Question
Hello, my sister’s daughter is over two years old and has been suffering from constipation since she was a newborn. We’ve seen a doctor, who advised us to pay attention to diet, drink more water, and eat more fruits, but there hasn’t been much improvement. We’ve also tried many other methods that others said were effective, but there has been no change. What should we do?
Answer
Generally speaking, this could be due to too refined a diet. It is recommended to eat more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, sweet potatoes, etc., to develop good bowel habits. It is suggested that the child defecates after dinner every day. Before defecating, she can perform a squatting motion to increase abdominal pressure or massage her abdomen in a clockwise direction to promote intestinal peristalsis for the purpose of defecation. If it’s too difficult to defecate, a little soap water can be inserted into the anus for immediate bowel movement. She can also promote defecation by massaging her abdomen; use the palm of your hand to rub in a circular motion clockwise on the child’s abdomen for 5 to 10 times. Remember not to lift your palm away from the skin.