Foods to Eat When Your Child Is Constipated

Some foods help soften bowel movements so that stool moves through the bowel faster. These foods can be helpful if your child has a slower moving colon.
Your child should eat these foods to help soften their bowel movements:

• Whole grain cereal, bread, pasta
• Brown rice
• Bran
• Oatmeal
• Dried fruit
• Most vegetables, especially raw (if not a choking risk for your child). But winter squashes, sweet potatoes and potatoes may constipate.
• Beans
• Most fruit (except banana and apples without skin)

• Fruit juice (apple, pear, prune, or cherry)
• Pears, plums, apricots, peaches, prunes, watermelon, kiwi

Try these recipes to help your child have regular bowel movements:

Directions

1. Mix the ingredients together.
2. Add water to make the texture you like.
3. Freeze in ice cube trays.
4. Thaw before serving.
5. Give your child 1 cube as needed for constipation.

Directions

1. Boil fruit, lemon juice, Senna tea leaves and water for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and add brown sugar.
3. Allow to cool.
4. Using a mixer or food processor, turn fruit mixture into a smooth paste while gradually adding the prune juice. Fruit paste will not become solid but should be as thick as ice cream.
5. Recipe makes about 2 cups. You can store the paste in a container in the freezer and scoop out small portions as needed.
6. Mix the paste with oatmeal, yogurt or other soft foods your child likes.

Directions

1. Mix the ingredients together.
2. Store in the refrigerator or in ice cube trays in the freezer.
3. Serve to your child with a full 8-ounce glass of water:
   
   • Begin by giving your child 2 Tablespoons of mixture every day, followed with an 8-ounce glass of water.
   • After 1 week, increase it to 3 Tablespoons
   • After 1 more week, increase to 4 Tablespoons
   • Continue with 4 Tablespoons every day.
   • In the beginning, your child may have some gas and feel bloated. This feeling will go away in a week or 2. You should begin to see a change in your child’s bowel habits and regularity in 2 weeks. This is not a one-time laxative. Make this a part of your child’s daily habit.