The baby at home only has a bowel movement every three to four days, and the stool is like "sheep dung". Recently, a mother is very worried about this. Every time she sees her baby straining and turning red in the face, she just doesn't know what to do. The child's bowel movements are very dry and look like sheep dung. What should she do?
Parents should familiarize themselves with their child's normal bowel movement pattern, typical stool shape, and consistency. By doing this, they can better assess whether the child is experiencing constipation and the severity of it. If the child hasn't had a normal bowel movement in 1-2 days, or if the child experiences abdominal pain during bowel movements, it is necessary to establish regular bowel movements as soon as possible. To do this, you can start with the following points.
1. Ensure daily water intake
Every day, ensure that the child drinks enough water, mainly warm boiled water. This is because the water in the intestines of infants and young children is easily absorbed, leading to dry stools and constipation. Therefore, the daily water intake should be sufficient.
2. Eat high-fiber foods
If the child is already eating solid foods and experiencing constipation, you need to add more high-fiber foods to their daily diet (refer to the table below), and try to reduce the consumption of foods mentioned earlier that can cause constipation.
3. Develop a bowel movement routine
Once the child is old enough to undergo toilet training, encourage them to sit on the toilet every day. Give them a book or a toy to help them relax. Encourage the child to stay seated on the toilet until a bowel movement occurs or for 15 minutes. If the child succeeds, remember to praise them. If not, continue to use positive language to encourage the child. Eventually, the child must learn to use the toilet independently without adult guidance.
4. Increase physical activity
Children are naturally active and energetic, so based on their active nature, encourage them to engage in more physical activities, from simple tasks like tidying up toys and jumping around to more vigorous activities like playing sports and running. Increasing physical activity helps strengthen the muscles involved in bowel movements, activates the digestive system, promotes intestinal peristalsis, and helps with bowel movements.
