Whether you believe it or not, one of the most frustrating yet common problems young parents need to deal with are constipation toddler problems. Typically you have 4 reasons why your child suffers constipation pain:
* Consuming food that don’t contain enough fibers * Drinking more milk than the recommended daily amount (12-16 oz.) * Not drinking enough water * Waiting to long to go to the bathroom, or ignoring it all together
And here’s the kicker. Once you start recognizing the constipation symptoms your child suffers, you’ll also start noticing that they are holding bowel movements. The reason being is that their stools have become hard and painful and they end up holding it in to avoid the pain.
If you want to know which treatment will help your toddler, read this article for more information.
Focusing on a step-by-step approach that emphasizes what your toddler is eating and drinking is the best constipation remedy.
What do I mean:
1. Juice, milk and water - Let your toddler drink enough of those. When they are dehydrated the stools will be harder, this is especially so when it’s hot weather.
The rule of thumb recommended by pediatricians is to take note of how often your child urinates. Urinating at least every three hours when awake generally means he or she is getting enough to drink.
2. Make sure your child eats enough fiber. Two of the things that contain a lot of fiber are fresh fruits and vegetables. Give your child 3 servings of vegetables a day and also 2 servings of fruit.
If your child happens to be a picky eater you can try to give him breakfast bars and cereals that are rich in fibers. Also apples, bananas and peanu butter can help treat constipation toddler issues.
Metamucil, supplemental fiber, can help stools absorb more water which helps fecal matter flow gently through the colon.
3. You could give your child 2 tsps of vegetable oil every day. This will add a coating to the stool which helps it slide through the intestines much easier.
Increase by 1tsp every other day until your childs stool is soft and the rectum has healed. Understand that mineral oil will taste disgusting to your child, so mix it with a shake, juice, ice cream or even Jell-O.
4. Get into the routine of having your child sit on the toilet for 5 to 10 minutes after eating. Its important that your child get out of the habit of resisting the urge to go to the bathroom due to the pain. This only makes stools harder.
When you follow these guidelines you wont have to battle with constipation toddler issues for much longer. More fiber, avoid dehydration, mineral oil and setting a new bathroom routine are all you may need to give your child a sense of relief and comfort.