Treat constipation in children and babies safely

Children are quite often affected by constipation. Seeing a fussy child because his stomach hurts but has difficulty defecating will make you very worried. So, how do you deal with constipation in children? Is there any constipation medicine for children that is safe to drink? Come on, find out the answer below.

How to deal with constipation in children

The causes of constipation in children range from not eating enough fiber because they don't like to eat vegetables and fruit, don't like drinking water, the habit of holding back bowel movements, to signs of other health problems.

Well, detecting what is most likely to cause constipation can be a benchmark for you and your doctor to find the best way to deal with difficult bowel movements in children.

Here are some of the most basic ways to help you deal with constipation in children at home.

1. Monitor food intake

The best way to deal with constipation in children is to adjust their diet and choose the right foods to help relieve constipation symptoms.

You can add apples and pears to your daily diet. Both of these fruits contain sorbitol, which is sugar that works like a constipation medicine for children. In addition, this fruit also contains pectin fiber and the enzyme actinidain, which can soften stool and stimulate faster bowel movements.

Besides being eaten directly, children can also enjoy the fruit in the form of juice. In order for the total fiber to be much more, the skin of the fruit does not need to be peeled. However, make sure that the fruit is thoroughly washed.

You can also add vegetables such as broccoli and peas to increase fiber intake. Balance ways to deal with constipation in children by drinking more water so that dietary fiber can be maximized in softening the stool.

2. Avoid foods that trigger constipation

The next way to deal with constipation in children that you can choose is to avoid certain foods. This method is very effective for relieving and preventing constipation in children who have allergies, intolerances, Crohn's disease, or Celiac disease.

Here are some lists of foods that are generally avoided, including:

• Dairy-based or lactose-based foods, such as packaged milk, cookies, chocolate, cheese, or ice cream.
• Foods that contain gluten, such as bread or pasta
• Foods that contain wheat, barley (barley), or rye (rye)

It is possible that your little one also shows symptoms of constipation in other foods that are not mentioned above. So, consult your doctor further.

3. Exercise potty training

If you suspect the cause of your child's constipation is the habit of holding back bowel movements, do the exercises potty training. The habit of holding back bowel movements causes feces to be stuck in the large intestine. As a result, the feces become drier, denser, and difficult to pass.

You can do how to deal with constipation in children with the following steps:

• Teach children to convey the desire to urinate in easy language.
• Teach your little one to open his own pants.
• Prepare equipment, such as a special toilet seat for potty training, tissue, and others.
• Make a schedule for your little one to urinate, for example in the morning after waking up or after eating.

Teaching children how to deal with constipation is sometimes not easy. In fact, it can also stress him out, and ultimately worsen constipation. If you have trouble, consult a doctor or child psychologist to help you.

Safe drug choices to treat constipation in children

If the method above does not work for constipation in children, take your little one to the doctor. Do not allow this condition because the symptoms can worsen, even more at risk of causing complications.

The doctor will most likely prescribe constipation medication for the child. This is a great way to relieve constipation in children who do not prescribe home care.

Constipation medications that doctors usually prescribe to relieve constipation are stool softeners or stimulants. Stool softeners work by drawing more water into the intestines so that the stool that had dried out is softer.

While stimulant drugs work by stimulating the intestines to move faster so that clogged stool can be pushed into the anus.

More specifically, the drugs that doctors usually prescribe to treat constipation in children include:

Docusate (Coloxyl)

Docusate belongs to the class of stool softeners. That is why, during treatment your little one should drink lots of water because the body needs more water to soften dry stool.

Although rare, this drug can still cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.

Sennoside B (Senokot)

Drugs belonging to the class of stimulant drugs are made from the senna plant. Children under the age of 6 years are not allowed to take this sennoside B drug, unless the doctor gives the green light.

Side effects that may occur in children include diarrhea and stomach cramps or cramps. Your little one's urine will also be red. However, you don't need to worry because the color will return to normal after using the drug is stopped.

Lactulose (Laevolac)

Just like docusate, lactulose belongs to the class of stool softeners. According to the National Health Service, this drug should not be given to children under 14 years of age, unless a doctor has prescribed it.

This constipation medicine for children is available in the form of a sweet syrup. The side effect of this drug is continuing to waste water, aka diarrhea.

Each child responds differently after treatment. This can be affected by the severity of the condition and its causes.

Therefore, doctor's help is sometimes needed to treat constipation that is felt by children. During treatment, follow the doctor's rules and instructions, especially in using constipation drugs for children.

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