My child's constipation has been persistent for almost 5 days now, what should I do?

Alpha, 0

Age matters when dealing with constipation issues. I will assume this discussion is about a three year old but take into account that the advice will differ with the age of the child. Most children have several factors which can affect stool quantity and quality. Cows milk can be a factor as kids who drink lots of milk can get constipated. Remember that milk is a carbohydrate and can bind stools.

Children (and adults) rarely drink enough water. Hydration is key to maintaining good quality stools. Fiber is also an issue as most kids eat processed foods that have been depleted of natural fiber. The general rule is the more processed , the less fiber content. Fruits and vegetables are chock full of fiber as are items like bran and bran muffins. Flaxseed oil is a great adjunct to the diet. Make sure it is refrigerated and fresh (it should smell nutty not rancid).

Dr. D Omega Three supplements can also be helpful. Probiotics are critical to normal stool habits as western diets and antibiotics in the food chain can deplete the healthy bacteria that live in the gut. I frequently advise probiotics for kids with constipation. The Dr. D probiotics are actually very sophisticated symbiotics which contain prebiotics and healthy probiotics. They work very well in my experience.