Chronic Constipation Treatment

Diet Changes For Children With Chronic Constipation

If you are a parent of a child suffering from chronic constipation, then you may be looking for an effective method to relieve their discomfort. Constipation can be uncomfortable, interfere with their daily lives, and be downright painful for small children. As a mother of a 3 year old who has had chronic constipation since he turned 1, I have found that some simple diet changes can greatly help their condition.

Children with chronic constipation often have pain and difficulty when trying to have a bowel movement. They may cry, whine, or strain when trying to go. You may notice your child trying to go many times during the day, but have little or no results. Many times, constipation is worsened by a bad diet or a diet filled with certain foods. After changing your child's diet, you may see a drastic change in the way they use the bathroom and the frequency.

Curing Chronic Constipation - Dairy

Foods in the dairy category are a huge culprit for constipation in children. The main dairy foods to avoid or give in small amounts are milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and other high doses of dairy. Although these foods are okay to consume, they should be limited and not giving in excess.

Curing Chronic Constipation - Chocolate

Chocolate can make constipation much worse or may even be the cause of your child's constipation. This is because chocolate is high in fat and slows down both the secretion of gastric juices and motor functions, resulting in the slowing down of the emptying of the stomach.

Curing Chronic Constipation - Processed Foods

Processed foods such as white rice, flour, pastries, sugar and most prepackaged foods can cause constipation. This is because the majority of these foods lack fiber. Fiber is very important for the body and is needed to successfully pass the consumed food through the bowels.

Curing Chronic Constipation - Fluids

Different types of fluids have different impacts on the body. While drinking water everyday will help with the constipation problem, other fluids such as colas and fruit juice will worsen the constipation. Limit your child to these types of high sugar and caffeine drinks. The fiber in these fluids is usually removed, resulting in the worsening of their condition.

Curing Chronic Constipation - Other Problems

There may be other underlying problems that may be causing your child's constipation. Some common reasons for chronic constipation are a lack of exercise, stress, medications, too little fiber in their diet, lack of enough water in their diet, disrupted routine, and intentionally holding back their bowel movements. This is common in children as they are busy playing and do not want to use the toilet.

Curing Chronic Constipation - Conclusion

If your child is suffering from constipation, consider some of the above suggestions to help both yourself and your child during this situation. When your child feels better, you will also feel better.