| Constipation in toddlers
Question : MY two-year-old baby girl has been suffering from
constipation and has lost her appetite. She only passes motion every two
days. The stools are hard and heavy. What can I do to improve her bowel
movements?
Answer : GENERALLY, if the bowel movement is fewer than three
times in a week or the bowel movement is regular but the stool is hard or
difficult to pass, it is defined as constipated. Symptoms that accompany
constipation include bloating, loss of appetite, mild nausea, indigestion,
headaches, a coated tongue, tiredness and bad breath.
Chronic constipation can affect health as the waste remains in the
intestines for excessive periods, causing toxins to be formed and absorbed
into the body. Constipation happens at all age groups. The underlying causes
include lack of fibre in the diet, a high intake of refined carbohydrates
and inadequate fluid intake.
If your baby is having a continuous constipation problem, consider
changing her milk to one of soya. Increase her intake of whole grains, fresh
vegetables and fruits, which are rich in fibre. Dark green leafy vegetables,
papaya, prunes, wheat bran and oat bran are all the effective natural
sources that help enhance bowel movement. Give her more water as this helps
to soften the stools, making them easier to move through the
gastrointestinal tract.
You may supplement her diet with two clinically proven strains of
friendly bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus 5 (LA5) and Bifidobacterium
lactis 12 (BB12). Probiotics help to break down food, thus reducing stomach
discomfort, improve absorption of nutrients and improve appetite.
Probiotics also helps to strengthen the immune system of children to
prevent infection and atopic conditions such as asthma, skin rashes and
digestive problems. |
