Broccoli is one of the healthiest types of cabbage, which is introduced into children's diets already in the first year of life. But vegetable complementary feeding may be accompanied by intolerance to the new product - in this case, the child is diagnosed with an allergy to broccoli. It is manifested by skin redness and rashes, swelling of the mucous membranes, stomach cramps and other unpleasant symptoms.
Rules for introducing complementary foods
To prevent constipation when introducing complementary foods to cause discomfort in the baby, doctors advise starting to give pureed vegetables and fruits. For these purposes you can use:
- Apples.
- Pears.
- Cauliflower.
- Zucchini.
Such ingredients cleanse the intestines on their own, so complementary feeding should not lead to constipation. It is worth understanding that any new product after feeding exclusively with milk is stressful for the child.
His digestive system is not ready for a sudden change in diet. There are frequent cases of disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, which are expressed in the form of diarrhea or constipation.
The cause of constipation can be the early introduction of complementary foods, especially for a bottle-fed child.
You can change the diet only after 6 months; before that it is better to feed the baby with breast milk or special formulas.
If constipation occurs when introducing complementary foods, there is no need to worry or panic.
In some cases, the problem can be greatly exaggerated by the parents themselves; in addition, getting rid of constipation on your own is not always easy and can harm the baby; it is better to consult a pediatrician and listen to his advice.
You need to understand that mother’s milk is almost completely absorbed by the body, and if the baby does not have a bowel movement for 2-3 days, then this is considered normal.
Causes of constipation from complementary feeding
The amount of bowel movements depends on the volume and consistency of food; if proteins predominate in the diet, then feces are significantly reduced. The large amount of proteins contained in zucchini reduces colonic motility, causing functional constipation in young children.
Common causes of difficult bowel movements are the following errors when introducing complementary foods:
- Early introduction of complementary feeding (unpreparedness of the digestive tract to accept new foods up to 6 months).
- Insufficient drinking regime (when introducing solid foods, it is necessary to give water to form feces).
- Irrational introduction of complementary foods (low fiber content in the diet).
- Violation of diet (eating heavy foods in the afternoon).
- Genetic predisposition to constipation (a newborn child is prone to frequent defecation delays).
- Low physical activity of the baby (weak abdominal muscles).
Important! New foods can cause allergies, which manifest in the child as constipation.
Causes of constipation during complementary feeding
Until six months, a child’s gastrointestinal tract is not ready for complementary feeding. However, constipation in an infant after the introduction of complementary foods can occur at both 7 and 8 months. The reasons can be very diverse.
- Intestinal pathologies.
I can’t help but write about this point, but I’ll reassure you right away - constipation as a pathology in the intestines is detected in 1% of infants.
There is a disease called Hirschsprung, when there is underdevelopment of nerve cells in a certain area of the intestine, which is why it is constantly compressed and does not allow feces to pass out normally. If a child had this moment, it would have manifested itself before the introduction of complementary foods.
Therefore, let’s exhale and analyze the reasons that occur most often.
- Lack of fluid.
Half of the stool consists of liquid, and if dehydration is observed in the baby’s body, these masses become harder and more difficult to excrete.
The cause of an imbalance in water balance may be a reduction in breastfeeding. If you received advice from a pediatrician that when introducing complementary foods you should replace breastfeeding with them, then you will encounter constipation in your baby.
Incorrect complementary feeding schedule
After introducing solid foods into a child’s diet, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of doctors, not grandmothers.
There is no need to rush to introduce new foods, and if constipation begins immediately after introducing complementary foods, you will need to discontinue the product and wait a little while for the body to get stronger and grow.
Doctors recommend using the following rules for administration:
- At 6 months - only vegetable puree.
- At 7 months - give porridge and vegetable oil.
- At 8 months - introduce fruit puree and bread, bread products.
- At 9 months - give meat.
- At 10 months – add fermented milk products.
- From 11 months – add fish to the diet.
Such rules can be adjusted as necessary, based on the characteristics of the child. But complementary feeding from protein products should not be given before 7 months of age; it is this type of complementary feeding that provokes constipation in the baby.
