Fighting Constipation

Once we become parents I am staggered with how much we start to appreciate basic bodily functions...from the REPULSIVE poop it becomes HOORAY poop!!  When children start to eat solids, they sometimes face a parent's worst nightmare; Constipation. As a parent our heart goes out to see our little baby struggle to get her stools out. Especially to see her tender face turn from baby pink to beetroot red only to see the waste matter play peekaboo! After an effort of hours and perhaps even a day or two, it is such a relief to see your baby have her bowel movement. With intelligent diet modifications, constipation can very well be prevented. These ideas have worked out well for my daughter. Hope they help you too.

1. Water

Check if your baby drinks enough water. Try feeding her few spoons of water after every meal or in between meals. If she drinks water in a sipper, keep the sipper in her view. So that, in case she gets thirsty, she can point the sipper to you or reach it herself. (Yes, but do remember to have an eye on her as she drinks water). Keeping your baby hydrated is very important especially during summers. 

2. Fruit Juices

Give your baby about 100 ml of fresh orange/sweet-lime juice (sans sugar that is) everyday. It is advised not to give your children any form of sugar that includes honey/jaggery/brown sugar/palm sugar until they turn one. Fruits like oranges/sweet-limes have good amounts of fiber that help in pushing the bowel out.

3. Fruits
Give at least a serving of fruits everyday. You can give her any fruit; apple/banana/pear in whatever form she likes. If your baby has just started to eat solids, it is a good idea to cook apple/pear and mash it well without lumps before feeding her. Always feed your baby fully ripe bananas (bananas that have black dots all over).

4. Vegetables
Vegetables are an important part of a child's diet. Mash the cooked carrots/beans/potatoes/any vegetable and give your baby at least two servings of veggies. Once your child is ready to eat finger foods, he will appreciate to eat those tiny pieces of cooked veggies all by himself.

Vegetables and fruits are not only rich in fiber but have good amount of required vitamins and minerals. Also, the sooner you introduce veggies/fruits the more the children will take to it.

5. Whole grains/Cereals
It is advised by many pediatricians to feed children whole grain/cereals cooked at home than to give them processed food. So include locally grown whole grains/cereals like Ragi, Broken wheat, Rice, Oats, Millets in the menu. Be creative, give your kids Porridge/Upma/Dosa/ or even cookies made out of them.

Ensure that after introducing solids children have a bowel movement everyday (most of the days, that is...they could have off days too!). If they haven't had a bowel movement for more than 24 hours, then give him more water/juice. Also, giving him 3-4 teaspoons of Prune puree does ease constipation.  I also give my daughter an extra helping of Oats porridge and it has always worked.

After all, as the old adage goes "You are what you eat"!! So inculcating good food habits right from childhood goes a long way in bringing up responsible adults.
Also, please feel free to share remedies that have worked for your kids!