How to Help Your Constipated Toddler   

Every parent always thought there was nothing worse than being constipated.  That was until they had a constipated toddler.  Having a constipated toddler is hard because it is uncomfortable for them, so they feel irritated and agitated, and there is nothing you can do but help them try to be patient while medication or natural remedies work.  The good news is that there are some simple things that you can do to help your constipated toddler. 

First, give them more water and natural fruit juices.  This will help to hydrate the body.  When people don’t get enough to drink the bowels are the first to suffer.  The stool will harden and it will be hard to pass.  When you give the toddler more water or juice you will help to flush out the system and get things moving again. 

Another thing you can do is provide your child with more fruits and vegetables with their skins still on.  Fruits and vegetables such as apples and pears are always good.  These fruits provide a lot of fiber that will keep the bowels moving.  These fruits are also full of liquid, so they’ll help to flush the body out well. 

Get your toddler moving to help cure the constipation.  Have your child run around, skip, jump rope or anything of the sort.  30 minutes of exercise a day will help to keep the bowels more regular.  Toddlers should be moving around this much anyway, but making a concerted effort to get the exercise in would definitely help to get things moving again. 

Make sure that your toddler is getting enough fiber.  While fruits and vegetables are a great source of fiber you can get it through other means, as well.  Granola bars are a great source of fiber and many children like them quite a bit.  In addition, you can feed them oatmeal, which will also help. 

Prunes and prune juice are known to be natural laxatives.  These will help your toddler begin to have normal bowel movements again within a couple days.  Many children actually enjoy prunes, so treat it like something special and you’ll find that they really do enjoy eating them and that it will help to relieve constipation. 

As you can see, there are a lot of easy ways in which you can help to relieve the discomfort of your constipated toddler.  Warm baths may also help to provide comfort.  If the constipation lasts more than a few days you may want to call the pediatrician and inquire about medication.