I receive calls of desperation all the time from mothers with constipated kids. As a mother, my heart bleeds for these women and as a woman, my heart bleeds for my inner child who was afraid to take a shit. I’m pretty sure it all began the day I wiped my own butt for the first time and used so much toilet paper I clogged the toilet, which turned into a whole production for my poor grandparents. Thereafter, I avoided taking a shit as best I could by pushing (fully clothed) on a hard surface just to scratch the urge of having to defecate, but only giving myself shit streaks in the process.

There are many reasons why your kid might be constipated. It’s probably a combination of social anxiety and a junk food -rich diet. Getting some pureed veggies/fruits in their digestive tracts on a regular schedule whether it’s a yogurt squeezy, smoothie, or pureed soup (squash, sweet potato, carrot). Incorporate some type of yogurt to introduce probiotic friends, which not only aid in digestion, but build immunity.

Getting kids on a routine is also important because nothing likes a good routine more than your bowels and it all begins with an eating schedule. A consistent dinner time with sufficient time to digest before bedtime (when the body needs energy to repair not digest) will encourage a good bowel movement before school in the morning. You can have them take nice magnesium bath after dinnertime to make time before bedtime to digest. You can just throw some epsom salt in the bath or some magnesium oil. Magnesium is responsible for 300- 600 enzymatic reactions in the body including muscle/nerve function. The nervous system runs through the bowels via the vagus nerve, so magnesium is an essential mineral for bowel health. Some parents like rubbing magnesium oil on their child’s feet. I haven’t tried this because magnesium oil can be itchy as hell.

Doctors will generally prescribe Miralax for children’s constipation, which is fine every now and then, but nothing I would give my kid everyday. Something you can give them regularly is an oral magnesium supplement like Natural Vitality Calm Kids before bed. It’s a powdered drink that can be taken warm or room temperature. They even sell them in gummy form if your child is really not having it.

Yoga supine spinal twists are also beneficial especially for babies. I had a client once tell me yoga twists literally squeezed the crap out of their constipated baby! Make sure to lay your child flat on their back and first twist their body to the right, drawing their bent right knee to their left (over a straightened left leg) while their torso twists to their right. Switch to the other side to squeeze the contents of the colon toward the left side of the body, which is toward the exit. Another good one is a yogi squat. I recommend everyone crouch down into a full squat position anytime they’re feeling gassy and/or constipated. Just squat down and hang out as long as possible!

Lastly, if nothing seems to be working and you and your child are comfortable with the idea of an enema, purchase a bulb enema, which will squirt some hydration up the rectum to help stimulate reflex and help soften the stool. If your child is severely uncomfortable and is experiencing accidents regularly, I recommend consulting with your doctor to explore the possibility of receiving a gravity colonic. I have treated children as young as 8 years old with a doctors note and their parents present to ensure the utmost safest and most comfortable environment for the child.