Diet And Constipation Link For Young Children
“Dietary Considerations For Constipation In Newborn’s And Young Children”
Constipation is particularly common at 3 times in an infant and child’s life.
1 – after starting cereal and pureed foods ( the transition period from breast milk to formula or solid foods ).
2 – during toilet training.
3 – when starting school. All parents need to be particularly aware of these high-risk times.
Straining, a red face or crying during a bowel movement &/or dry, hard pellets usually indicates constipation.
A BM every 1 to 2 days does not indicate constipation if the stool is reasonably soft.
And aside from spinal subluxations at the T12 and L1 levels as we discussed last time, certain foods can contribute to constipation.
Newborns should have 4 soft/liquid BM’s per day during the 1st week.
After that, breast fed babies should have 3 soft BM’s per day. These should always be within 30 to 60 after feeding.
Formula fed infants typically have fewer BM’s as soy-based formulas and dairy-based formulas typically lead to harder BM’s.
Breast fed babies are rarely constipated.
If your baby is constipated and on formula, the only way to know for sure if the formula is the cause is to remove it from their diet.
By the age of 2 and onwards, your child should have 1 to 2 formed BM’s per day.
Older babies who are constipated: make sure they drink 2 to 4 oz of water per day (filtered).
Also 2 to 4 oz of fruit juice per day ( apple/prune/pear).
If your baby is eating solid foods and constipated, try pureed pears/prunes and try barley cereal instead of rice cereal. Water and juice intake is always part of a well-balanced diet including whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables.
Always avoid fast foods, refined foods and processed foods.
There is nothing good with any of them!
A water-based lubricant around the anus can help with the passage of hard stools.
And this is worth repeating … a lot of children are unable to process the protein in cow’s milk which can lead to major digestive upset including constipation. Contrary to what you have been told, dairy is not good for the human body. So milk, cheese, yogurt and ice-cream need to be removed from your child’s diet.
Of course, symptoms such as infrequent and/or unusually large BM’s, poor appetite, weight loss, severe pain, vomiting and rectal bleeding require immediate medical attention and you have to get in to see your family doc right away.
More on this next time but in the meantime if you have any questions on this topic or any other health concerns you or your family may have, please give us a call at 905 335 LIFE (5433).
Or you can email us. The contact information can be found on our home page.
Remember that consultations are always free of charge and family appointments are always available.
Why? … because subluxations and spinal problems tend to run in families.
Life Chiropractic … helping families just like yours build vibrant, healthy, drug-free lives for over 25 years in Burlington.
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