{"id":53758,"date":"2019-03-01T02:46:44","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T02:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.babyhealthandcare.com\/how-to-deal-with-toddler-constipation\/"},"modified":"2019-03-01T02:46:44","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T02:46:44","slug":"how-to-deal-with-toddler-constipation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.babyhealthandcare.com\/de\/how-to-deal-with-toddler-constipation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to deal with toddler constipation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Let\u2019s face it, dealing with kids and their poop is never a fun experience, and it can be particularly tricky with toddlers<\/strong>, whether they\u2019re in diapers or potty training<\/strong>. However, if your toddler is not<\/em> pooping, that\u2019s especially challenging for both you and your kiddo. Here\u2019s what you need to know about toddler constipation, including how to deal with it so that you\u2019ll all feel better.<\/p>\n

Everyone\u2019s body is different, so missing a daily poop is not likely a sign of constipation. However, if your child has fewer than three dirty diapers or trips to the potty in a week or the poop is hard, dry, difficult to pass or so big that it nearly clogs the toilet, your toddler may be constipated. Other signs and symptoms may include pain with a bowel movement, a tummy ache, traces of liquid poop in underwear (this may mean that poop is backed up in the rectum) and blood when wiping or on the surface of hard stool (due to small tears in the rectum from trying to pass hard poop). Because your toddler thinks pooping will hurt, they may cross their legs, make faces, clench their butt, rock their body, walk stiffly on their tiptoes or sit with their heels pressed against their perineum to try to avoid having to go.<\/p>

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Why do toddlers get constipated?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Toddlers, in particular, can get constipated from a number of different factors in their wild and crazy toddler lives. Kids this age often get fixated on certain foods and, chances are, the \u201call-beige diet\u201d<\/strong> (like crackers, cereals and toast) may not have a lot of fibre. If your toddler drinks a lot of milk, that can be constipating, too, says Roxanne MacKnight, a family physician in Miramichi, NB.<\/p>\n

\"little
\nToddler afraid to poop? How to handle potty training poo anxiety<\/span>Sometimes, anxiety over pooping in the potty<\/strong> or on the toilet rather than in a diaper can make a toddler try to skip the whole thing. Other times, toddlers are so busy playing that they may ignore the urge to go. Starting preschool or changing rooms can also throw them off\u2014maybe the routine or bathroom is different. \u201cNinety-five percent of the time, constipation isn\u2019t related to a medical issue,\u201d says MacKnight. (Constipation can also be linked to a metabolic or digestive issue, but that\u2019s rare in kids.)<\/p>\n

What are some non-medical ways to help?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

First and foremost, many health professionals suggest changes to their foods and drinks<\/strong>. \u201cOne of the things that can help most is extra water,\u201d says Jennifer House, a registered dietitian in Calgary who specializes in kids and families. \u201cWater helps move things along and soften stool.\u201d Pick out a favourite water bottle and bring it with you, or add some frozen berries to make it look a little more fun, she says. House also recommends giving your toddler up to half a cup of pear, prune or apple juice once a day (all at once), not watered down. \u201cThese juices contain a type of sugar called sorbitol that helps draw water into the bowel and soften stool,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Next, try to get some fibre-rich foods<\/strong> into their diets. Offer fruit<\/strong> with the skin on or try whole wheat macaroni or bread. \u201cThe best dietary sources of fibre are beans and legumes, so see if your kid will dip veggies in hummus or eat bean chili,\u201d says House. \u201cWhen my kids were toddlers, I would put a few canned black beans on their trays as finger foods.\u201d Smoothies are a good option, too, as they provide fluids and fruit and you can blend in ground flax for fibre. MacKnight also recommends dried apricots and prunes (they may be sticky and hard to chew, so be sure to cut them up into raisin-size pieces so that they won\u2019t be a choking hazard), broccoli and peas.<\/p>\n

Quite often, toddlers aren\u2019t down with new foods<\/strong>, so try using their \u201cme-me-me\u201d independence as a tool. \u201cGet them involved as much as they can,\u201d says House. \u201cThey can pick out foods at the store or rinse produce. They like to take control and ownership rather than just being presented with something to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n

House also suggests looking into probiotics. \u201cThey certainly won\u2019t cause any harm, and research shows that some probiotic strains, like Lactobacillus casei, might help with constipation,\u201d she says. Look for a paediatric powder that you can mix into applesauce or yogurt. Or try paediatric drops, which you can place on their tongues or add to a spoonful of food, or chewable paediatric tablets.<\/p>\n

Try not to get into a power struggle over the potty, but gently encourage your toddler to go at the same time every day. If they\u2019re using the toilet, a little step stool can help support their feet and create the right position for pooping.<\/p>\n

When should you see a doctor?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve noticed that your toddler is constipated or having trouble with bowel movements, try the recommended food and drink options for a week to give them time to work. But if they\u2019re not doing the trick, see your healthcare provider. \u201cSometimes you don\u2019t see children until the situation is quite severe and they\u2019ve reached the point where they\u2019re extremely constipated and withholding stool,\u201d says MacKnight. Your doctor will gently feel your toddler\u2019s belly to check if there are any particular areas of tenderness or bumps that are abnormal. \u201cWe often spend a lot of time talking about non-medical treatment,\u201d she says. \u201cSometimes we need to prescribe a laxative first [to help soften and push out the backed-up poop] and then get into the routine of improving their diet to prevent this from happening in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

What medications can my toddler take for constipation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

MacKnight says that there are several common approaches. Your healthcare provider may recommend mineral oil mixed into yogurt or other soft foods. Other recommendations may include Lactulose, a liquid laxative that\u2019s added to food and drinks, and PEG 3350 (usually sold under the brand name Pegalax), a flavourless powder that can be mixed into water or juice.<\/p>\n

Remember that constipation may be an uncomfortable part of toddlerhood, but it will be OK. \u201cParents have to be persistent with a healthy diet<\/strong> and sometimes medications as well,\u201d says MacKnight. \u201cThis is generally a temporary situation and solvable.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Read more:
Why does my child\u2019s stomach hurt?
11 potty-training books we love<\/strong><\/p>\n

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