What Can I Give a Constipated 6 Year Old

Constipation is a very common problem in children. Whether information technology'south something temporary later on an illness or diet alter, or something more than chronic, up to 20% of children suffer from it at one time or another. Every bit much as information technology makes people uncomfortable to talk about poop, having trouble pooping is even more uncomfortable. Luckily, information technology is generally a very treatable trouble.

Symptoms of constipation

Constipation plays out differently in different people. It can be whatsoever, or any combination, of

• stooling less than three times a week
• having stools that are difficult and difficult to pass
• having stools that are very large (large plenty to block the toilet)
• holding in stool, leading to big lumps of stool in the rectum
• having leakage of stool.

The last one, leakage of stool, can misfile people — how can it be constipation if at that place is leakage of soft stool into the underwear? What happens is that those large lumps of stool stretch out the rectum. This leads to two further issues: looser stool leaks effectually those lumps, and the stretching makes the nerves of the rectum work less well, and can't ever sense that the stool is going to come out.

Here's what yous can do if your child is constipated

• Get more fiber into their nutrition. Fruits, vegetables (it's recommended that children get 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day for their overall health, and it helps prevent constipation also), and whole grains can brand a big difference. Cereals with bran can help, as can prunes or prune juice. At that place are fiber cookies and fiber powders you can buy, but doing it with regular foods is better whenever possible.
• Requite them more than h2o to beverage. If they don't beverage much fluid, the stool will be harder before it even gets to the colon — and the chore of the colon is to take water out of stool. H2o is better than juice, soda, or other drinks. It's better than milk, besides, considering with constipation you need to…
• Scout their milk intake. Drinking a lot of milk tin can atomic number 82 to constipation in some children. Information technology tin besides lead to anemia, and tin make children less hungry for other foods like fruits and vegetables, so keeping an eye on intake is a good thought for lots of reasons. Kids from 1 to 8 should have nearly 2 cups of milk a twenty-four hour period, and older kids about three cups, (those growing bones). There are also other ways to get the nutrients that milk offers. Yous tin can talk to your medico for ideas.
• Make sure they sit on the toilet regularly. As I said to a higher place, the chore of the colon is to take water out of stool, so the longer the stool stays in the colon, the harder — and harder to leave — information technology gets. It'south understandable for children who've had painful stool to want to avert going to the bathroom, but fugitive is the worst matter they tin do. Have them sit for a while afterward every meal, which is the time when the torso is most likely to demand to laissez passer a stool. You tin can make it easier using comic books, magazines, or hand-held games. Set a timer for at least five minutes, better x.
• If this doesn't piece of work, effort medications. There are many unlike kinds of medications that assist with constipation. Some, similar polyethylene glycol, piece of work by pulling more water into the stool and making it softer. Others, similar senna, work by helping to push the stool through. Sometimes using a glycerin suppository can assist stimulate the passage of stool — and sometimes, when a child is really backed upwardly, using an enema tin can be actually helpful. You should ever check in with your wellness care provider for communication before using a medication for constipation.

Speaking of checking in with your health care provider, y'all should phone call if your child has

• severe pain with stooling
• blood in the stool
• weight loss, or a noticeable drop in ambition
• vomiting along with the constipation
• a high fever along with the constipation
• constipation that isn't getting better despite dietary changes and other treatments.

Most of the fourth dimension, though, it does get better. To learn more about constipation, visit healthychildren.org, the parent information website of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-constipated-2019030516136

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