Constipation,Age 11 and Younger - Prevention

Diet

A nonconstipating diet is the best way to prevent constipation. If constipation develops, a nonconstipating diet will help restore normal bowel movements.

For babies younger than 12 months:

Breast-feed your baby. Constipation is rare in breast-fed babies.
Make sure you are adding the correct amount of water to your baby's formula.
For babies ages 6 to 12 months, give an extra 2fl oz of water twice a day. Instead of water, you can add 2fl oz to 4fl oz of fruit juice, such as grape, pear, apple, or cherry juice, twice a day.
Make sure to add only one new food at a time, and watch for signs of an allergic reaction or food intolerance.

For children age 12 months and older:

Make sure your child is drinking enough fluids. When the weather gets hot or when your child is getting more exercise, make sure he or she is drinking more fluid.
Add high-fiber foods.
- Add at least 2 servings of fruit, such as apricots, peaches, pears, raisins, figs, prunes, dates, and other dried fruits, each day.
- Add at least 3 servings of vegetables, such as cooked dried beans or peas (legumes), broccoli, or cauliflower, each day.
- Children older than 4 years may be offered unbuttered, unsalted popcorn as a snack. To avoid choking, do not offer popcorn to children who are younger than 4.
Increase whole-grain foods, such as bran flakes, bran muffins, graham crackers, oatmeal, brown rice, and whole wheat bread. Offer your child whole wheat bread instead of white bread.
Make sure your child is not eating or drinking too many servings of dairy products. At age 1, a child needs 4 servings a day. Dairy products such as milk, ice cream, cheese, or yogurt can cause constipation when a child has too many servings in one day. One serving size of a dairy product is:
- ¾ cup (6 oz) of milk.
- 1 oz of cheese.
Set a good example for your child by drinking plenty of fluids and eating a high-fiber diet.

Toilet training

Constipation sometimes becomes a problem when children start toilet training:

Encourage your child to go when he or she feels the urge. The bowels send signals when a stool needs to pass. If your child ignores the signal, the urge will go away, and the stool will eventually become dry and difficult to pass.
Set aside relaxing times for having bowel movements. Urges usually occur sometime after meals. Establishing a daily routine for bowel movements, such as after breakfast, may help.
Make sure your child has good foot support while he or she is on the toilet. This will help flex your child's hips and place the pelvis in a more normal "squatting" position for having a bowel movement.
Make sure your child gets plenty of exercise throughout the day. Set a good example for your child by following healthy routines of eating, exercising, and going to the toilet.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: November 03, 2008

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.