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Constipation: Over 12 months
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Sometimes your child’s poop may be hard, or your child may go to the bathroom less often than usual. Remember, every child is different, so don’t worry if your child poops less than once a day.
Potential Causes of Constipation
Not eating enough fiber Not drinking enough water Lack of movement and activity Excessive fluid loss due to vomiting or fever Certain medications Milk allergy
What Parents Can Do
Add two extra servings of high fiber foods to the diet every day. Fiber absorbs water, helping move poop through the body.
Add high fiber foods
Whole grain breads, breakfast cereals, crackers, even popcorn (reminder: popcorn is not recommended for kids under age 3 due to choking risk) Beans, peas, and lentils (such as black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, and chickpeas)Fruits Vegetables
Add more fluid
Fluids soften poop to help them move through the body Frequently offer water Offer prune juice. It is a natural laxative If your child won’t drink extra liquids, offer foods like Jello, yogurt or frozen yogurt or clear soup Limit milk to 16oz per day or less
Encourage activity
Exercise helps stimulate bowel motion, so a daily activity schedule can be established to help relieve constipation Children with physical handicaps should be encouraged to be as active as their body allows
This post was last updated on December 19th, 2019 at 11:33 AM
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