Home Remedies For Constipation In Children

For most children, constipation is caused by diet problems. The human digestive tract is made to work with high fiber foods like vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains. However, most kids do not have these foods in their daily diet. Listed below are some simple home remedies for constipation in children.

Children are too young for an all natural body cleanse or detox diet. Instead, you can give them a mild laxative to help their stools flush out faster. If a child is over the age of ten, there are several over the counter home remedies for constipation like mineral oil, magnesia, or milk. These ingredients should only be administered if advised by a physician.

Mineral oil should not be used regularly since it affects the absorbent capability of fat soluble vitamins. Other laxatives can also cause problems if it is taken too often. If children get too dependent on a laxative, it can affect their ability to naturally eliminate.

Keep a Record

Keep track of all the foods and drinks your child eats every day. This can help you to pinpoint exactly what is causing the constipation symptoms. For example, if your child drinks a quart of milk daily, that may be the sole cause of poor elimination. Consuming too much dairy products can cause problems in the digestive system. Other common kid's foods that cause constipation are white rice, bananas, and applesauce.

High Fiber Foods

High fiber will help keep stools soft. Unfortunately, modern diets include far too little whole wheat grains, vegetables, and fruits. Try to introduce your child to fiber sources that are pleasant to eat. For example, most children would have problems eating brown rice for lunch, so you can make a raisin filled bran muffin instead.

If your child gets hungry between meals, try offering raw vegetables like celery and carrots. Most kids enjoy eating them because its crunch. To make the snacks taste better, you add a bit of peanut butter or celery spread.

Broccoli and cauliflower are repulsive for many children, so try to disguise them. These vegetables are essential fiber foods for reducing constipation. Try cutting the vegetables in different shapes and be as creative as possible in presenting them.

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids throughout the day. Drinking lots of water and juice is one of the best home remedies for constipation in children. Liquid will help the fiber to bulk up, allow it to pass out of the body easily.