How to Treat Childhood Constipation

Childhood constipation is super common but as a parent, it can be frustrating not knowing how to help your child feel better. A big thanks to DocuSol® Kids, who have sponsored today’s post so we can share these tips with you.

Childhood constipation can happen for any number of reasons. Some kids seem to be more prone to it than others. I was lucky enough to make it through my older kids without having to worry about constipation, but a few of my younger kids have struggled with it from time to time.

Last year, my daughter started complaining of stomach pain. She was sent home from school several times and we took her into the doctor to try and get a better idea of what was going on. After running quite a bit of bloodwork and doing an abdominal x-ray, it was discovered that she was extremely constipated. The constipation was causing her pain and causing her to miss quite a bit of school.

We were relieved it wasn’t something more serious but were hesitant to try all of the pharmaceutical solutions that our doctor suggested. We used them for a while but they didn’t provide a long-term solution.

So we started to look at other options. DocuSol® Kids Mini-Enemas gave us an at-home solution that was gentle and effective. We used them with some other remedies to help my daughter get feeling better and back to her happy, active self.

How to Treat Childhood Constipation

Drink plenty of water.

This was key for my daughter, and many others who suffer from childhood constipation. We gave my daughter a large water bottle that she was supposed to aim for drinking from throughout the day. There are lots of tricks to make sure kids drink more, but I found that simply having her own water bottle made a huge difference for my daughter. She had a special place in the kitchen to keep it and was able to take it with her to school. The water bottle helped her remember to drink more often and did a great job of increasing her water intake.

For kids who aren’t excited about plain water, look into flavoring options that are low in sugar or add fruit slices to the water to change up the flavor.

Get plenty of fiber. 

My daughter is a picky eater, so getting enough fiber in her diet was a challenge. I had her start by picking a few vegetables she liked to eat and I’d make sure to serve them at least once a day. My daughter picked carrots, broccoli, and cucumbers. It was easy to cut those up for snacks and have them available in the fridge or steam them and serve them with meals.

Make lots of green smoothies.

Green smoothies are always a hit at my house, and they were so helpful in encouraging my daughter to practice healthier eating habits. Not only are green smoothies packed with fiber but they are also a great source of water. We try to have a green smoothie every day as an after-school snack and that has been a huge help in keeping my daughter’s stomach pains away.

Use DocuSol Kids Mini-Enemas

Some constipation treatments can be harsh. DocuSol® Kids Mini-Enemas are safe, fast, and effective. They work within 2-15 minutes (in our case it was closer to the 2-minute mark). We’ve tried just about everything over the past year, including prescription medication and over-the-counter options. DocuSol® Kids is the gentlest option and definitely one of the fastest that we have found.

Constipation can stop kids from doing the things they love. As a parent, it was so sad to watch my daughter hurt and see how many things she was missing out on. I’m so glad we’ve found a solution that works and keeps her pain-free.

 

You can find out more about DocuSol® Kids Mini-Enemas HERE.

 

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DocuSol® Kids.

Disclaimer: The material contained is for reference purposes only. Alliance Labs, LLC and Summit Pharmaceuticals do not assume responsibility for patient care. Consult a physician prior to use. Copyright 2019 Summit Pharmaceuticals and Alliance Labs LLC. (2.26.19)