1-year-old child has severe constipation, why and how?

Constipation is not a disease but a common symptom in children and is recognized through the number of bowel movements in children. Constipation in a 1-year-old child is a condition in which the frequency of bowel movements is decreased, the stools are dry and hard, leading to difficult and painful defecation. A 1-year-old child is constipated if he has bowel movements less than 3 times/week or more than 2 times/day. There are many causes of constipation in children, including:
Improper feeding of children: If parents do not feed their children properly, for example, eating too many foods rich in protein, eating less fiber , processing solid foods, ... will put children at high risk of constipation. In addition, inappropriate nutrition will also put pressure on the stomach and intestines of children leading to malabsorption syndrome. Formula milk is not suitable: for 1-year-old children, most parents will add formula milk. However, if you do not know how to choose the right milk for your baby or use formula rich in protein and micronutrients, it can make the baby's digestive system not fully metabolized, causing bloating and leading to diarrhea. to the condition of a 1-year-old child with constipation. Drink less water: Lack of water will make stools dry, hard and cause constipation in children. Therefore, when starting to introduce solid foods to children, parents should give them enough water to drink every day. In addition, some diseases such as intestinal microflora imbalance, digestive disorders, or congenital diseases such as thyroid problems or colon enlargement,... are also among the causes. The most common cause of constipation in a 1-year-old child.
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Prolonged constipation will leave many consequences such as poor appetite, stunting, growth retardation, malnutrition, flatulence, bloating, vomiting and indigestion. Toxic substances in feces need to be eliminated daily, if stored in the intestines, they can be reabsorbed into the blood and affect the health of the child. Severe constipation in a 1-year-old child can lead to rectal prolapse due to prolonged sitting, straining, and even rectal bleeding due to hard stools.
To overcome constipation, parents need to know the cause. Besides, parents also need to pay attention to the following measures:
Add enough water for children according to their needs. Normally, the need for water in a 1-year-old child ranges from 500-700ml of water/day. Children can drink more juice with green vegetables and fruits to increase the fluid in the intestinal tract. Prepare baby food in liquid form, soft for easy digestion. You can add green vegetables, tubers, fish, eggs, meat, etc. Note, it is important to ensure a balance of nutritional components, to avoid adding too much protein, which will cause indigestion and lead to constipation. It is necessary to divide meals in a day to avoid putting pressure on the child's digestive system. Maintain exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continue breastfeeding for as long as possible. Because in addition to micronutrients, breast milk also provides enzymes that help support the functioning of the digestive organs. Supplement the child's diet with foods such as yogurt, digestive enzymes to help supplement and increase the number of beneficial bacteria, maintain and regulate intestinal activity. Choose formula milk that is suitable for the baby's needs and the content of each ingredient. Do not mix too much milk or change different types of milk for the baby. Teach children the habit of going to the toilet on time, preferably in the morning. Encourage children to be active to promote bowel movements and improve constipation. Massage: Use your thumb to gently massage around the baby's navel area in a clockwise direction for 5 - 10 minutes. This will promote blood circulation, enhance bowel movements and increase the digestive capacity of the stomach, reducing colic, bloating and constipation in children. In addition, parents can give children exercises to stimulate bowel movements by holding the child's ankles and then moving up and down like a bicycle movement for 10 minutes to stimulate the large intestine and anal sphincter, improve effectively improve constipation. Soak the anus with warm salt water: Soaking the anus with warm salt water will help soften the mucosa and relax the anal sphincter, thereby making it easier for the child to defecate and avoid burning pain. Honey and warm water: Honey helps lubricate and stimulate bowel movements, maintains the ratio of water in the stool, makes the stool softer and easier to pass. This is one of the reasons that honey has long been known as a folk remedy for constipation in children. Parents just need to mix honey with warm water and then give it to children to drink 3 times a day, 1 teaspoon each time. In summary, constipation is a common symptom in children with a very recognizable manifestation that is through the number of bowel movements. There are many causes of constipation in children such as nutrition, physical damage to the digestive tract, drug use, etc. If anorexia lasts for a long time, it will make children anorexic and stunted. and slow to grow. Therefore, parents need to send their children to a medical facility to find out the cause and have appropriate interventions.
In addition, parents also need to pay attention to supplement the necessary micronutrients such as: Selenium, Chromium, Vitamins B1 and B6, Ginger, acerola fruit extract (vitamin C),... Especially biological zinc. to improve taste, help children eat well, reach the correct height and weight and exceed the standard, have a good immune system, strengthen resistance to less minor illnesses and less digestive problems such as constipation.
For more nutritional knowledge and child care for each age, parents should regularly visit the website vimec.com and make an appointment with the leading doctors, pediatric and nutrition experts of the National General Hospital. Vinmec when needing advice on children's health.