Constipation in Children
Constipation can be a common issue among children and babies, often causing significant discomfort and distress for both the child and the caregivers. In fact, constipation in children is a major health issue across the world with a global prevalence of 9.5%.
Importantly, one must understand the causes, symptoms, and remedies for constipation to help effectively manage and alleviate this condition. Fortunately, probiotics have the potential to help!
What is Constipation?
Constipation is defined as having infrequent bowel movements or difficulty passing stools. When specifically looking at infants and children, constipation can present itself through various symptoms.
Symptoms in Children
Some of these symptoms include infrequent bowel movements (fewer than three bowel movements a week), hard or dry stools (sometimes resembling pellets), complaints of stomach aches or cramps, and avoidance of going to the bathroom. Further symptoms can include straining and crying, bloated belly, excessive gas, refusal to eat, fussiness, and irritability, especially in infants, and in more severe cases, there can be blood in the stools.
Causes of Constipation in Children
A variety of factors can cause constipation in children and babies. Understanding these causes can help parents and caregivers take appropriate steps to alleviate the condition. Some common causes of constipation in children and infants include:
- Dietary Changes (This can often happen when babies transition to solid foods.)
- Dehydration
- Lack of Physical Activity
- Medical Conditions
- Changes in Routine (Traveling or starting daycare can be common disturbances.)
- Allergies and Intolerances
- Psychological Stress
Probiotics for Children’s Constipation
Probiotics offer a promising natural remedy for alleviating constipation in children and babies. By enhancing gut health and promoting regular bowel movements, probiotics can help improve digestive comfort and overall well-being.
Mechanisms for Alleviating Constipation with Probiotics
Probiotics can help alleviate constipation through several mechanisms including increasing stool frequency by stimulating the gut’s natural motility. Sometimes probiotics can even soften stool consistency by increasing water content in the stools and promoting the production of short-chain fatty acids, which help facilitate easier passage. In fact, Flourish probiotics have naturally occurring short-chain fatty acids in their formula, also known as postbiotics.
Probiotics also have the potential to reduce gut transit time. Probiotics can help speed up the time it takes for food to travel through the digestive tract, reducing the duration stools remain in the colon and preventing them from becoming hard and dry.
Tips for Using Probiotics to Relieve Constipation
Especially if your child has special health needs or a certain disease, consult your child’s healthcare provider first. When incorporating probiotics into a child’s routine, it’s a good idea to start slowly. Introduce probiotics gradually to monitor any changes in bowel habits and to minimize potential side effects like gas or bloating.
Fiber and Hydration are Key!
It is also important to maintain a balanced diet for your child. In addition to probiotics, ensure your child consumes a balanced diet rich in fiber, fruits, and vegetables to support overall digestive health. Monitoring hydration is always important when someone is struggling with constipation as well as when someone is starting to take probiotics. Adequate fluid intake is essential for preventing constipation. Encourage your child to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Consult Healthcare Provider
As always, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional before introducing any new supplements or significant dietary changes to your child’s routine. With the right approach, probiotics can be a valuable tool in managing and preventing constipation, contributing to a healthier, happier child.
Try Flourish Probiotics for Children’s Constipation Today
Flourish is easy to give to children. No need to break a pill or carefully pull apart a capsule. Simply pour your child’s Flourish dose into their drink, or if they are up for it, they can take it straight too! We just LOVE that everyone in the family can share a bottle of Flourish!
Flourish is Unique
Each bottle of Flourish living liquid probiotics contains a wide range of living bacteria. Both Flourish Original and Flourish Junior contain 11 diverse strains of probiotics from 5 unique families. Flourish is delivered fresh in its natural liquid form and never freeze-dried into capsules. This hearty liquid retains all the nutrients, beneficial metabolites, short-chain fatty acids, bioactive peptides, amino acids, enzymes, and minerals. All of these traits help Flourish make its way safely through the stomach to your colon so it can get to work!
The content in this article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The FDA has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Written by Kelsy Armstrong, Entegro Health
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/constipation-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20354242
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9516492/
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