In some cases, constipation occurs from eating too much food, when the stomach and other organs are physically unable to process food.
After complementary feeding, it is recommended to supplement the baby with breast milk so that new foods are better absorbed.
Types of cabbage and its effect on the intestines
It is recommended to consume seasonal vegetables, fresh or fermented. The therapeutic properties that the vegetable has on the gastrointestinal tract:
- thanks to dietary fiber, it has a mild laxative effect;
- exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties;
- promotes feces in patients with atonic constipation;
- normalizes the functioning of the digestive gland;
- has antiulcer properties, takes part in the synthesis of vitamin U. Its chemical structure is similar to C-methylmethionine. Thanks to this, it heals ulcers, reduces pain, and improves the general well-being of patients with ulcerative lesions.
White cabbage contains a lot of vitamin C; it can compete with citrus fruits in its amount. Has a beneficial effect on brain activity. Canned cabbage and sour products are less useful.
The high cellulose content in the vegetable enhances peristalsis and the movement of the food bolus. B vitamins and ascorbic acid also have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Contraindications: who is prohibited from eating cabbage if there is difficulty in bowel movements?
The product is not recommended for use if you have allergies or individual intolerances. Conditions that require increased caution: hypo- or hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis, flatulence, pregnancy, inflammatory process in the intestines, exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, hormonal disorders.
Pickled vegetables are not recommended for the following:
- increased acidity of gastric juice;
- open ulcers, stomach bleeding;
- treatment of people with increased gas formation.
Important! Severe, acute pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, autoimmune inflammatory process, thyroid disease is an indication for preliminary consultation with a doctor before consuming the vegetable.
Help with constipation
If constipation occurs during complementary feeding, then it is necessary to help the baby with bowel movements. To do this, you can use several proven methods that will remove constipation:
- Perform a light massage of the abdomen, stroking it clockwise and lightly pressing at the bottom.
- Bend the child's legs and press them to the chest, do the procedure several times.
- Place the baby on his stomach and hold it there for about 5 minutes, you can twist him in different directions.
- Do the bicycle exercise.
If, after using the described methods, constipation does not go away, and the baby’s discomfort does not go away, then you need to resort to medications, including:
- Glycerin suppositories. They will activate the intestines, and bowel movements will begin within an hour. It is necessary to insert the suppository into the anus, place the child on his side, and after insertion, slightly press the buttocks.
- Enemas. An enema should be used in extreme cases. The solution used is ordinary water at a temperature of approximately 36 degrees. The content volume can be about 50 ml.
- Laxatives. For infants, you can use products such as Duphalac and Prelax. They are used strictly according to the instructions and only as prescribed by the doctor.
Possibility and rules for eating cabbage with irregular bowel movements
All varieties of cabbage have a beneficial effect on the functional state of the gastrointestinal tract. Excessive consumption of the product and its intolerance causes constipation, flatulence, and pain in the abdominal area. White cabbage varieties are combined with fennel and caraway seeds. It may take several months to six months for the microflora to form, otherwise the product is harmful. Any type of cabbage can be fermented (fermented) - this process enhances the positive properties of the product. The juice and brine from the vegetable are consumed before meals.
Child's stool after the introduction of complementary foods: the norm, fears and real violations
You are here: First year of life. From the very birth of a child, parents closely monitor the functioning of his gastrointestinal tract. When the color or consistency of stool changes, this raises suspicions about the presence of a disease and alarms. After sleepless nights due to colic, many will worry about how the baby’s stomach will react to new food. What do parents need to know about how stools change after introducing complementary foods? For breastfed babies, mushy yellow stool is normal. The stool may contain small lumps and have a sour odor.
Nutrition adjustments
When introducing complementary foods and constipation occurs, it is necessary to use puree, which can have a laxative effect. For example, prepare puree from prunes, pumpkin, cauliflower or apricot.
If the child already eats cereal, then it is necessary to exclude semolina or rice. As a replacement, you should use oatmeal and buckwheat.
Children who are able to chew normally can eat whole prunes, as well as other types of dried fruits, as they are a good laxative and help with stool retention.
It is useful to make compotes from them, which also weaken and enrich the body with useful substances. It is recommended to add 1 tsp to complementary foods. vegetable oil to help with bowel movements.
