Constipated;anyone?
Gosh,there goes the Red Face again…I know this look which Abby has across her face.Its that ‘constipated’ time again!!Every parents nightmare coz somehow,we as parents Feel The Pain too:(.I’ve learnt through the months that this can be helped dietary….as below:
Treating Constipation with Dietary Modifications
The ultimate goal in treating constipation is for your child to have a soft bowel movement each day.
One of the main ways to prevent and treat constipation is by modifying your child’s diet. This includes
1)Decreasing foods that are constipating, including cow’s milk, bananas, yogurt, cheese, cooked carrots and other foods that are low in fiber.
2)For children that drink a lot of milk, soy milk is a good alternative, as it is usually much less constipating than cow’s milk.
3) Increasing the amount of fiber in your child’s diet. How much fiber does your child need? The usual recommendation is that children should have 5-6 grams of fiber plus their age in years each day. So a 4 year old should have 9-10 grams of fiber each day.
4)Learn to read nutrition labels to choose foods that are high in fiber. Fruits and vegetables, especially if they are raw and unpeeled, are good choices. Vegetables that are particularly high in fiber include beans, especially baked, kidney, navy, pinto and lima beans, sweet potatoes, peas, turnip greens and raw tomatoes.
5)Other foods that are good for children with constipation include vegetable soups (lots of fiber and added fluid), and popcorn. Extra bran can also be helpful, including bran cereals, bran muffins, shredded wheat, graham crackers, and whole wheat bread.
6)Increase the amount of fluids that your child is drinking. He should have a minimum of 2-3 glasses of water or fruit juices each day. Apple juice, pear and prune juice, or other juices high in sorbitol, are good choices.
