard, dry, and accompanied by painful bowel movements, soiling between bowel movements, or blood on the outside of the stool may have toddler constipation”. In addition, if your child passes stools less than three times a week, it can be considered constipation.
It is normal for your child to experience toddler constipation once in a while because it is related to minor factors and you can easily have home remedies to relieve it. However, being constipated for more than 2 weeks is already considered chronic constipation and you will need to have your child checked by a pediatrician for the appropriate treatment.
Common Causes of Toddler Constipation
Diet – If your child is taking in too much processed foods and sweets and too light foods with fiber, he is most likely to have constipation. Another culprit is less fluid intake which will dehydrate the body and make stools harder. Any change in the diet would also result to changes in the bowel movement of your kid. One of the most common examples is when you shift the milk of your child from breast milk to a milk formula.
Ignoring the urge – Most of the children aging 1-3 years old are more interested in playing than going to the bathroom. There are also some children who are afraid to go to the bathroom due to the fear of the pain accompanied when passing out stools. Due to this, stool begins to be stocked on the lower part of the bowel which will get bigger, harder, and more difficult to move out.
Sudden change in the environment – Being away from home or going into a vacation would affect the bowel movement of some toddlers.
Lack of physical activity- Regular activities and exercise help stimulate the movement of the bowels. So a child who is often lying down, sitting, or carried up in your arms will more likely to develop constipation when compared to a physically active child.
How to Relieve Constipation in Toddlers?
The home remedies for toddler constipation are centered on the probable cause of the problem. For his diet, adding up fiber rich foods like fruits and vegetables would be a great help. Also limit his consumption of processed foods, sweets, and junk foods. The best sources of fiber are prunes, plums, peaches, pears, and apricots. Avoid excessive intake of bananas, cooked carrots, yoghurt, milk and cheese that may further contribute to constipation.
Increasing the child’s fluid intake will also help relieve toddler constipation. Let him drink plenty of water and fruit juices to help soften the stool.
Let him play and be active for specific periods of time. Your child needs exercise to aid in his digestion and bowel movements.
Massaging the stomach area would also be of great help for toddler constipation. Apply mild pressure on circular and downward motions to help stimulate bowel movement.