Constipation

This is such a common issue! Sometimes we don’t know that our children are constipated especially if they are not able to verbalize their symptoms. You may see stool described as small pebbles or large dry pieces. Sometimes you may see them refuse to eat their normal meals. You may see them skipping days before the next stool, or you may see straining. Sometimes you see blood in the stool.

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).