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Natural Cures for Pediatric Constipation

Children who are old enough to eat solid food and go more than three days without a bowel movement may be constipated. Pediatric constipation has many causes such as not eating enough fiber, lack of exercise, not drinking enough liquid, improper potty training and fear of painful eliminations.

  1. Diet

    • Give babies over two months of age apple juice daily to add fiber to the diet. Babies over four months old can eat high-fiber strained food like cereal, prunes, beans or spinach every day. Children older than one year should eat vegetables or fruits three times a day. These children can also begin eating foods high in bran such as bran muffins, bran flakes, oatmeal, graham crackers and brown rice. Feed your child a diet rich in fiber to treat constipation and prevent it from returning. Offer raw fruits and vegetables as snacks between meals. Chop up and hide cooked vegetables in spaghetti sauce or meatloaf. Fruit juice can increase the fiber in the digestive tract so it passes through easier. Reduce foods that are known to cause constipation such as cheese, yogurt and other dairy products.

    Potty Training

    • If your child's constipation seems to coincide with attempts at potty training, go back to diapers for a while. Withholding stools may be your child's way of saying he is not ready to use the potty. Forcing potty training rarely works and may start a bout with constipation that is tough to break. When your child shows interest in the potty, help him learn to use it by sitting him on the potty after each meal for about 10 minutes.

    Stool Softeners

    • Ask your doctor before giving a child stool softeners, laxatives or suppositories. Glycerin suppositories may be helpful but should not be used frequently or your child may have difficulty moving his bowels without one. These work by stimulating the bowels and lubricating the rectum for easier elimination. Stool softeners like Citrucel and Metamucil are not as harsh as laxatives and can be used by older children. Over-the-counter laxatives should not be given to children without medical advice.

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