Signs that your child needs more fiber in their diet
Does your child experience pain during bowel movements? Does your child have infrequent bowel movements that consist of hard stools? If you answer yes to these questions, then your child may be suffering from constipation, a common ailment among children. Constipation is when waste (stool) has delayed movement through the intestines which results in a hard, dry stool that can cause discomfort during a bowel movement.
Constipation in children is typically caused by a low fiber diet though other factors such as toilet training, medications, a change in routine, or simply ignoring the urge to go may further compound the issue. Fortunately, if diet is the culprit, you do have a simple solution for constipation: a fiber-rich diet. By adjusting your child’s diet, constipation can quickly be alleviated and eliminated. However, before re-evaluating your child’s diet, look for the signs that your child needs more fiber:
- Less than three bowel movements per week
- Hard stools that are difficult to pass
- Pain during a bowel movement
- Blood found in the stool
- Abdominal pain
Time to see your doctor?
Constipation in children is rarely life-threatening since it usually results from a low-fiber diet. However, chronic constipation result in further complications or may indicate a more serious condition. Take your child to a physician immediately if you child suffers from constipation for longer than two weeks or if it coincides with:
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Abdominal swelling
- Blood appearing in the stool
Constipation is usually temporary, but, to avert future painful bowel movements and more serious complications in your child, prevention is key. By observing your child’s complaints and taking action such as changing your child’s diet, he or she may avoid chronic constipation.
Get help
If you’ve already noticed the signs that your child needs more fiber, what’s the next step? Simply adjusting your child’s diet seems easy enough, but your child might think otherwise at the dinner table. As a parent, you already know first-hand that children, especially toddlers, are picky eaters. When encouraging your child to eat more fiber, your child might not be willing to cooperate and eat those vegetables!
Therefore, consider some easy to take options that will supplement fiber into your child’s diet without the fuss. One painless solution is Yummy Fiber, a liquid fiber for toddlers offered by Vibrant Nutraceuticals. Formulated with the nutritional needs of toddlers in mind, adding one tablespoon of this fiber supplement to any food or drink will help to keep your child’s digestive system running smoothly. Most importantly, you will have peace of mind by knowing that your child is comfortable, regular, and healthy.
