The article will figure out what to give children from constipation.
Intestinal dysfunction can occur at any age, including even young children. For constipation in infants, for example, you need to choose a safe and mild laxative. Constipation is a case in which the disorder is better prevented by observing the simple principles of dietary nutrition, rather than treating it with medication. If you organize a healthy lifestyle and the right diet, stool disorders will not appear. Each parent should know what to give children from constipation.
In what situations does the child need a laxative?
For children, laxatives are indicated for impaired intestinal emptying. The child normally does not experience difficulties with this. With the right diet and physical activity, adequate age, defecation in the baby goes without problems. An exception is cases in which constipation indicates other diseases. In such a situation, the child must be shown to a pediatrician or gastroenterologist who will establish the cause of the digestive disorder and prescribe treatment.
What is constipation?
Constipation is a lack of stool longer than 2-3 days. Many parents are interested in what can give a monthly child from constipation. Before giving a child medicines, you need to evaluate the correctness of the organization of his diet. Breast-fed infants may not have stools for up to two days, which is normal because breast milk is fully absorbed. Artists suffer from constipation more often, so if necessary, change the mixture and observe the drinking regimen. What to give a newborn baby from constipation? For newborns, a laxative is used when all other methods of establishing stool have been tried: the mother’s diet has been adjusted, the mixture has been replaced with one in which there are prebiotics and probiotics that contribute to the growth of healthy microflora.
A laxative may be given by parents on their own at one time, consultation with a pediatrician is not required. If the child has persistent constipation, it should be shown to a specialist. Stool may be absent due to impaired development or pathology of the gastrointestinal tract. Some diseases, such as intestinal obstruction, do not allow the use of laxatives.
Therefore, it is so important to know what to give children from constipation and when it should not be done.
Types of laxatives
Any drug solves the problem only once. For fast and successful treatment of constipation, it is necessary to determine the cause of the defect in intestinal functioning and eliminate it.
Laxative drugs have different principles of action. They are divided into osmotic, irritating and probiotics.
A specialist - a gastroenterologist or pediatrician, decides which type is suitable for a particular child. It must be remembered that with regular intake (4-5 times), the drug can lead to overgrowth in chronic constipation and weakening of the intestines, and therefore long-term use is not allowed.
What can a child be given from constipation?
Annoying
The mechanism of functioning of irritating constipation drugs is the effect on intestinal receptors. They are among the fast-acting drugs - the effect will not take long. It is undesirable to use such remedies for nursing mothers, pregnant women and children, since they are quite aggressive, often cause side effects. Their use is impossible for diseases of the rectum, constipation due to intestinal spasm, hemorrhoids, inflammatory pathologies of the genitourinary system. The maximum duration of the use of irritating agents is no longer than ten days.
What else to give children from constipation?
Osmotic
Osmotic type drugs contribute to the drawing of fluid into the intestines, liquefaction of the mass of feces. Due to its hardness, the body is not able to normally remove from the body.
Similar laxatives are used both in the treatment of constipation and before the endoscopic examination. This group of drugs is not addictive, but a long course (longer than three months) disrupts the water-salt balance and dehydrates the body. Drinking should be combined with the intake of a large volume of water. Also, laxatives with an osmotic mechanism of action are not used for diseases of the heart system and blood vessels.
What can be given to a child from constipation is better to find out in advance.
Probiotics Laxatives
Laxatives containing probiotics are great for the baby. These are light preparations that contribute to the restoration of intestinal microflora. However, their effect is noticeable only after 1.5-2 days after administration. Children's laxatives with probiotics are: “Hilak-Forte” (drops), “Prelax Baby” (powder), “Dufalac”.
They can be used for a long time, unlike other laxatives, up to three months. At first, excessive gas may appear, which passes a few days after taking the drug. A contraindication to taking such a group of drugs is intolerance to the composition, including lactose. Just on its basis, many soft medicines for children have been produced.
What to give the baby from constipation?
Soft preparations for children by age categories
Children's laxatives are selected on the recommendation of a doctor. The list of the best drugs for infants and newborns with a gentle laxative effect includes:
- Means based on lactulose are effective and safe, are allowed for use from birth. The enzymes contained in this substance are similar to those found in mother's milk. The drugs do not contribute to addiction, form a normal microflora and carefully cleanse the intestines. These include: Dufalac, Lactusan, Lactulose, Lizalac, Lactuvit, Normase.
- What else can you give a newborn baby for constipation? Enema "Microlax". Thanks to sodium salts in this composition, feces soften, intestinal emptying is facilitated already within 5-15 minutes after use. The drug can be used from birth.
- “Glycerin” and “Glycelax” are rectal suppositories. The active component glycerol helps to soften the mass of feces, helps to remove them from the intestines, without causing irritation. The effect of the drug is noticeable in just ten minutes. It is allowed to use from the age of three months. There are other laxatives for children in the form of candles - petrolatum, sea buckthorn.
