In the previous blog, we saw the causes and symptoms of constipation in children. In this blog, we shall see how to address those causes one by one. A majority of these causes could be corrected at home and would not require a visit to the doctor. So, you might be wondering which homecare tips and remedies can help relieve your child of constipation, aren’t you? Read on to learn all about it.
11 Homecare Tips and Remedies for Constipation in Children:
- Proper toilet training: There is no right or wrong age for starting toilet training for your child and, knowing that each child grows at his/her pace, you may start the training when you feel that your child is grown enough to sit on the toilet seat without needing any support.
Do not force your child to pass the stool at your convenience. Instead, train the child to understand the signals he experiences when he has an urge to pass the stools and then make him sit on the toilet seat.
Remember, the urge to pass the stool only happens when the rectum is loaded with stools. When the rectum does not have stools, the child will sit and simply strain but will not pass any stools and this would be frustrating for the child as well as parents.
- Teach your child about the importance of passing the stools with the urge, in case he is busy playing and avoids the urge.
- Parents can develop a plan and take turns in training the child for toilet training to avoid the child associating the act of passing stool with one parent only and depending on the availability of that parent.
- Do not make the transitions in the diet suddenly. The process should be gradual.
- When there is a change of routine, prepare your child mentally beforehand so that the change of routine does not come as a surprise to the child.
- Do not make your child rush through the morning routine. Either you may shift the routine early or be okay with the idea that the child shall pass the stool in the afternoon or evening.
- Add adequate fiber to the diet. Encourage the child to eat fruits, vegetables, and salad. You may either make a routine twice where the whole family comes together to eat fruits. Praise the child for this behavior so that he continues to do the same.
- Have adequate water intake: Remind the child to drink water often in the day time. If reminded often, it could become a habit later on.
- Encourage the child for regular physical activity: Encouraging your kid to increase his/her physical activities, such as playing, cycling, skipping, etc., can help prevent or manage constipation effectively. You can also participate along with your children. This will help to keep you fit as well as improve the bond between you and your kids.
- Besides constipation, if you note a change in behavior of your child like staying alone, being quiet, becoming reserved and depressed, you may try to coax the child to speak about the reason for the change in his/her behavior. Be supportive and listen to your child. Do not put the blame on the child.
- If you think that constipation affecting your child is because of certain medicines that your child is taking, speak to your doctor about it.
If in spite of following all the above care tips, your child continues to suffer from constipation, you need to consult the doctor to rule out other possible medical causes of constipation.
Add Fiber-Rich Foods In Your Kid’s Diet:
Adding fiber to your child’s diet is an effective step to relieve constipation. Some kids could be very picky eaters. So, what works for one kid might not work well for the other child. But, in general, kids like foods that are visually pleasing to them. So, include a lot of colorful fruits and vegetables in the diet of your child. Here are some helpful tips.
- You can make a veg pulao, pasta, and uttapam colorful by adding green peas, beans, and carrots. You can also add yellow and red bell peppers.
- Make a colorful sandwich using colorful veggies. Use a whole-wheat sandwich instead of white bread.
- Pav bhaji is also a source of fiber with vegetables, such as beans, peas, and carrots in it.
- Fruits, such as apples, pears, figs, pineapples, watermelon, etc. are rich in fiber. Papaya also helps in digestion and eases the discomforts of constipation. Do not peel the skin of apples and pears. Dried fruits, such as prunes and dates, are also good and nutritious. With cookie cutters, cut the fruits in different shapes.
- Oats serve as a good source of fiber. You can make oats dosa, oats idli, oats cookies, poha, etc.
- Ground roasted flaxseeds. Sprinkle a teaspoonful of it in rice or in the chapati flour.
- Use the whole grains and pulses.
While including fiber in your child’s diet, do it slowly. Do not introduce all the items at a time. Also, do not go overboard with fiber else it would cause bloating and gas. Remember to make your child drink adequate water with fiber. Conversely, more fiber with less water could also lead to constipation.
Homeopathic Medicines for Constipation in Children
Homeopathy has good medicines for constipation in children. Usually, the medicines are selected after a detailed case study of the child, analyzing his bowel habits, eating habits, behavior, family history, and history of any other associated health issues if present.
These are the most commonly indicated homeopathic medicines for constipation in kids.
- Calcarea carb: Constipation in children who are inclined to be fat with a pale look, slow in development, and experience profuse sour-smelling sweat on the head indicate this medicine. When the child’s stools are chalky, the first part is hard, and, the latter part next is semisolid or needs mechanical removal of the stool, this remedy is helpful to treat constipation. The child who has the desire to eat indigestible food may find this remedy effective.
- Alumina: This remedy helps treat constipation in delicate children who are fed artificial baby foods. Inactivity of the rectum and the need to strain a lot while passing the stools indicate this medicine. Hard, dry knotty stool with no desire to pass the stools indicate this remedy. Alumina also helps treat painful urging to pass the stool before the child actually passes the stool.
- Silicea: Silicea is indicated for constipation in the shy, timid children. Infants with a large head with delayed closing of sutures may find this remedy beneficial. It is effective in treating crumbly stools that recede partially great straining in children, a chilly patient, and bad effects of vaccination.
- Sanicula: Large, heavy, and painful stools, offensive odor, and no desire to pass stool until there is an accumulation of the stool indicate Sanicula. The kid may experience profuse sweating around the neck. The remedy is also helpful in treating crumbling stool which recedes partially and pain in the perineum.
Now that you know these homecare tips and homeopathic remedies for constipation in children, make sure that follow these homecare tips and consult a homeopath for the right homeopathic remedies if your child happens to suffer from constipation
