Features of a diet for constipation in children

To help the child regain regular stools, a special diet is necessary for constipation in children.

Diet is one of the best medicines in the fight against constipation in very young children, as well as in children of preschool and primary school age.

Strict adherence to the dietary menu will help to solve problems with the stool of the baby and will save you from having to give him medicines.

Constipation in children under three years old

Stool retention in infants occurs quite often for a variety of reasons. Inadequate organs of digestion react to the slightest changes in the surrounding environment, so it is important to be attentive to how often the child defecates.

The most common causes of constipation in children under 3 years are:

• sluggish intestinal peristalsis;
• deficiency of excretory feces in the intestine;
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• dysbiosis;
• improper power supply;
• change of scenery( moving, the first trip to the garden);
• introduction of complementary foods, a new, unusual food;
• helminthiosis;
• dehydration.

To help the baby go to the toilet himself, it is necessary to exclude from the diet those foods that slow the progress of fecal matter through the intestines.

These products include: fatty and hard meat( lamb, pork, duck), bakery products from white flour, pasta, rice, jelly.

To avoid blistering, it is necessary to exclude from the baby's menu and those products that cause gas formation in the intestine.

These include legumes, fresh apples and pears, cabbage( especially sauerkraut), dairy products with a high percentage of fat.

Up to 2 years old, the child should not be given fried, fatty, smoked, pickled, salted, spicy dishes. In the child's menu, they should be replaced by baked, stewed or steamed vegetables and low-fat fish.

Meat should be given with caution and not more than 2 times a week, the rest of the time should be preferred to boiled eggs and fish.

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In 2 years the child is already well aware of what dishes he likes and which ones he does not. Therefore, when drawing up the menu, parents should take into account the wishes of the baby and not feed him with food that he does not like, violently.

It is important to remember that psychological comfort also plays an important role in treating a child from constipation.

There are a lot of products from which you can make a dietary table for a child with constipation.

Of these, it is best to choose the ones that the baby likes, and cook casseroles, mashed potatoes, salads, smoothies and compotes from them.

Here is an approximate list of products that have a laxative effect:

• apricot, plum and figs( fresh or dried fruit);
• honey( if it is not allergic);
• cauliflower and broccoli;
• a variety of fruits;
• tomatoes, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini;
• Lean fish;
• jam from currants, raspberries, apricots or plums;
• bran and rye bread with bran;
• homemade milk drinks: yoghurt, kefir, yogurt.

At the age of 3 years, it is possible to involve a child in the preparation of healthy food: food made by oneself, the baby will eat more willingly than the one that parents simply offer.

Constipation in children older than three years

After 3 years, the child gradually develops digestive features, and constipation may be evidence of some disorders.

Firstly, if the baby feels pain during defecation because of the high density of feces, he begins to fear going to the toilet, then there is constipation.

Secondly, most often the younger schoolchildren have a fear of visiting the public toilet in the school - they experience shyness, fear, discomfort in an unfamiliar environment, against which strong constipation develops.

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Another cause of constipation in children from 3 years old may be bowel disease( polyps or ulcers), in such cases the treatment is prescribed by a pediatrician.

In any case, a diet with constipation in children should become an integral part of the treatment of a psychological or physiological problem. The optimal frequency of defecation for children aged 3 to 10 years - one to three times a day.

For children older than 3 years, the same dietary food as for adults is suitable. Children can eat vegetable stew with the addition of lean meat, casseroles from fish and vegetables, lean soups, vegetable salads.

As delicacies, you can offer your child fruit or fruit salads, dressed with yogurt or kefir, sweet compotes and fruit drinks, freshly squeezed juices from carrots, pumpkins or orange. A good way to eat with constipation steam cutlets from vegetables and low-fat parts of pork.

Daily it is necessary to include in the child's menu fiber( boiled or baked vegetables and fresh fruit), animal protein( eggs or fish), vegetable oils and fish oil, dairy products.

In addition, at least once a day the baby must eat a portion of porridge - buckwheat, wheat, oatmeal. Porridge should be boiled on water, without milk and with a small amount of salt.

In addition, it is necessary to give the baby a bran. It is advisable to buy bran without additives and flavors - it is better after cooking to add fresh or dried fruit or jam. Bran can be added to muffins or homemade bread without a yeast base.

In case of constipation, it is important to water a child often. What can be given to the baby from drinking: freshly squeezed juices with pulp, compotes, morsels, pure water, kefir and curdled milk( you can sweeten them if the baby does not like the sour taste), herbal teas.

Do not give children carbonated drinks and drinks with flavors and dyes.

It should be remembered that nutrition with constipation in children should saturate the body with vitamins, minerals and substances that stimulate intestinal motility and help to produce enzymes responsible for feces formation.

Therefore, the diet should be a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, which the child does not have allergies.

Natural laxatives

If a balanced menu does not work, and the child continues to suffer from constipation even after the introduction of a dietary diet, it is necessary to give the child more powerful means.

Of course, medications are used in the treatment in the last place, it's worth starting with natural remedies that you can prepare yourself.

So, what to feed the child with constipation, when the diet does not help? There is a wonderful natural laxative that the baby will like for a sweet and unusual taste.

In the same proportion, dried apricots, prunes and figs are mixed and crushed.

To them is added a little ground walnut( for 200 g of the drug - 2 items of a spoonful of nuts), everything is mixed and poured with a small amount of honey.

You can store this product in a jar in the refrigerator and give your child 2-4 times a day for 1 tbsp. Spoon.

To make the baby more interesting to eat the medicine, it is possible to freeze the mixture in the freezer portionwise in foil, so that the candies turn out to be unique. They will serve not only as a medicine, but as a treat, especially if your child is a sweet tooth.

Aloe juice mixed with honey helps a lot from constipation. It should be given 1 teaspoonful 3 times a day. If the baby does not like the taste, then you can pour the juice of aloe in tea or compote.

What it is possible to give to drink to the child that the constipation passed as soon as possible? After consultation with a doctor, treatment with folk remedies is possible.

For example, phyto-tea made from fennel and currant leaves stimulates the intestinal peristalsis.

The buckthorn has a rather strong laxative effect - it can be used in case of strong constipation and the child's age is not less than 5 years.

When none of the listed products, including a diet, does not help, you need to go to a doctor. The pediatrician will prescribe tests( blood, urine, feces), conduct an examination and adjust the diet, if the situation so requires.

In addition, in extreme cases, the doctor can recommend an enema or prescribe medications. It is highly discouraged to decide on medication independently.