It’s hard to watch your child struggle-squirming in discomfort, dreading bathroom trips, or clutching their belly in pain.
As a parent, you just want to help, but constipation can feel like a stubborn problem with no clear solution. Should you change their diet? Try home remedies? Or is it time to see a doctor?
The truth is, constipation isn’t just about a missed bowel movement – it can affect your child’s mood, appetite, and overall well-being. But the good news is, relief is possible.
Conspiration is a very common problem among toddlers. Nowadays, almost one out of 20 children visits the doctor’s chamber due to constipation.
Here is a detailed guide for the parents of all they should need to know about the problem, and what remedies are effective for constipation treatment.
Types of constipation
There are mainly two types of constipation that are mostly common among children: organic constipation, and functional constipation.
1. Organic constipation
- Organic constipation can be the result of underlying medical conditions like celiac disease, thyroid problems, etc.
- In this case, because of medication, bowel movement becomes painful.
- Functional constipation is a common issue among children and tends to persist longer than temporary or organic constipation. It often takes time and consistent management to resolve.
2. Functional constipation
- One of the main causes is habitually holding in bowel movements, which can make constipation worse over time.
- In some cases, functional constipation may also develop following a gastrointestinal infection, further disrupting normal digestion.
3. Stool withholding
Functional constipation which is already discussed occurs as a result of stool withholding and can occur due to several reasons:
- The child may be afraid of pain or discomfort caused during bowel movements.
- Diaper rashes can cause discomfort which may increase during bowel movement.
- The child may not be aware of the need to go to the toilet.
- When away from home, the child doesn’t want to use public toilets for bowel movements.
- Children aged 2-5 years want to do bowel movements themselves without the presence of an older one. This can make the process worse or messy.
4. Post-infectious constipation
If a child develops functional constipation after suffering from a gastrointestinal illness, this is known as post-infectious constipation.
Symptoms of constipation among children
Children may show several constipation symptoms which can help in diagnosing it among them.
These are as follows:
- Reducing the need to go for bowel movement less than usual.
- To sit on the toilet for a longer time than usual.
- Pain and Strain during bowel movement.
- Hard, and dry stools than usual.
- Abdominal Cramps.
- Bloated Abdomen.
These are some common and general symptoms visible among children. There are other symptoms also which can be best diagnosed under a medical practitioner.
Causes of constipation among children
There are several factors that can lead to constipation in children.
Some general reasons are given below which are responsible for causing constipation among children.
Here is a general guide for parents to know the reasons for constipation among their toddlers:
1. Low fiber diet
- There are two types of fiber that we take with food – soluble and insoluble fiber. Legumes, vegetables, and fruits contain soluble fiber.
- Whereas, whole grain breads, wheat bran, and cereals are insoluble fiber.
- Both soluble and insoluble fiber adds bulk to the feces.
- So adding more fiber to the meal can be good for curing constipation in children.
2. Inadequate water consumption
- From childhood, parents should make it a good habit for kids to intake more water.
- The fiber present in food plumps up with water and helps in clean bowel movement.
- Insufficient water consumption can be a significant reason for constipation.
- Avoiding going to the washroom
- Children should be encouraged to make a routine to go to the washroom at a scheduled time every day.
- Sometimes the children ignore going to the toilet for various reasons, and if this tendency lasts long, constipation can occur.
3. Effects of medicines during illness
- If the child is given antidepressants, iron supplements, narcotics (particularly codeine), non-magnesium antacids, and calcium-channel blockers (antihypertensives, particularly verapamil).
- During any kind of illness, the child may develop constipation. These medicines are known to slow down bowel movement.
Complications of constipation among children
Having constipation symptoms among children can cause several complications, some of which can be severe:
1. Faecal impaction
- In case of severe constipation, excessive stool accumulates in the lower bowel which in turn causes a blockage, and prevents normal bowel movement.
2. Faecal incontinence
- In some cases, bowel incontinence can lead to diarrhea and loss of bowel control.
