It is never pleasant for parents to notice that their children experience uneasiness and frustration. A typical reason why kids might experience uneasiness and frustration is constipation. Nevertheless, what parents also need to know is that constipation is not an abnormal anatomy issue rather than an issue of nutrition and behavior. As a result, parents can resort to a variety of home remedies for constipation in kids to tackle the problem rather than consuming pharmaceutical products.
How Do You Know That A Child Suffers From Constipation?
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The frequency of children’s bowel movement varies. An infant happens to stool more than once per day. On the other hand, preschoolers have developed their bowel movement habits and they usually stool every other day, like adults. But, which symptoms are alarming when it comes to constipation in kids?
- Signs Of Abnormal Bowel Movement
- Pain In The Abdominal Area
- Pain During The Bowel Movement
- Signs Of Blood In The Stools
- Impression That The Defecation Is Incomplete
- Hardness Of Stools
What Causes Constipation In Children?
The causes of constipation in kids can be either organic (rarely) or derive from poor eating and behavior habits. Among the most common organic causes are:
- Metabolic Imbalance
- Diabetes
- Thyroid Imbalance
- Side effects due to drug intake (ADHD medication or antidepressants are indicative examples)
- Rectum Deformity
Apart from the upper rare cases of constipation due to organic factors, the majority of them derives from a certain lifestyle. The consumption of foods poor in fiber such as junk or processed foods is deeply interlaced with constipation in kids. Children are supposed to receive a certain amount of fiber through a vegetable and fruit diet. Not consuming enough water or fluids, in general, can lead to the same result. Here is a list of foods that cause constipation:
- Red meat such as beef
- Dairy products such as cheese or yogurt
- Bananas
- Fried foods
- Processed foods such as potato chips and snacks
- Junk food
Another behavioral cause of constipation in kids is that they detain from defecating since it is either too painful for them or they do not wish to interrupt their game to visit the bathroom.
Any kind of change in kids’ daily routine can also result in occasional constipation. A new environment such as school or a trip is surely a factor that makes them unwilling to have a bowel movement.
6 Home Remedies For Constipation In Kids
It is often stated that children are miniature adults. Therefore, they need to be treated the same way. This is entirely false as far as constipation treatment is concerned. Constipation in children is very common since it is mostly attributed to behavioral patterns. Therefore, parents do not need to seek medical assistance. Instead, there are several quick home remedies for constipation which can be made easily and from the comfort of your home.
1. The Aloe Factor
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Aloe is gifted with soothing properties. It might be usually applied on wounds, but it can also do the trick for soothing kids’ bowel movement.
Ingredients:
1 cup of aloe vera juice
Instructions:
Blend the aloe vera juice with juice of your preference.
Serve in the morning.
2. The Lemon Beverage
Lemon is packed in citric acid. This element not only triggers the function of the digestive system, but it also removes any unwanted material that has been accumulated inside the colon. The best way to serve lemon juice to children is either in water or their food.
Ingredients:
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup of warm water
1 teaspoon of honey
Cinnamon (optional)
Instructions:
Pour the lemon juice into a cup of warm water.
Add a teaspoon of honey to sweeten the water.
Zest with cinnamon for extra flavor.
3. The Olive Oil Ally
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Labeled as s one of the healthiest fat sources, olive oil ‘s contribution in a healthy diet is undeniable. This is why it can significantly lend a hand in tackling constipation in kids. To be more exact, its texture is assists in the movement of the colon enabling a smoother bowel movement. Olive oil can replace any kind of butter or oil in a diet and can be added complementary to several dishes such as salads.
4. Fiber-Packed Smoothies
A diet filled with fiber is essential for a regular bowel movement in kids. Specifically, such diet needs to contain a great deal of insoluble fiber which is responsible for maximizing stool production. Insoluble fiber is found in nuts and vegetables. But since a nut and vegetable smoothie does not sound so appealing, parents can add fiber-rich fruits (apples, carrots, citrus fruits) in the smoothie to spice up the taste.
Ingredients:
1 carrot, peeled
1 apple, peeled
a handful of nuts (almonds or any kind of your preference)
Juice of an orange
1 tangerine
1/2 cup of milk
Instructions:
Toss all of the ingredients in the food processor and blend until they turn smooth.
You can optionally add some extra sugar.
5. The Kiwi Cream Pudding
Studies have shown that kiwi enhances the regularity of bowel movement. Its high fiber content along with Vitamin C makes kiwi one of the most effective home remedies for constipation in kids. Nevertheless, kiwi is a fruit that children are not fond of. This is why it can easily be infused in kid-friendly foods such as cream.
Ingredients:
1 kiwi, peeled
1 pear, peeled
1 tbsp of cornflour
1 tbsp of sugar
Instructions:
Toss all of the ingredients in the food processor until they turn smooth.
You might need to add extra water.
6. The Multi-Colored Bean Salad
bean salad
This food’s value to treating constipation has been debated. Despite that, beans have proven to be a significant ally in the war against constipation due to their content in fiber which increases the mass of the stool forcing the colon to forward the whole process.
Ingredients:
3 tbsp of black beans
3 tbsp of black-eyed peas
3 tbsp of kidney beans
3 tbsp of Lima beans
1 tbsp of olive oil
Instructions:
Fill a pot with water and add the olive oil.
Boil the beans in a pot at low temperature until they turn soft.
Strain the beans and place them in a bowl.
Garnish with olive oil, salt and herbs of your preference.
Diet adaptations are not the only way to treat constipation in children. A combination of dietary changes and behavioral modifications (no withholding bowel movement) can work miracles. And let us not forget the most powerful weapon against children’s constipation: exercise. Body movement enables more regular bowel movement. Kids are naturally energetic. The key is to channel their energy appropriately.