Constipation

Constipation

What is constipation?  Normal bowel movements vary widely from 3 times a day to once every 2 days.  Constipation is suspected when there is no bowel movement for 10 minutes after straining/pushing and/or your child cries or complains of pain when passing a stool.  Once children are on normal table foods, their stool pattern is like adults.  

Causes of Constipation

  • High milk diet
  • Low fiber diet
  • Less fluid intake
  • Lack of exercise
  • Holding back stools because of pain or poor bowel habits or avoiding public toilets
  • Slow passage of food through the intestines – most often, this type runs in families & the condition is called Slow Transit Constipation

Treatment

  • Diet for Infants Under 1 Year Old :
    1. Age over 1 month old who is on breast milk or formula – add pear or apple juice or fruit juice
    2. Age over 4 months: add baby foods such as peas, beans, apricots, prune, peaches, pears, or plums, i.e. high fiber foods twice a day.
  • Diet for Age Over 8 months Old:
    1. On finger foods – add cereals and small pieces of fresh fruit
  • Diet for Children Over 1 Year Old:
    1. Increase fruit juice (apple, pear, cherry, grape, prune)
    2. Add fruits and vegetables high in fiber content such as peas, beans, broccoli, bananas, apricots, peaches, pears, figs, prunes, or dates
    3. Increase whole grain foods
    4. Limit milk products to 3 servings per day
  • For holding habit;
    1. Use rewards to help your child give up this bad habit
    2. Treats and hugs always work better
    3. Avoid any pressure or punishment
    4. Encourage Sitting on the Toilet and Set up a normal stool routine
    5. Have your child sit on the toilet for 10 minutes after meals
  • Stool Softeners (Age Over 1 Year Old):
    1. If a change in diet doesn’t help, child may benefit from stool softener such as MiraLax or Fiber products such as Benefiber

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Constipation lasts more than 1 week after making changes to diet
  • You think your child needs to be seen
  • Your child symptoms becomes worse

Epic Urgent and Family Care serves the following neighborhoods and zip code for constipation.

Neighborhoods we serve: Palatine, Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Inverness, Barrington, South Barrington, Rolling Meadows, Wheeling, Prospect Heights, Deerfield, Mount Prospect, Lake Zurich, Glenview, Vernon Hills, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Downers Grove

ZIP Codes we serve: 60004, 60074, 60010, 60011, 60005, 60007, 60008, 60015, 60016, 60018, 60025, 60047, 60061, 60062, 60067, 60656, 60089, 60090, 60106, 60107, 60169, 60192, 60193

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