When a child becomes badly constipated, it can be very uncomfortable for them. While giving them medication to help to relieve their constipation, there are natural remedies that you may want to try first so that you can limit the amount of medication you give your child as much as possible. Use the guide below to learn a few foods to feed your child to serve as natural remedies to help relieve their constipation.

Fruits

Many of the fruits that you can find in the grocery store or local farmers market will help alleviate your child's constipation. Prunes, pears, peaches, pineapples, and bananas are great for treating constipation because they are full of fiber. If your child is not a fan of some of these fruits, you can always put them into a blender and pour them into Popsicle molds to create delicious, fiber-filled popsicles. You could also freeze the fruits and then place them in a blender to create a delicious smoothie.

Vegetables

Some vegetables, such as broccoli, beans, and sprouts serve as great natural laxatives. Try serving your child the vegetables raw or steaming them. Some children who do not enjoy eating steamed broccoli, enjoy eating them with salad dressings. To quickly steam vegetables, add a little bit of water to the bottom of a microwave safe bowl and cover it with plastic wrap. Microwave the vegetables for a minute at a time so that you can check them regularly so they do not become overcooked.

Other Foods

Brown rice, whole-wheat cereal, and whole grain oatmeal can also help your child have a bowel movement. You could even add some of the fibrous fruits to the oatmeal or cereal to add as much fiber to your child's meal as possible. If you are someone who does not have a lot of time in the mornings, there are instant oats that allow you to give your child the fiber they needed in just a short period of time because the oats can be made in the microwave quickly and easily.

You want to make sure that you feed your child a large variety of foods. Be sure that you monitor your child's bowel movements to see if the new diet helps relieve their constipation. If you do not notice a change in your child's constipation after a few days, you should take him or her to their pediatrician to see what is causing them to be constipated. Contact a clinic, such as the Burnsville Family Physicians, for more information.