Parents May Need Guide To Toddler Constipation

The hardest part of dealing with a disorder in toddlers is recognizing it, as they cannot speak in order to let us know what hurts them. Toddlers express everything through actions and usually pain and discomfort through crying due to which reason the parents need to pay close attention to their baby, as every time he or she cries does not mean it is time for feeding or changing of the diapers.

Here are a few ways in which you can recognize toddler constipation and how to treat it for fast relief for your baby.

Diagnosing Toddler Constipation

Until your child learns how to talk you will need to learn how to understand his or her body language and signs. Toddler constipation can be easily diagnosed by parents, as an infant usually will pass at least two soft stools a day and any decrease in the amount for more then couple of days should be the first sign of constipation in your baby.

Another sign of toddler constipation is when the stool is hard and/or painful for your baby when it is being passed and the parents can observe that if the child is crying or cringing when passing the stool. If your baby does not have any bowel movement for the entire day, you should consider it as a sign of constipation and closely monitor your infant stool count.

Treating Toddler Constipation

An easy way to help with toddler constipation is massaging the stomach however, if the condition persists you may want to take a close look at the formula you are feeding your baby and probably change it to something that is digested easier. Depending on the age of your infant you can help with the constipation by administering fruits and vegetables that contain fiber such as spinach, apricots or prunes.

A natural effect that usually works well with toddlers suffering from constipation is warm baths, which relaxes the muscles and creates the natural reflexes to take their course.

If you are not sure what type of treatment is best for your toddler a visit to the doctor would help greatly, as he or she will be able to take into consideration all the facts involved such as, the formula you use, additional supplements administered to the baby, water and also its age.

Do not use drugs such as laxatives to treat a toddler's constipation without a prior examination from the baby's pediatrician, as they are usually too strong and you may cause more harm then benefit. Usually a slight change in the diet will help rectify your baby constipation problem and if medication may be required the doctor is the only qualified person to prescribe them.