Children have constipation just like adults and perhaps more often since they sometimes don’t like to eat food that has a lot of fibre – vegetables and more vegetables. Children with constipation can use a child constipation home remedy just as adults, but in lesser amounts.
You can use the following child constipation home remedy for children 3 and older. Children should have a bowel movement every day so if they do not a child constipation remedy will be necessary. It would be best for them to have at least two, if they are eating three meals a day. If your child is having three or less bowel movements per week, it is time to get a child constipation home remedy or a child constipation remedy to take action.
If you use a child constipation home remedy, and your child still has only 3 or less bowel movements per week, then it’s time for you to take your child to see a doctor. Continual constipation can reflect a more serious condition, especially if your child is eating the foods that promote natural bowel movements or you have already exhausted all of the child constipation remedy.
Here is a list of the various child constipation home remedy that you can do for your child with constipation. In fact, these recommendations are helpful for maintaining your child’s overall health.
- Drink more water – children are very active and will perspire more than an adult during the day and lose water. If the body needs water, it will take from the stools and make them hard and difficult to expel. Drinking half of the body weight in ounces is a way to support the fluid and is the first child constipation remedy.
- Eat more fibre – fruits and vegetables are where the fibre is. Using artificial fibre and laxative products is not a good idea. The body can become dependent on these products and lose its bowel sensitivity and colon wall tone.If the child has difficulty eating these you can blend them, or use psyllium husk as a child constipation home remedy.
- Having a bowel movement when it is time – teach your children to go to the bathroom when they get the urge. A lot of times they will put it off if they are playing or doing something they like. Putting it off will de-sensitise the colon and it will stop giving the bowel movement signal after a time. This will lead to constipation. Breathwork, and teaching children to pay attention to their urges is a child constipation remedy.
- Use natural products that promote bowel movements – there are many fruits and vegetables that promote bowel movements. Use these as snacks. In cases where you use a child constipation home remedy that is bitter, remind your child that it is medicine to help them go to the bathroom more frequently. Digestive bitters are extremely helpful, as well as nutrients such as magnesium is a healthy child constipation remedy.
Drinking Water
Have your constipated child drink more water throughout the day. Use distilled water. Minimise the use of sodas, tea, and sweetened juices, as these are not water. Eating fruits and vegetables provide the body with distilled water since they contain up to 70% water. Drink unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices which provide water and promote bowel movements as a child constipation remedy.
Eating Fruits and Vegetables
The best time to give your child fruits is in the morning. From the time they wake up to noon time is when the body is detoxifying. Heavy foods like meat, milk, cereal, and eggs hinder the detoxifying process. Fruits and their juices accelerate the detoxifying process and promote bowel movement, provided no protein or carbohydrates are eaten. A good breakfast is simply a bowl of fruit. A glass of fresh natural juice can also be provided as a child constipation remedy.
When in season use a big bowl of watermelon and cantaloupe slices. Otherwise, use a variety of seasonal fruits. Using fruits with skins for fiber is a child constipation home remedy as a snack between meals. But do not give fruits after a meal as dessert. Wait 2-3 hours after a meal before giving fruit. This helps digestion and promotes bowel movements.
Vegetables should be eaten with each meal at noon time and dinner. Vegetables provide water, fibre, and an array of minerals and vitamins necessary for good digestion and colon function.
To make the salad more appealing for your child add raisins or pieces of apple to it to make it sweeter.
Look to other articles for other natural remedies. For a child, any herbal products that are used as a child constipation remedy should be used at 1/3 the amount listed for an adult. If in doubt always check with a homeopath, naturopath, herbalist or doctor.
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