It is very common that children have intestinal transit problems, which causes problems when making their bowel movements. Regular constipation and digestive problems can lead to major problems or chronic constipation. Here are some tips to help you improve your children's intestinal transit.
How to improve intestinal transit
In most occasions, constipation in children it is caused by a diet low in fiber and fluids. Therefore, it is essential to improve infant feeding to avoid slow intestinal transit. The problem of not ingesting enough fluids, added to the consumption of astringent products such as rice, white plan, apple or banana, is that the bowel movement is slow and insufficient.
This causes that stools become hard and difficult for the child perform the corresponding evacuations normally. Also, when the child feels pain when pooping, he avoids going to the bathroom at all costs and this leads to significant constipation.
Diet and physical activity are essential to improve intestinal transit in children. But an improved diet will not only help the child in this aspect, but you will also be creating healthy habits with which you will reduce the chances of your child suffering from childhood obesity.
Feeding tips to improve transit in children
- Balanced diet that includes foods rich in fiber: The foods that contain the highest percentage of fiber are fruits and vegetables, especially kiwi, plum, pineapple or orange, among others. Try that the child take the recommended servings every day of these foods, if you have doubts in this link you can find the new and updated food pyramid.
- Increase your fluid intake: Drinking plenty of fluids is key when it comes to avoiding problems in intestinal transit. The water and the rest of the liquids that are consumed allow the intestine to be cleaned and the stool to move and the child can eliminate them more easily. Make sure your child stays well hydrated. To do this, you can also drink natural fruit juices, homemade broths or foods rich in water such as watermelon or melon.
- Set times at meal times: Keeping a more or less stable schedule at meal times will allow the intestine itself to adapt to these routines and improve bowel function.
- Prevent children from consuming high-fat products and pastries: This type of products favors constipation, in addition, they contain ingredients unhealthy and unnecessary for children's diet. Make sure they take them occasionally, without it becoming a habit or something habitual.
- Encourage physical activity: Exercise is necessary for the intestine to move naturally and gastric processes can occur. Organize Family outings that include games and sports suitable for the age of your children. In this way, the whole family can improve overall health.
Other tips to improve bowel activity
Food and sports are essential when it comes to improving the intestinal function of children, but it is necessary that are implemented as habits and not as something occasional. This is the best way to prevent constipation and poor diet problems.
But also there are other methods you can use to improve the intestinal transit of your children:
- The massages: You can gently massage the child's abdomen to promote bowel movement. Is about perform gentle circular motions, exerting light pressure with your fingers. Leg massage is also effective, with the child lying on his back, bring his flexed legs towards the abdomen.
- The bathroom routine: It is important to get the child used to going to the bathroom on a regular basis. About 30 minutes after finishing each meal, sit the child on the toilet for about 5 to 10 minutes. This time should not exceed 15 minutes and in no case exceed 30.