Constipation

This is such a common issue! Sometimes we don’t know that our children are constipated. Sometimes your child may refuse to eat their normal meals. Their stools may be small pebbles or large dry pieces. They may skip days before the next stool, or you may see them straining. Rarely you may see blood in the stool and toilet bowl.

There are a variety of causes including genetics (it tends to run in the family) but also environmental (food choices).

Some things you could try at home before considering a visit to discuss medications are changes in nutrition! Encourage your child to eat fruits as snacks and have vegetables in every meal. These are helpful fruits:

• papaya

• kiwi

• peach

• nectarine

• prunes

• juices such as apple, pear, grape, and prune

I still suggest avoiding bananas (depends how ripe it is) and grapes (constipation may be worse with skin on, constipation may improve if skin is peeled).

FIBER found in fruits and vegetables is important as well.

The AAP recommends FIVE servings of fruits and vegetables total a day. One way to know how much fiber is required a day is the age of your child in years plus 5-10 grams a day.

Here are foods that range from 2-8 grams of fiber per ½ to 1 cup, from most to least:

• Legumes: navy beans, lentils, black beans, chickpeas, baked beans (no salt added)

• Nuts: almonds, peanuts

• Fruits: avocado, apple with skin, prunes, pear with skin, peach with skin, raspberries, avocado, blueberries

• Legumes: navy beans, lentils, black beans, chickpeas, baked beans (no salt ad)

• Cooked vegetables: peas, green beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower

• Whole grains: whole wheat cereal, whole wheat bread

Read this Healthy Children article for more helpful information about constipation.