Just like with babies, the biggest cause of constipation in toddlers (and older children and adults too) is diet. Here are some dietary adjustments you should make to help prevent constipation in your toddler:
Treatment
If your tot has constipation, implement these strategies:
Stubborn constipation
It may be necessary to clear Baby’s bowel using a paediatric glycerine suppository first if the constipation has become chronic, but be careful not to become reliant on laxatives; the more you use them, the lazier the bowel will become. Rather opt for homeopathic remedies for digestive discomfort or probiotics to help maintain a natural balance in the gut, as these don’t have laxative effects. If none of the treatments suggested here help, or your tot has a problem with recurring constipation, a doctor may need to check that there isn’t perhaps another underlying cause.
Emotional effects
Little ones who are tense, anxious, or sensitive tend to struggle with constipation more often. Try to help your tot relax, and reflect on whether your stress might be carried over to her. It can also help to give her a homeopathic remedy to help ease her anxiety.
Sometimes the rush in homes early in the morning can be part of the problem. The early morning is the body’s natural excretory time for most people – however, if one is rushing around to get the day started, toilet urges are often ignored and become suppressed. By the time the urge returns, the stool may be so dry that it is difficult to pass – just another way constipation starts! It might be necessary to wake up earlier so that she has enough time to go to the toilet before the day really begins.
If your tot’s natural time to need the loo to pass a stool is later in the day, try to create a quiet, relaxed atmosphere and read to her while she sits on the loo. It’s not a ‘milestone’, so don’t put pressure on her, and don’t try and keep her in place for longer than 5-10 minutes.