Have you noticed your little one struggling in the bathroom lately? Try some gentle Ayurvedic Treatment For Constipation In Toddlers
Let’s check in detail.
As a parent, seeing your toddler uncomfortable with constipation is distressing.
Some simple dietary changes and herbal supplements can work wonders for toddler constipation to get their system back on track.
Best of all, these are kid-friendly, Ayurvedic Treatments for constipation in toddlers that won’t irritate their sensitive tummies.
You’ll easily change diapers in just a few days, and your toddler will return to their happy, regular self. Ayurveda for the win!
What causes constipation in toddlers?
Constipation in toddlers usually comes down to a few common causes.
Diet and Hydration
The biggest factors are often diet and hydration.
Is your toddler getting enough fibre-rich foods like fruits, veggies, and whole grains?
Are they staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water?
Fibre and water are essential for keeping stool soft and moving through the digestive tract.
Potty Training Resistance
If your child is in potty training, they could be resistant to the desire for bowel movements to stay clear of it.
This can lead to constipation over time.
Be patient and try some of the tips below to keep them comfortable.
Lack of Physical Activity
Exercise helps stimulate bowel movements, so a lack of activity can contribute to toddler constipation.
Encourage your toddler to be active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Going outside, dancing to music, and playing make-believe are all great ways toddlers can get moving.
Anxiety or Stress
Big life changes or stressful events may also lead to constipation for some toddlers.
Do your best to maintain a predictable schedule and give your toddler extra patience, affection, and comfort during difficult times.
Symptoms of Constipation in Toddlers
If your little one seems uncomfortable, irritable, and not themselves, they may be constipated.
Here are some common symptoms to watch for:
Lack of Bowel Movements
Normally, babies go from 3-4 bowel movements daily to 1-2 by 12-18 months.
If your toddler hasn’t had a bowel movement in 3-4 days, that’s too long. Gently massage their tummy or give them extra water to help stimulate their system.
Hard, Painful Stools
Stools that are hard, dry, and difficult to pass can be painful for toddlers.
You may notice them straining, crying, or refusing to go.
Softening hard stools with natural remedies can provide quick relief.
Loss of Appetite
When constipated, toddlers often lose their appetite or interest in eating.
Their tummy troubles make them not want to put anything else in!
Offer extra breast milk, formula, or water to keep them hydrated.
Abdominal Pain
Your little one may seem irritable, draw their legs up, or grab at their belly.
Gentle tummy rubs, warm baths, and herbal teas can soothe discomfort.
Complication
Constipation in toddlers can sometimes lead to complications if left untreated.
Two of the most common complications to watch out for include:
Faecal Impaction
If your toddler’s constipation is severe or has been going on for a long time, the stool can become hard and impact the rectum.
This is known as faecal impaction and requires immediate treatment.
Signs of impaction include leakage of liquid stool, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
To relieve an impaction, you’ll need to soften and loosen the stool by giving your toddler an enema or suppository prescribed by their paediatrician.
You should also increase fluids and continue giving stool softeners to prevent future impactions.
Anal Fissures
Passing large, hard stools can lead to small tears in the lining of the anus called anal fissures.
These fissures can be quite painful and may cause your toddler to avoid having a bowel movement due to the pain.
It is possible to see bright red bloodstains on toilet paper, or diapers.
To help heal fissures, keep your toddler’s stools soft by continuing to give stool softeners.
You can also apply a petroleum-based ointment to the anal area to soothe and protect the skin.
Most fissures will heal within a week with proper treatment and care.
Ayurvedic Treatments for Constipation in Toddlers
Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medical system, offers gentle remedies to relieve toddler constipation and restore balance.
Several ayurvedic options can help get their bowels moving again naturally, non-invasively.
These Ayurvedic Treatments for Constipation in toddlers are very effective and having no side effects.
Lukewarm Milk and Cow’s ghee
A glass of warm cow’s milk at bedtime with half a tsp of cow’s ghee can help them.
