Pediatric Constipation

Constipation is responsible for up to 5% of pediatric office visits. It is defined as delay or difficulty in defecation. Normal frequency and consistency of stool varies with children’s age, and diet; there is also considerable variation from child to child. These are the most common causes of pediatric constipation:

1. Improper food ingredients or too little food. For example, not eating enough high-fibre foods like fruits and vegetables.
2. Not drinking enough fluids or dehydration.
3. Disorders that affect their brain and spine such as spina bifida.
4. Problems that can block or narrow the lumen of the colon or rectum including tumor.
5. Lack of regular bowel movements,  the stool becomes harder and more difficult to pass.
6. Intestinal dysfunction in children can cause them to suffer from malnutrition, rickets, or hypothyroidism.
7. Individual children have frequent constipation due to birth defects such as Hirschsprung’s disease.
8. Certain medications can cause constipation such as iron supplements.

How to prevent constipation in children

 Parents can prevent constipation in children by adjusting the diet, cultivating the baby’s bowel habits and exercising.

1. Diet conditioning is very important

If the baby’s main food is dairy-based products, the gastrointestinal function is not fully developed, and the intestinal motility is slow. In addition, after the digestion of dairy products, there is little residue, which naturally lacks stool. 

Insufficient sugar in some milk, or too high protein, can also cause dry stool. You can drink a little honey water for your baby on an empty stomach, or add sugar to milk, and add supplementary food when appropriate.

For older babies, they have started to eat food supplements containing starch, protein or fiber. Parents can allow babies to eat more vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Vegetables and fruits with more crude fiber, such as bananas, oranges, lotus root, cabbage, leeks, etc. can play an excellent role for intestinal smoothness.

2. Regular defecation

Cultivating your baby’s good living habits, regular rest and rest time, and the habit of regular bowel movements are also very important to prevent constipation.

Lack of regular sleep, especially babies who do not sleep at night and sleep more during the day, are most prone to constipation. When the baby is about 3 months old, the adult can guide the baby to gradually form the habit of regular bowel movements.

A comfortable and lovely potty can play a big role. Sometimes the baby will forget to solve the excretion problem because of playfulness, and the adult should be reminded in time.

3. Exercise is good for health

Appropriately increase the baby’s activities, exercise a lot, physical energy consumption, increased gastrointestinal motility, easy to produce hunger, eating conditions must be good, natural excretion is also much more vigorous.

Do more touches and passive exercises for babies up to half a year old. A slightly older baby can do more aerobic exercises such as walking, running, and jumping under the guidance of an adult.