Your child may have more than one bowel movement each day or a bowel movement every other day.
Either is normal, as long as the stool is soft or formed.
If your child has hard, dry stools or goes more than three days without a bowel movement, he may be constipated.
If this happens:
Give him more water or 100 percent fruit juices to drink. Good juice choices are apple, pear, cherry, grape or prune.
Give him more fiber. Fiber is the part of the plant that is not totally digested. It adds bulk to the stool, which makes the stool move through the digestive system faster than normal.
Good sources of fiber include:
cereals: bran, whole wheat flakes, shredded wheat, oatmeal or granola
brans and crackers: whole wheat bread, dark rye bread, corn bread, graham crackers, bran muffins, Ry-Krisp® or Triscuits®
fruits and vegetables: all fruits (except bananas and apples) and all vegetables (except carrots). Leave skins on fruits and vegetables because they are a great source of fiber.
beans and nuts: baked beans, peas, corn, peanuts, peanut butter and potatoes.
Limit apples, bananas, rice, cooked carrots, cheese, gelatin products, milk and dairy products until the constipation is gone.
Give your child some "constipation jam."
How to make constipation jam
In a two-quart saucepan, cook two cups raisins, two cups prunes, one-half cup chopped dates, and 15 ounces prune juice.
Cook until the fruit is soft. Pour into a blender and blend until the mixture is the consistency of apple butter.
Give your child one tablespoon each in the morning and in the evening.