Dried grapes
Offer them 4-5 soaked raisins first thing in the morning, followed by lukewarm water.
Massage
A warm oil massage called abhyanga can help relax your toddler’s abdomen and stimulate bowel movements.
Gently rub warm coconut or sesame oil in circular motions over their belly, especially over the naval.
Do this for 5-10 minutes daily until their stools become regular.
You can also apply a paste of asafoetida around the navel in a clockwise direction to relieve abdominal discomfort.
Triphala
Triphala is a wonderful laxative and is safe for your kids too.
A teaspoon of Triphala powder with honey and ghee or lukewarm water helps relieve constipation.
Senna can be used in children but should be done under the guidance of an Ayurvedic doctor, as it may cause complications.
Squatting position
Have your toddler sit in a squatting position while trying to have a bowel movement.
This natural position straightens the colon and relaxes the pelvic floor, making it easier to pass stools.
You may need to support them under the arms until they get the hang of it. Offer books, toys, or a small potty seat to make it more comfortable.
Home Remedies for Constipation in Toddlers
Several gentle, natural remedies can help relieve toddler constipation and restore balance.
These Ayurvedic home remedies focus on hydration, warmth, massage, and natural laxatives.
Hydrate and keep warm.
Constipation is when stool becomes difficult and hard to move.
Keeping your toddler hydrated will help soften the stools and promote regularity.
Offer warm liquids like warm water or milk.
Apply a warm compress to your toddler’s belly for 10-15 minutes to help relax the abdominal muscles.
Gentle belly massage
A soothing abdominal massage can help stimulate the intestines and relieve gas. Warm coconut or sesame oil and gently massage clockwise circles on your toddler’s belly.
Pay extra attention to the lower left abdomen, which corresponds to the sigmoid colon.
Massage the soles of the feet, between the toes and the arches, which are linked to the digestive system.
Natural laxatives
Try natural laxatives like Triphala, dried grapes, and leafy veggies for persistent constipation.
Offer fibre-rich foods daily. Ground flax seeds, rich in fibre and omega-3 fats can help loosen stools.
Diet tips
To keep your toddler’s digestion in balance, adjust their diet.
Focus on warm, cooked foods that are easy to digest.
Some recommendations:
Offer lukewarm fibre-rich foods and Fruits.
Unpolished cereals provide fibre to stimulate the bowels gently.
Fruits like bananas and papaya contain enzymes to improve digestion.
Offer these in moderation, about 1/2 to 1 cup a few times weekly.
Increase probiotics
Curd and buttermilk contain good probiotic bacteria to help balance the gut flora.
Look for plain, full-fat dairy products and add a little jaggery.
Start with just 1-2 ounces daily and slowly increase the amount as tolerated.
Stay hydrated
Constipation can often be a sign of dehydration.
Aim for 6-8 ounces of warm liquid (water, milk, or herbal tea) with meals, and have a cup of water within 30 minutes of waking up.
This helps soften stools and keeps the digestive tract lubricated.
Add healthy fats
Coconut oil, ghee (clarified butter), and sesame oil provide medium-chain fatty acids and antioxidants to nourish the gut lining.
Cook with these fats and add them to steamed veggies, rice, and mashed potatoes.
1-2 teaspoons a few times per week is a good start.
Limit binding foods
Certain foods like rice, bananas, dairy, and red meat can be constipating for toddlers.
Offer these in moderation and balance them with stool-softening foods like flax seeds and fibre-rich cereals.
It can also help to reduce the consumption of refined and sugary food items as well as refined carbohydrates, which could promote harmful gut bacteria.
Conclusion
So there you have a few gentle and natural Ayurvedic remedies to help relieve your little one’s constipation and restore balance.
The key is to start slowly and be patient through the process.
Toddlers can be sensitive to change, but if you make these remedies into a fun and engaging experience, they may come to enjoy and even ask for treatments.
The important part is giving their body the support it needs in a natural, holistic way.
Their digestion and elimination should get back on track with time and consistency.
