WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
It is not unusual for children to grunt, strain, draw up
their legs, and become red in the face when having a bowel
movement. Constipation means the bowel movement is hard and
dry, making it painful and hard to push out. Some
children have two or three movements daily. Others may have a
normal movement only every 5 to 7 days. Breastfed children can
have large, soft movements without pain every 7 days.
Formula-fed children will have firmer stools.
Constipation is generally not a serious problem. But it
can make the child uncomfortable.
Causes
Adding new foods, such as
chocolate, to your child's diet can cause constipation. Eating
or drinking too much milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, or other
milk products can cause the problem. Certain medicines, such as
iron, also can cause constipation. Constipation can also
result from waiting too long to go to the bathroom. School-age
children can become constipated because they are afraid of
using the school bathroom.
Family problems such as a new baby or a family death also
can cause some children who are being toilet trained to become
constipated.
Signs/Symptoms
Pain while having a bowel
movement is a sign of constipation. Your child may cry while
trying to pass the movement or say that it hurts. The
child may go many days without having a bowel movement. He or
she may want to have one, but even with pushing and straining,
can't pass the stool.
Constipation can cause small tears that bleed near the
rectum. These tears will heal without medicine. You may notice
small amounts of bright red blood on the toilet tissue or on
the bowel movement. A diaper rash can also cause pain
during a bowel movement. The child will not want to have a
bowel movement because of the pain on his or her bottom.
Care
Most cases of constipation can be treated at home as long
as the child does not have a lot of belly
pain.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
-
Constipation is usually not a serious problem. It can
cause your child to be uncomfortable without proper
care.
-
If your baby is less than four months of age, twice a
day give fruit juices such as apple, grape, or prune
juice.
-
When your baby is four months of age you can begin
strained baby foods such as cereal, apricots, peaches,
plums, pears, prunes, beans, peas or spinach. Squash,
carrots, apples, and bananas may make the constipation
worse. Feed your baby solid food two to three times
daily.
-
If your child is one year or older, he or she should
eat fruits and vegetables three times daily. Encourage the
child to eat raw unpeeled fruits and vegetables. Cut the
food into small pieces to prevent choking. Avoid food that
can't be chewed easily.
-
Some foods can make your child's constipation worse.
Limit the amount of milk, ice cream, cheese, white rice,
bananas, cooked carrots, and applesauce in your child's
diet.
-
Babies need to drink water each day. The amount
depends on their age. Ask your doctor how much your child
needs.
-
It can be hard for babies to have a bowel movement
lying down. You can help by gently holding the knees
against his or her chest. This is a more natural way to
push out a stool.
-
Put the child in a warm water tub several times a
day. This may relax the rectal area and make it easier to
pass a bowel movement.
-
Tell the child not to wait too long to go to the
bathroom if he or she has the urge to have a bowel
movement.
-
Encourage your child to be more physically active.
This will reduce constipation.
-
Toilet training or family problems can cause a child
to be constipated. If this happens, you may want to stop
the toilet training for a while and go back to using
diapers.
-
Your child's diaper rash may cause constipation
because of pain while having a bowel movement. Talk to your
child's doctor for information about caring for the diaper
rash.
-
If your child develops small tears near the rectum
from trying to have a bowel movement, let him or her sit in
warm salt water three times daily (your doctor will tell
you how much salt to add to the tub water). Do not leave
your child alone in the bathroom. After the bath you can
rub 1/2 percent hydrocortisone cream on the area. This
cream can be bought over-the-counter at a drug
store.
-
Do not give your child an enema, suppository
(medicine put into the rectum), or a stool softener
(medicine to soften the stool) without talking to your
doctor.
Call Your Doctor If...
-
Your child has not had a bowel movement in several
days.
-
Your child has bowel movements that are very hard or
painful to pass.
-
You see blood in the diaper or bowel
movement.
-
The rectal area has tears that are not
healing.
Seek Care Immediately If...
-
Your child has constant, severe abdominal pain that
has lasted for more than 2 hours.
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