What can I give my child if he/she is constipated?

Since exercising doesn't really do much for children, stool softeners and a balanced diet with more fibre and fluids is a more convenient treatment option for a constipated child. Doctors recommend apple and prune juice for constipated children instead of laxatives. Parents need to read food labels of all the foods that are rich in fibre and other minerals such as vitamin C.

Drinking too much milk and less water is also another cause for constipation. Give your child as much water as possible each day instead of milk. Make sure that your child goes to toilet if they are constipated.

If your child does not get better on a balanced diet, take him/her to the doctor.

Treating constipation in your child

A successful constipation treatment for a child can be as simple as changing their diet. Ensure that your child's diet contains a lot of water and fibre, instead of sweats and constipating foods such as bananas, cheese and milk etc. If your child does not get better even on a diet high in fibres and fluids, you'll have to give him/her some stool softeners.

A normal or healthy child must have at least one to two soft stools each day. If your child goes a day without soft stools, he/she might be constipated.

Breast-feeding and constipation

Breast-feeding is the healthiest baby diet ever, and infants that are breast-fed are less likely to become constipated. Breast milk is digest very easily, but babies that are only breast-fed one to four times a week may suffer constipation.

High iron fortified infant formula and breast milk is also the healthiest diet for infants, but your child may still groan or strain when he/she has a bowel movement. It is normal for infants (babies) to strain and groan when they have a bowel movement whether they're breast-fed or not.

High iron infant formula is the best diet for your child. High iron infant formula never causes constipation.