Home Remedies for Constipation in Infants and Toddlers

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Constipation is a gastrointestinal issue due to irregular bowel movement causing difficulty in emptying bowels or the dry stool. The major cause for such hard times is unhealthy diet and low fibrous food. Even though the situation is found in both adults and kids, for kids it is a painful act and a great challenge for parents.  Also kids have a common behaviour of withholding the stool making them more dehydrated and hard.  

The issue is rare in liquid diet babies who are breast fed as the breast milk balances fat and proteins, but some formula fed babies may experience constipation. Following healthy diet and some home remedies provides relief from constipation.

Causes for constipation:

• Low nutrition and low food consumption commonly found in children.

• Change the behaviour of holding the bowel movements in your child. Even though it is         challenging, make a hygiene practice of emptying bowels.

• Some formula baby foods cause constipation. This is because of high milk protein content in formulas which is undigested in babies. Keep changing the formulas and dilute the formulas before feeding.

• Too much medication causes constipation.

• Fat creamy milk or too much dairy may cause constipation or diarrhea. 

Home Remedies for Constipation in Children

Hydration:

Hydration is very important for healthy physical and mental mechanisms for humans irrespective of all ages. Feed spoon full of water at irregular intervals even for a breastfed baby. 

Raisins:

Raisins are fibrous food and a traditional remedy for constipation in kids. 

Soak raisins in boiled water for 4 to 5 hours till it plumps. For a teething child provide raisins for chewing for infants below 1 year blend them to fine paste and feed a spoon full. Also the soaked water can be fed. This relieves constipation immediately

How to prepare ajwain water?

Ajwain water:  

Ajwain is a well known medicine for easy digestion and digestive problems. Even though it is useful for both adults and children, the method and quantity of consumption differs. In case of children below one year, prepare ajwain solution (boil ½ spoon of ajwain in ½ glass water for about 5minutes). Feed two spoons of concentrated ajwain water to your child. Increase the quantity of ajwain for an elder child gradually.

Ajwain releases oils that promote bowel movements helping to flush out the waste. Regular consumption is a permanent remedy for constipation and many gastric troubles in kids.

Juices:

Fresh fruit juices from fruits like apple, mango, orange, water melon and the banana pulp is highly fibrous and nutritious. Consumption of these fruit juices keeps your child away from the fear of constipation. Blend them as whole with the addition of milk or water and feed the fresh fruit extract. Do not add sugar as it promotes constipation and fruits themselves are sugary. 

Also once your child has started solid foods you can try the vegetables like boiled carrot juice, boiled spinach juice and the boiled beetroot juice.  Smashing the boiled lentils is also an healthier option.

Dairy: 

Until your child is breast fed there is no limitation for milk but when it comes to pasteurized milk there is a limit for its consumption. Excess dairy cause’s constipation but low dairy also causes the same. Provide medium fat cow’s milk for your child with a count of 2 glasses per day. This is an excellent coolant and source of calcium. 

Oiling belly button (navel):  

This is a traditional tip guided by my elders and which I usually follow. Greasing the belly button of your child either by ghee or oil overnight. I do not know how medically it works but it eases out stool in your child the next morning. It works faster for infants and quite slower in toddlers. 

Remember:

Laxatives and Enemas are not healthy for children. Use them under severe conditions under the guide of pediatrics. 

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