The baby at home only has a bowel movement every three to four days, and the stool is like "sheep droppings". Recently, a mother has been worried about this. Every time she sees her baby straining and turning red in the face, she doesn't know what to do. The child's stool is very dry, like sheep droppings. What should she do?
Parents should familiarize themselves with the child's normal bowel movement pattern, typical stool shape, and consistency. By doing this, they can better determine if the child is experiencing constipation and the severity of it. If the child has not had a normal bowel movement in 1-2 days, or if the child experiences abdominal pain during a bowel movement, it is necessary to establish regular bowel movements as soon as possible. This can be done by starting with the following points.
1. Ensure adequate daily water intake.
It is important to ensure that the child drinks enough water every day, with warm water being the main choice. 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 food and experiencing constipation, you need to add more high-fiber foods (refer to the table below) to the child's daily diet, while trying to reduce the consumption of foods that can cause constipation mentioned earlier.
3. Develop a bowel movement routine.
Once the child is old enough to undergo toilet training, encourage them to sit on the toilet for a while every day. Give them a book or a toy to help them relax. Encourage the child to stay on the toilet until a bowel movement occurs or for 15 minutes. If the child achieves this, remember to encourage them. If they don't, 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. Therefore, based on their active nature, encourage them to engage in more physical activities, from simple tasks like tidying up toys and running around to more intense activities like playing sports and running. Increasing physical activity helps strengthen the muscles involved in bowel movements, stimulates the digestive system, promotes intestinal motility, and helps with bowel movements.
