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Toddler Constipation: Should You Worry?

February 22nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Parents are often overwhelmed when they bring their new baby home from the hospital, and can feel excited and anxious all at the same time.  As the parents just start to get to know their little one and feel like they can anticipate his every move, their child changes.  Toddlers are especially notorious for springing surprises on their parents as they develop and learn new tricks.  They get into things, they learn how to manipulate situations, and they become mischievous faster than imaginable.

With so many things to worry about, one thing that does not usually have to be a concern is toddler constipation.  This small problem may seem like a huge worry to anxious parents, but in reality toddler constipation is seldom anything serious.  The best way to ease your concern is to educate yourself about the signs of toddler constipation, natural remedies, and when it is time to call the doctor.

Signs of Toddler Constipation

Because your toddler probably does not talk much yet, determining toddler constipation may seem to be an impossible task.  Fortunately, there are telltale signs that your child might be having a problem.  If you notice changes in your toddler’s eating habits, such as a decreased appetite or a sudden pickiness in food choices, it may be a warning sign.  Your child may complain of stomach pain or hold his stomach instinctively, and you should consider those actions to be signs of a possible problem as well.  You may also notice a change in your child’s toilet habits, such as an inability to go or straining while sitting on the toilet. If you see any of these signs, you should consider the possibility of constipation in your toddler.

Natural Remedies for Toddler Constipation

There are a number of natural remedies for toddler constipation that offer both prevention and relief.  You can avoid recurrences of constipation in toddlers by keeping the amount of block cheese in their diet to a minimum, since this food is hard to process and is notorious for causing constipation.  You can also avoid constipation by keeping carbohydrate intake to a minimum, and making sure your toddler gets plenty of water to drink.  If your toddler becomes constipated, check with your doctor before giving him prunes or prune juice, foods high in bran such as apples, or water-based vegetables.  These foods, while natural, should be taken with a large amount of water throughout the day, since too much fiber can also cause constipation.

When You Should Worry About Toddler Constipation

While constipation is rarely a problem to be concerned about, occasionally there are serious conditions that should be brought to the attention of a pediatrician immediately.  Stomach distention can be a sign of a serious problem, and should be treated right away.  Stomach distention presents itself as a swollen stomach that appears as though your toddler is sticking his stomach out.  You should also look for signs of bleeding or extreme pain when attempting to make a bowel movement, since this can be a sign of internal tearing and injury.  Extended periods between bowel movements can also be a sign of something more serious.  When in doubt, you should always call your doctor for advice and reassurance.

Toddler Development: Understanding your Child’s Differences

February 22nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Toddler development is something that every parent is concerned with, whether they are first time parents or veterans. A problem arises when parents become obsessed with toddler development, and begin to analyze their children’s development too closely. Such scrutiny can result in undue concern and anxiety, and the magic of watching their child grow and develop is lost. There are numerous publications designed to help parents track their toddler’s development, but they should be used only as a guide, since everyone develops at a different rate.

An Ambiguous Subject

Toddler development, while different in every child, has general guidelines that a large percentage of children follow. This pattern is found in many parenting resources, but if your child doesn’t follow the guidelines perfectly that doesn’t mean he has a problem. First, the term “toddler” applies to children in a broad age range that have already achieved a number of developmental milestones. Many toddlers by the age of two should be able to walk, run, point out a few objects, recognize many other objects when pointed out to them, talk a few words, and babble frequently in unrecognizable sounds. They should have improved dexterity and be able to put objects in bins or buckets, and some development of fine motor skills should be evident. Again, these are simply guidelines and not hard and fast rules.

Should You Be Concerned?

In some rare cases, the development of a toddler can actually be impeded by a mental or physical disability. These disabilities may be evident from the beginning, or may appear when the child is older. Toddler development issues can range from a simple learning disability such as difficulty with reading or transposing numbers and letters, to something more serious like autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. Less severe disabilities can be treated with medication or a modified learning technique. In other cases, parents may have to adjust their lifestyle to accommodate a child with severe disabilities.

Getting Help and Support

There is plenty of information available on the internet and in books and magazines about developmental delays and problems, but the only way to get an accurate diagnosis is to visit your doctor. If your toddler does have developmental issues, you should not feel alone; there are plenty of parents going through similar circumstances. Check in your area to see if there are support groups available where you can share your concerns and frustrations and possibly get some new ideas about how to handle your toddler.

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