I got a phone call from my sister-in-law the other day saying, “HELP! My toddler is constipated and it’s so sad! WHAT DO I DO??”
So I made up a list of all the things I would try if I were in her situation. I figured I might as well share here for the rest of you moms out there who find yourself in a constipated toddler bind.
It’s no fun watching your adorable little ones strain and struggle trying to get a good bowel movement. No babies should have to feel pain like that! Plus, constipation can lead to all sorts of other health issues that we just don’t want to deal with. It’s better to get good, consistent movement so waste is coming out as it should.
Here we go! If my toddler was constipated, here’s what I would do:
Herbal Tinctures
My go-to is called Kid-e-Reg which is a bowel tonic for kids from the Dr. Christopher product line. It’s a combination of wildcrafted slippery elm bark, licorice root, fennel seed, anise seed, and fig syrup. I’m sure there are many great options out there, but this is the one I started with when my son was little and it’s worked wonderfully, so I’ve stuck with it.
The instructions say to give it 3 times a day and then regulate the dose from there. I wouldn’t hesitate to give it even 5 or 6 times in a day if the constipation is bad and then taper down as he starts to regulate his bowels. You can also rub it into the torso so it can absorb into the skin if your child is unable or unwilling to take it orally.
If my son ever goes a day without pooping, I give him a dose of Kid-e-Reg before bed and in the morning he usually has a great bowel movement.
Digestive Enzymes
This is another go-to that’s pretty easy to administer. All the digestive enzyme products we have in our supplement cabinet are in capsule form. I simply open one of the capsules, empty its contents into a small bowl, mix with a bit of mushy food, such as oatmeal, or whatever we are eating for that meal, and then feed the bite to my toddler. No need to teach him to swallow capsules just yet.
You could do this with each meal, or just morning or night, or whatever you think best.
AzureWell has one called Digestive Enzymes, Mid-Meal Every Meal that does the job well.
Probiotics
Another easy thing to add is probiotics. They feed the good gut bacteria and help to restore balance to the gut. Again, if you have them in capsule form, just empty the capsule and mix it with a bit of food. I usually use a liquid one from BioLight called Probiotic Plus that I just mix with water and have him drink.
Clay Water
If you haven’t tried bentonite clay yet, you should definitely consider it. It’s great for so many things and can be used in many different ways! We get a bucket of food grade Redmond clay to have on hand at all times. For constipation or diarrhea, mix about a teaspoon of the clay powder into a cup of water and then let it sit for an hour or two so the clay can settle to the bottom. Then you can drink the water off the top without having to drink too much straight clay (although that is not bad to do, just not very appetizing for some).
Change Diet
You’ve probably noticed a pattern with me by now, which is checking the diet whenever a health issue comes up. If my son gets constipated, I stop giving him dairy products and added sugar until his bowels regulate again. I also add more freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices that we make together with our juicer. If I’m desperate I’ll get some prune juice from the store to give to him, but I don’t give him very much. It seems like he goes straight to diarrhea with prune juice and that’s not fun either.
I know that not all toddlers are as easy going about what goes in their mouth as mine is. For those of you who are wondering what options you have for your very picky toddler, here are some external options I would also try:
Regular Chiropractic Adjustments
I’ve mentioned before, I started this with my son when he was just a few days old. I noticed in those early weeks that when he was struggling to poop, a chiropractic adjustment would quickly do the trick.
As children get older there is more at play that contributes to constipation, which makes the regular adjustments aspect more important, in my opinion. The first adjustment might not cut it, but as you go regularly, your toddlers spine will be aligned and his nervous system will be communicating properly to get his bowels flowing.
Castor Oil
Castor oil is great at breaking up mucus and general stagnation in the body and getting things flowing. I would rub this on my toddler’s torso a couple times a day, making sure to specifically focus on the liver. You can also add things to the oil, such as herbal tinctures, probiotics, etc. if there’s anything you’re wanting the body to absorb, but not necessarily through the mouth.
Bioenergetic Testing
Of course, our go-to for all health concerns is the QEST4 system. We are fortunate to have one at home, but you can always find a practitioner locally to utilize for a holistic way to find balance. Many practitioners even offer remote visits, so you have plenty of options.
Positive Affirmations
I love how easy it is to add positive words into our healing intentions, and I’ve been doing this with my son his whole life. Whenever he is having a hard time getting a bowel movement going, we say, “I go with the flow of life. “ And, “I relax and let it all go.”
Now that he’s 3, he is often heard saying these things to himself on the toilet while I’m going about my day elsewhere in the house. It’s very cute.
Warm Bath
Another nice option that doesn’t require ingesting anything is a warm bath. It will help calm and relax your toddler. Plus you can add various things to it if you want, such as epsom salt, herbs, clay, etc.
Red Light Therapy
I did a whole post on this a few months ago. Red light therapy is such a great tool for helping your body kick start in healing itself. If you have access to a personal red light device, you can place it directly over the torso of your toddler to encourage healing and flow.
I’m sure there’s more you could try, but I think that’s a great list to get you started! As always, these things work better, faster, and more effectively if you start them sooner rather than later. Don’t wait until you’re days into the constipation problem before doing anything. Like I said, if one day goes by without a bowel movement out of my toddler, I’m pulling out the tinctures. If that doesn’t work by the next morning, I’m doing a couple other things off this list and I’ll keep going until he’s regular again. Pooping is important!
Resources:
AzureWell Digestive Enzymes, Mid-Meal Every Meal – Azure Standard
Probiotic Plus with Super Growth Factors-Probiotic Plus – WL
If you are a QEST4 practitioner and want access to a wholesale account with AzureWell or BioLight, submit a ticket on the portal. If you are not a QEST4 practitioner, but want to try products from these two lines, email info@qest4.com
🌺 Dr. Christopher’s Kid-e-Reg Glycerine Extract – Dr. Christopher’s Herbs
Bentonite Clay | Facial Masks & Skin Rejuvenation | Redmond Life
(All links in this list are non-affiliate)
