DIET FOR A CHILD WITH CONSTIPATION

For practical purposes, constipation is defined as painful defecation, infrequent defection(2 or fewer defecation per week), or both.

Nearly 30% of children suffer from constipation, which accounts for 3-5% of visits to the pediatrician.90% of childhood constipation cases are functional constipation(without any underlying organic disease).

Chronic constipation in a child can cause

recurrent abdominal pain
poor appetite
anal fissure
loss of school days
intestinal obstruction(rarely) etc.

Your pediatrician may have prescribed you a stool softener for constipation. But, medication alone is not sufficient. You need some change in your diet. And, do proper toilet training(I will discuss this in a separate post).

In this post, we will be discussing the changes in diet.

If your child has constipation then, you need to increase a few foods in his/her diet & decrease/omit a few food items.

INCREASE

1. WATER– check if your child is drinking enough water. Do not calculate fruit juice / or other liquid drink as water. JUST PLAIN WATER.

Water requirement calculation-

1st 10 kg- 100ml/kg

10-20 kg- 50 ml/kg

20 kg- 20 ml/kg

So, water is required for a 28 kg child- 1000*10+1000*50+20*8=1660 ml in 24 hours.

2. FRUITS– most fruits are rich in sucrose or sorbitol(a natural laxative). make sure that your child eats fruits daily. best fruits to ease constipation are-

Apple (with peel)

Watermelon

Pears

Guava

Orange

Papaya

Pomegranate

Prune juice

Not all fruits help to relieve constipation. Some may cause it: example-unripe bananas (ripe ones relieve constipation) and unripe persimmon.

3. FIBER– One of the main reasons for constipation is not eating enough fiber-rich foods. Fibers in diet bulk up the stool volume. Also, they soften the hard stool. the best fiber-containing food for children are-

FRUITS-Most fruits are rich in fiber. For example- apples, avocados, raspberries, ripe bananas, guava, dates, etc.

Sprouted whole grains

Pulses

Beans

Oats

Roti/Bread( made of atta/flour)

Sweet potato

Whole wheat pasta

Green peas

Vegetables- spinach, broccoli, etc.

DECREASE/AVOID

1. MILK &MILK PRODUCTS– One of the most common dietary factors contributing to constipation in children. Overnight stoppage of milk products is not possible in most children. You should gradually decrease its portion in daily food.