- “Forlax” is an osmotic agent; it binds water in the intestine and facilitates its emptying. Used for children from six months to eight years of age.
Older children
For older children, medications in the form of tablets or drops can be used:
- "Guttalax" and analogues ("Slabikap", "Laksigal", "Guttasil") with the active substance sodium picosulfate. The effect will be obtained eight hours after application. Drops can be given to children from the age of four. Also, drugs are available in the form of tablets and are characterized by an osmotic effect.
- Senade is a natural pill-based remedy based on an extract of senna leaves. In addition, after 8-10 hours it causes a laxative effect. Up to six years of age is contraindicated. Gradually, the body gets used to it, so for children it can only be used as an emergency way.
What to give a monthly child from constipation, now we know. How else can you help the baby?
Enemas
The use of enemas in the treatment of children is not justified in all cases, since this method has many contraindications. Most often, the use of safer products and dietary correction do a great job with the problem of intestinal emptying.
If there is no possibility of another solution to the issue, and parents decide at home to give the baby an enema, you need to do it right. Up to a year, fifty milliliters of liquid is enough for children, up to six to seven years, three hundred milliliters. Fluid temperature is approximately 27 degrees. Chamomile broth or plain water is used. Aggressive liquids with soap or salt are not allowed to be used, as this will cause intestinal irritation in the baby.
In the pharmacy you can buy a microclyster in the finished form - "Normacol", which is allowed for use from the age of three. Its action begins within half an hour after use. It must be remembered that when applying microclysters and enemas, you should drink plenty of water so that the body does not dehydrate.
What to give the child in 1 month from constipation from folk remedies?
Folk remedies
Alternative methods are also used in the treatment of childhood constipation. Before using them, consult a specialist. The effect of herbs on the child’s body has not been studied, and it is forbidden to experiment with children's health - there is a high probability of obtaining an unexpected result.
You can not use folk remedies for allergic reactions in a child, since many natural components are strong allergens.
Upon receipt of a doctor’s permission to use alternative medicine, it is recommended to give the child one-component formulations in order to notice and eliminate allergies in time.
You can not give small patients decoctions with buckthorn and hay. It is better to add prunes or beets to their diet, which are very weak and resolved from nine months. If the baby is breastfed, then the inclusion of these products in the diet of the mother is enough.
What to give a child with constipation in 2 years? With constipation, dry peas are crushed into powder, the child is given a little less than a teaspoon. This folk remedy is used only at an older age, its effect is noticeable immediately.
Flaxseed oil, which is taken half a teaspoon per day, helps a lot. It will enrich the children's body with Omega-6 and Omega-3 oils.
The next, often used, folk remedy is a bar of soap, which is inserted into the anus of the child. But you need to remember that it will not only provoke bowel movements due to irritation of the intestines, but also give the child severe discomfort. It is better not to use such methods, because on the pharmacy shelves there is an extensive assortment of comfortable and safe products.
What foods to give a child with constipation?
Diet
The most important component of preventing constipation in children is dieting. If you make adjustments to the diet of the child, then you can completely normalize his stool. To do this, you must:
- drink enough liquid, preferably plain water without additives and sweeteners;
- so that every day in the diet should be soup, mainly boiled in vegetable broths;
- must include muesli, buckwheat and oatmeal in the menu;
- eat bread without yeast, with seeds and bran;
- eat raw vegetables - cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, etc .;
- consume fruits that help normalize stool help - melon, watermelon, pears, apples, etc .;
- that fermented milk products (yoghurts, fermented baked milk, kefir) should be on the table every day without fail;
- there are dried fruits (dried apricots, raisins, prunes) in any form - unprocessed, in dishes, in compote;
- introducing complementary foods to a baby no earlier than six months in accordance with WHO recommendations (for constipation in a child, it is better to start with mashed vegetables).
Features of complementary foods for constipation
The fluid in the body holds fiber well, helping to soften stool and making it easier to remove. That is why from an early age it is possible to solve the problem of constipation with the help of fruits and vegetables, as well as increasing the content of vegetable oil. Feeding can begin with cauliflower, broccoli, zucchini, if the child often had hard and sparse stools.
The mildest laxative product is prunes. When feeding baby you can give mashed potatoes from it.
Beetroot, carrot and plum juices diluted with water will help to solve the problem.
When complementary foods are introduced, the child should drink at least fifty milliliters of fluid with each meal.
Any new product must be introduced gradually, with a small amount. Several at the same time should not be included, since the smaller the baby, the more time it takes for him to adapt. On average, it takes seven to ten days to get used to it.
Expert advice and recommendations
A daily bowel movement at the same time relieves constipation.
Bowel function can also be stimulated by massaging the abdomen in a circular motion.
It is necessary to provide the baby with sufficient physical activity. For prevention, swimming, running, gymnastics, bending, squats and other exercises for the press are well suited.