Causes of constipation in infants and young children
Constipation in infants and young children is a common but troublesome problem. Constipation usually refers to difficulty in defecation, long defecation time, dry and hard stool, or difficulty in defecation. This condition is more common in infants and young children than in the general population. So, what are the causes of constipation problem? The following reasons may affect constipation in infants and young children:
Bad eating habits: The so-called bad eating habits refer to the lack of fiber in the food eaten by children; children eating irregularly or eating too messily, etc. This condition occurs most commonly in infants and young children. If your child has loose stools while breastfeeding and suddenly becomes constipated after switching to formula, it may be a problem caused by his eating habits.
Lack of exercise: If infants and young children lack exercise, they are also prone to constipation. This situation is relatively rare, but if the child spends most of the time sitting in a chair or lying flat on the bed, then you need to guide and help the child in time to perform some exercises suitable for infants and young children.
Excessive use of painkillers or antibiotics: These drugs can affect the gastrointestinal system and may change the child\’s intestinal flora. Therefore, long-term use of these drugs in children can also cause constipation.
How to solve the problem of constipation in infants and young children?
When a child has constipation, how do parents solve the problem? The following methods may be useful for relieving constipation.
Increase fiber intake: Children need to eat a certain amount of fiber to help them produce lubricants, making the feces in the intestines less likely to dry and harden. Parents can give their children more fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and bread.
Establish good defecation habits: Let children go to the toilet regularly, while letting them feel fresh, so that the intestines can eliminate garbage in time. Parents can accompany their children to help them get used to sitting on the toilet and slowly develop good defecation habits.
Appropriate exercise: Exercise is very good for relieving constipation. It can speed up intestinal peristalsis and make defecation smoother. Of course, for infants and young children, the amount and method of exercise must be controlled so that they cannot be injured or easily cause other problems.
Other matters that need attention
When solving the problem of constipation in infants and young children, parents also need to pay attention to the following points.
Avoid foods with strong flavors: Such foods may affect your child\’s gastrointestinal digestion and cause constipation and other problems.
Do not force children to defecate: Sometimes, parents may force their children to defecate in order to relieve their children\’s constipation problem. This practice may cause the child to feel disgusted and increase difficulty in defecation.
Eat a balanced diet: A balanced diet is very important for the growth of your child. The quality of physical fitness directly affects the physical and mental health of children.
Summary
Parents must pay attention to the problem of constipation in infants and young children. When a child has constipation, the first thing to do is to find the cause of the problemreasons so that one day the problem can be solved. In the meantime, parents can also try the solutions mentioned above. Of course, during this process, we should also pay attention to some matters that require special attention. In general, establishing good living habits is of great significance to the healthy development of children\’s physical and mental health.
