The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
Constipation in Kids is common and normal. Most of the times, you might miss out on the symptoms and signs if you are not keen with your little one.
Most kids when experiencing constipation will experience some pain in the toile and the common causes include early toilet training and changes in diet.
The good news is that most cases of constipation in children are temporary and the symptoms you must watch out for include:
1. Less than three bowel movements a week
2. Bowel movements that are hard, dry and difficult to pass
3. Large-diameter stools that may obstruct the toilet
4. Pain while having a bowel movement
5. Abdominal pain
6. Traces of liquid or clay-like stool in your child's underwear — a sign that stool is backed up in the rectum
7. Blood on the surface of a hard stool
Treatment
The good news is that constipation in children usually is not serious. However, chronic constipation may lead to complications or signal an underlying condition.
Take your child to a doctor if constipation lasts longer than two weeks.
Possible treatment includes;
1. A high-fibre diet with plenty of fluids
You have to load your child’s plate with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, high-fibre cereals, whole grain bread (look for at least 3-5 grams of fibre per serving), and a variety of beans and other legumes, like chickpeas and lentils.
However, your child needs to drink at least 1 litre of water daily for these products to work well.
2. A stool softener to clear the bowels
According to health experts, two common mistakes that parents make when giving their child a stool softener for constipation is not using a large enough dose or stopping it too soon.
For example, you might think that you can stop giving a stool softener after your child’s first normal-looking bowel movement, but stopping too soon may just set your child up for another bout of constipation.
Some children may need to stay on a stool softener for a few weeks. Your doctor can advise you on the right dosing schedule for your child.
3. Regular toilet time
Doctors say that it is important to encourage your child to use the toilet first thing in the morning and after every meal or snack.
Would you like to get published on Standard Media websites? You can now email us breaking news, story ideas, human interest articles or interesting videos on: [email protected]
join