If your baby goes days or even a week without a bowel movement, that’s not a cause for alarm. However, if you think your baby is constipated, you’ll need a bit of help in dealing with the situation.

Know the Signs

Familiarize yourself with the signs. If your child shows the following symptoms, then your toddler may be constipated. Make sure to consult with a pediatrician about on toddler constipation treatments right away.

  • Dry and hard stools
  • Pain on passing stools
  • Blood streaks along the sides of the stool
  • Abdominal pain
  • Infrequent passing of stools
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Doing dancelike movements
  • Standing on tiptoes
  • Rocking back and forth trying to alleviate stomach upset

Hydrate Your Child

One way to prevent constipation in your child is to keep child hydrated. Go with water for your kid’s main source of hydration and keep juices to a minimum. Aside from fluids, vegetables and fruits can also improve hydration.

Improve Your Child’s Diet

Increase the grains and fiber content in your child’s diet. Kids about one to three years of age should be taking in about 19 grams of fiber a day. Adding vegetables and fruits to your toddler’s meals should is also a good idea.

Restrict Certain Foods

Limit your child’s intake of foods low in fiber. Ice cream, chips, and cheese, along with many types of processed foods, fall into this category. Swap them out with foods that have high fiber content.

Encourage Your Baby

Always ask your child if he wants to use the bathroom during potty training. This will help make your child feel comfortable about using the bathroom and can encourage regular bowel movements.

Read Up on the Problem

Constipation in toddlers can be caused by several things. It can be the result of your baby’s diet. If your child loves to play, he may develop a habit of holding it in. Some kids, on the other hand, are embarrassed and afraid to use the toilet. Medication, lack of exercise, illness, and a change in routine or location are also possible factors. Knowing what the common reasons are can help you determine the reasons for your child’s constipation.

Consult a Doctor

If you see the signs that your baby is suffering from constipation, see your doctor as soon as possible. The problem isn’t severe, but taking your time in seeing a pediatrician hurt your child’s health. The constipation may be hiding another condition. It’s best to check instead of going for home remedies. Contact one of our pediatricians at Pediatrix to know more about toddler constipation care.