Parents of Preschoolers  Discussion Forum

My daughter who is 2.6 yrs old,suddenly has developed an aversion to passing stools.Once last months she was constipated and from then on she abstains from passing stools.
She suffers by sitting and pressurises herself from not doing it.I feel very pained seeing all this.My paedatrician asked us to give her milk of magnesia every 3 days for 1 month yet noty much use...she yells when ii take her to the bathroom
any pointers? Kavi replied. Hi Uma,

I'm sailing in the same boat! It's exactly the same situation with me and my 3and 7 months old daughter. She never had this problem, but i think it's due to the change of climate and heat. Her Dr. said that it might be due to any intake new food. Check with her menu, give her more fibre foods and cut starchy food especially white bread. The best way to prevent constipation is to drink enough water, ensure a high fiber diet and enough exercise.

Here are some info that will be useful for u,

Constipation(home remedies):
Fruits
Bananas help remedy constipation as it is a mild laxative. Eat a ripe banana or two (skin must be yellow) in between meals. Green bananas are constipating and should be avoided. Generally, bananas should not be eaten in combination with milk or other foods.
Papaya is also good remedy for constipation.
Black Raisins : Soak 5-10 (depending on your constitution) black raisins overnight and eat them in the morning. This regularises bowel movement.
Raisins (a handful everyday an hour after meal) and prunes are also effective.
For constipation in children give figs (around 3) soaked in warm water.
Milk and Ghee
Having 1 – 2 tsp of ghee in hot milk at bedtime is a gentle but effective remedy for constipation. However, if you are prone to cold, this remedy should not be used regularly. This remedy is also recommended for children who suffer from constipation or hard stools.

Symptoms
Following are the signs that indicate the presence of this ailment:
• No bowel movements at least once a day
• Pain in the abdomen
• Heaviness in the stomach
• Wind formation
• Mucus coated tongue
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Pain in the lower legs
• Hypertension, fever
• Nausea
• Vertigo
• Palpitation
• Drowsiness
Causes
The aggravation of vata causes constipation. Improper eating habits including eating a lot of food, eating food which is difficult to digest (such as meat) and not eating enough vegetables and salads also lead to constipation.

Irregular sleeping habits or emotional disturbances (stress, grief, fear or worry) are other causes for the obstruction of the passage of stool, accumulation of toxins in the colon or excessive stimulation of the nervous system.

Smoking, consuming too much tea and coffee, or intake of prescription or illicit drugs can also cause constipation.

Remedies
• Drinking a glass of warm milk before going to bed helps in easy evacuation in the morning. In case of severe constipation, mix two teaspoons of castor oil in the milk.
• Drink one liter of warm water and walk around for a few minutes immediately after waking up early in the morning.
• Drinking lemon juice mixed with warm water two to three times a day eases constipation.
• One or two teaspoons of aloe gel can be taken twice a day.
• A common Ayurvedic medicine for constipation is Triphala Churna. It is a powder made by grinding three kinds of herbs. A teaspoon of this powder taken with warm water or milk at the time going to bed is beneficial.
Dos and don'ts
• The diet taken during constipation must be easily digestible.
• Plenty of fruits, vegetables and salads
• Freshly cooked food, and chew food thoroughly.
• Eat only when hungry and maintain at least 4 hours between meals.
• Use spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric powder, fennel and asafetida as they make the food easy to digest.
• Whole grain bread and cereals
• Regular physical exercise is also important for maintaining proper bowel movements.
• Sleeping hours should be regulated and efforts should be made to have a sound sleep.
• Fried foods, beans, gas forming vegetables like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, nuts and dried fruits should be avoided.
• Do not mix too many kinds of foods in one meal.

• Soak one date (seed removed) overnight in half a cup of water. In the morning mash the date with water and remove the pulp. Dosage: One teaspoon of this water three or four times a day.
• Regular use of this mixture helps cure constipation.

Dos and don'ts
• Infants: Increase the sugar and water content in the diet (e.g.: One teaspoon of honey)
• Children: More green vegetables, milk, raisins and fruits like papaya, orange, grapes and figs in the diet.
• Do not take the child in the lap, instead put her in a cradle (if newborn)
• Allow the baby to move her hands and feet.
• Older children: Keep them active.
• Do not allow children to watch TV or play indoor games, encourage them to play outdoors.

Prune juice also works well. you can try giving her 3- 5 tsp and see if it works. Whenever u prepare any food with root veg add apinch of asafoetida for easy digestion.

I'm following some of these, except for the Ayurvedic medicine and she's feeling better. And most of all don't punish her for not passing stools or for wetting her under pants or so.

Hope this helps you! Don't worry, i know how it feels, but by following the above you will surely can make her feel better soon!

Good Luck and Take care!




troubledmom replied. I am at