3. Rectal prolapse
- Repeated pain and strain during the bowel movements can sometimes cause the rectal wall to bulge outwards through the anus, a condition known as rectal prolapse.
4. Haemorrhoids
- Repeated and excessive straining during bowel movements may damage the blood vessels in the rectal area. As a result, bleeding is visible during bowel movements.
5. Stercoral Ulcer
- Fecal strains can lead to the formation of ulcers in the lower bowel area. These ulcers can cause significant bleeding or even perforation of the bowel wall.
How can constipation among children be treated
Constipation can be caused due to various reasons and depending on that the treatment can vary.
In general, there are some constipation treatments or rather home remedies that can be done for better results.
Some herbal medicines or plants can also help in this case effectively.
1. Fiber consumption
- There are some foods for toddler constipation like fiber which is one of the best remedies to cure constipation.
- Fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods all contain fiber that effectively helps cure constipation.
- Fiber supplements can be a good option for those who are reluctant to take natural fiber.
- However, fiber supplements, in some cases, can cause constipation among children. So, take the advice of a doctor before giving fiber supplements to the children.
2. Hydrating frequently
- Liquids, especially water, help in bowel movement by plumping out feces.
- However, milk doesn’t always be considered good in case of constipation and children.
- Despite that, taking more water throughout the day is something good to have as a home remedy to cure constipation.
3. Proper diet
- On the one hand, significant dietary changes in the child’s routine can cause constipation; on the other hand, necessary changes in diet are a very helpful remedy to cure it.
- According to the physical condition of a kid, only a pediatrician or a certified medical practitioner can recommend the diet.
- Generally having a good amount of fiber (around 30g per day) in the daily diet along with fruits, legumes, whole grain cereals, vegetables, etc. helps in curing constipation.
- Apart from that herbs with a proven laxative effect include frangula (frangulin, cascara, aloe (aloin, aloe-emodin), and Chinese rhubarb root (through anthraquinone glycosides) can also be beneficial to cure constipation.
4. Laxative medicines
Laxatives are also effective for constipation treatment.
To cure constipation, doctors can recommend one of the laxatives as constipation medicine for the toddler among the following ones:
Stimulant laxatives
- This type of laxative helps to stimulate the nerves in the gut to increase bowel movement.
Bulking agents
- These medicines are basically fiber-based laxatives, which help to increase the water content of the stool to make the procedure easier.
Osmotic laxatives and stool softeners
- These two types of laxatives are effective in softening stools by adding water or oil substituent in the stool.
Work out regularly
- Regular exercise is one of the effective methods to improve bowel movements.
- At least 30-40 minutes of regular exercise not only helps to make a good habit among the children but also helps in regular and effective bowel movements.
Eat probiotics
- Probiotics are considered helpful home remedies for constipation in kids.
- Bacteria present in probiotics like Bifidobacteria, and Lactobacillus are beneficial bacteria that are effective in increasing stool frequency and stool consistency.
- In some probiotics, food like sauerkraut, yogurt, and kimchi naturally contain these helpful bacterias that are effective in constipation treatment by producing short-chain fatty acids.
Try avoiding dairy products
- Dairy is an effective way to treat constipation among children as it contains calcium, but there is another side to it.
- Dairy products are considered foods for toddler constipation for children with lactose intolerance or intolerance to cow milk protein.
- Eating dairy products can cause constipation due to its effect on the gut’s movements for those children who are lactose intolerant.
Conclusion
These are some general notions about constipation treatment and how to treat it with home remedies for constipation in kids.
Small lifestyle changes – like a fiber-rich diet, proper hydration, and regular physical activity-can make a big difference in supporting healthy digestion.
In some cases, there can be some serious internal problems that only a medical practitioner can diagnose.
As a parent, your patience and guidance play a key role in helping your child develop better bathroom habits. And if constipation becomes persistent, seeking medical advice can provide the right solutions to ensure long-term relief.
By addressing the issue early and consistently, you can help your child feel comfortable, confident, and free from the struggles of constipation.
