Water, bananas, prunes, apples, guavas, oranges, molasses, aloe vera and yogurt are some of the best natural laxatives to relieve constipation in children.

Constipation is very common among children. It is a condition that is recognized by hard bowel movements or absence of it completely. There can be several reasons for constipation among young children. Sometimes ignoring nature’s call or withholding could be a probable cause, this is common among school children. Apart from that, a diet low in fiber and obesity could also make a child become constipated easily. Whatever the cause, it is distressing for parents to deal with the child’s complications. Severe constipation might need medical intervention such as oral medication and glycerin suppositories. However, you can start with some laxatives to try and free your child from the symptoms of constipation.

What is a laxative?

Laxatives are substances that either relax stool or stimulate a bowel movement. They can likewise quicken intestinal transit, which helps accelerate the movement of the digestive tract to spur a bowel movement. Laxatives are regularly used to treat constipation, a condition described by inconsistent, troublesome and sometimes painful bowel movements.

11 Surprising Home Remedies for Constipation in Children

Water:

Make sure that your child is drinking enough water, throughout the day to avoid symptoms of constipation. Most of the time dehydration can be a prime cause of complication. If your child finds it difficult to pass stool or miss passing stool in a day, encourage your child to drink at least one and a half liter of water throughout the day to ensure smooth stool passage.

You can also try warm water in lemon which is an excellent home remedy to digestion.  Sipping glass full of warm water will also help in the same way.

Bananas:

Bananas are packed with fiber that helps to beat constipation. Having just two bananas a day can help soften the stool and initiate easy passage. It helps in easy mobility of bowels helping the stomach to get rid of the wastes.

Prunes:

Prunes are a classic cure for constipation and their sweetness and texture makes it a favorite among children. They are high on fiber and sorbitol, which helps to soften the steel and add bulk to it for easy passage. Too many prunes can, however, make the stool too soft and lead to loose motions.

Apples:

An apple a day keeps constipation away. The crunchy, sweet, juicy fruit helps to relieve your child from symptoms of constipation due to its high fiber content. One study showed that pectin was able to speed up transit time in the colon. It also acted as a prebiotic by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut to promote digestive health

Guavas:

Guavas have soluble fiber in the pulp and insoluble fiber in the seeds that help mucus production that aims to help the hard bowel to slide easily out of the system and clear the stomach.

Oranges:

Apart from being a rich source of vitamin c they also provide with an adequate amount of fiber that can act as a natural laxative.  Apart from these fruits other fruits can also help a digestion and fight constipation always. Make it a point to offer your child whole groups over fruit pulp and juices so that the fiber content of the fruit remains intact.

Fiber-rich foods:

Try and incorporate fiber-rich foods like cereals and pulses, whole grains and beans into your child’s diet. Put in one way or the other a diet, because enough fiber helps the body to form soft bulky stool.

Molasses:

High in sugar content, molasses helps to fight constipation and indigestion. Blackstrap molasses has a rich source of magnesium that specifically helps to tackle constipation.

Olive oil:

Olive oil functions as a lubricant laxative, providing a coating in the rectum that allows for easier passage, while also stimulating the small intestine to speed up transit. One teaspoon of olive oil when taken with one teaspoon of lemon juice, first thing in the morning on empty stomach helps and passage of the stool and gives relief from constipation.

Aloe vera:

Aloe vera is known for its many beauty benefits. But it is also an excellent ingredient to fight constipation in children. One study confirmed the effectiveness of aloe vera by creating a preparation using celandin, psyllium and aloe vera. They found that this mixture was able to effectively soften stools and increase bowel movement frequency

Two spoonful of aloe vera gel mixed with one glass of warm water works as an excellent laxative.

Yogurt:

Yogurt can do wonders in one way. It helps to treat constipation is to keep the good bacteria for in the gut. This will help prevent constipation and allow passage of the bowels easily.

Side effects of laxatives

In spite of the fact that laxatives can be exceptionally useful in reducing constipation, using them too often can cause electrolyte disturbances and changes in acid-base balance, possibly causing heart and kidney damage in the long haul.

If you’re looking to achieve regularity, try incorporating some natural laxatives into your routine. They can be a safe and inexpensive alternative to over-the-counter products, with minimal side effects. However, you can start with some home remedies to try and free your child from the symptoms of constipation.

Conclusion:

Constipation is a very common problem in children today. Children suffering from constipation also feel nauseated and experienced a little abdominal pain; vomiting and lack of appetite are other symptoms of this condition. Sometimes children purposely avoid passing stools. When stool remains in the body for long, its water content gets absorbed into the colon making the stool hard. Constipation could also be a result of your child eating less or suffering from dehydration, erratic meal timings and inadequate water consumption. At bedtime take your child for a brief walk after dinner.  Also, ensure that he or she drinks enough water throughout the day. If your kid is purposely avoiding using the bathroom, then find out why and try talking to him or her out of the habit.