5 Ways to prevent constipation in your toddler

Constipation in young children is often triggered by dietary changes (for example, when your toddler starts eating solids), a change of routine, or even certain medications. 

“Toilet training issues and withholding the need to go to the bathroom are also common causes of constipation,” adds Sister Marina Sumners, a nursing practitioner at Clicks Soneike. 

And, if you have a family history of constipation, your child may also be susceptible to the condition. 

How do you know if your toddler is constipated?

Every child is different, so one child might go to the bathroom once a day or even once every couple of days, while another might need to go several times a day. 

If you find that your toddler is going fewer than three times per week, that they’re experiencing pain while passing a stool, and that their stool is hard and dry, they are likely constipated. If your toddler is constipated, you may find that they develop a fear of going to the bathroom. 

What you can do

Since constipation is usually triggered by diet, it’s a good idea to ensure your toddler’s diet is varied, by including foods that encourage the digestive system to move along. 

These include prunes or prune juice, berries, broccoli, avocado, peaches, pears, mango and lentils, to name just a few. Drinking extra fluids can also help. 

How to prevent constipation 

Follow these tips, provided by Sr Sumners, to help prevent constipation from occurring in the first place:

1.    Increase your child’s consumption of non-dairy fluids such as prune juice, apple juice (which contains pectin to stimulate the digestive system) and water. Cow’s milk is one of the most common causes of constipation. 
2.    Include fibre-rich foods in your little one’s diet – think Bran flakes, wholegrain breads, fruit, and veggies, including broccoli, peas and beans. 
3.    Cut back on foods that have a ‘binding’ effect – such as bananas, yoghurt, cheese and large quantities of other dairy products. 
4.    If your child is constipated, encourage them to move their body to help move things along – get them to run around, jump and sit in a crouching position for a while. You can also ask your toddler to lie down on their back and then massage their tummy or move their legs in a bicycle motion to help ease constipation. 
5.    “Make toilet training ‘fun’, without stress,” advises Sr Sumners. Use reward charts with stickers, sing a song and praise your toddler after they've successfully used the potty. 

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