The water given during complementary feeding can be supplemented with a few drops of lemon juice if there is no allergy to such a product. Drinking water and juice will prevent constipation.
To prevent stool retention, you should try to give complementary foods at the same time and follow a certain daily routine. In this way, different types of complementary foods can be provided at different times. Give one dish in the morning, another at lunch, and a third in the evening.
If, after administration, stool retention recurs and becomes permanent, then it is better to immediately seek medical help.
In this case, there is no need to use enemas and other means; they do not lead to anything positive, but only aggravate the problem.
To adjust your diet, you can use certain tips. Avoid foods that may cause constipation from complementary foods:
- You can try diluting cow's milk with water when introducing it into the diet.
- Fat cottage cheese.
- Fatty meats.
- Fresh bread, muffins and other fresh baked goods.
- Bananas.
- Boiled carrots.
- Rice, semolina.
In this case, complementary foods may include foods that have a mild laxative effect:
- Various dried fruits.
- Oatmeal, buckwheat.
- Apples, apricots.
- Vegetable oil.
- Dairy products.
Complementary feeding should not exclude the use of meat and cottage cheese; when introduced, they can be used, but the meat must be dietary and the cottage cheese low-fat.
If a child is allergic to cow's milk, even in a diluted state, then it is changed to goat's milk or special milk formulas.
Instead of bread and pastry, you can use crackers from black bread, as well as biscuits. It is necessary to remember that even complementary foods that improve stool should not be given in large quantities and on an ongoing basis.
In some situations, you may need a couple of spoons of a certain puree or a couple of drops of oil to normalize stool and gastrointestinal function.
All food products must be given either separately or combined with each other. For example, to introduce meat, you need to use additional vegetables and oil. Porridge must be served with fruit.
Treatment
Local and systemic medications are used to treat broccoli allergies. The former are used to eliminate skin rashes, itching and other symptoms, while the latter act on the immune system. They normalize the level of antigens in the blood and reduce the body's immune response to the allergen.
Drug therapy
The main drugs for the treatment of allergies in children:
- antihistamines - Zyrtec, Cetrin, Claritin;
- enzyme agents – Creon;
- enterosorbents – activated carbon, Polysorb, Enterosgel;
- probiotics – Primadophilus, Linex;
- preparations for external application that relieve rashes, itching and redness - Bepanten.
In the most severe and advanced cases, corticosteroids - hormonal drugs (Sinaflan, Advantan, Lokoid, Hydrocortisone) are prescribed for the treatment of allergic diseases.
Traditional medicine against allergies
Folk remedies can be a good addition to drug therapy for allergies in children. Herbal infusions are used for this purpose:
- fennel;
- buckthorn;
- burdock rhizome;
- licorice rhizome;
- dandelion rhizome.
Mix all components well, then take in equal proportions (5 teaspoons) and pour 500 ml of boiling water. Leave to infuse for 7-8 hours, then strain and give the child 100 ml to drink three times a day, half an hour before meals.
To treat an allergy to broccoli in a child, you can use another herbal mixture, which includes wormwood, plantain, corn silk and alder fruits. Mix all ingredients and grind.
Pour 2 teaspoons of the mixture into 200 ml of boiling water, simmer over low heat for 4-5 minutes and leave to infuse for 50-55 minutes. Filter the broth and give the child 1 sip 4 times a day, 20-25 minutes before meals.
This herbal preparation can be used not only for oral use, but also for external use. It effectively eliminates skin rashes, redness, itching and burning. To prepare the product, pour 1 glass of the herbal mixture into 3 liters of boiling water and leave to steep for an hour.
Strain the finished infusion through cheesecloth and add to the bath water.
Preventing broccoli allergies
To prevent an allergy to broccoli puree in an infant, you need to be very careful when introducing vegetable complementary foods into the baby’s diet.
Basic rules of introduction:
- Each new food is introduced separately and is not mixed with other new foods. For the first “acquaintance”, the child is given only one-component puree.
- The interval between the introduction of new products to the children's menu should be at least 3-4 days.
- It is best to give a new product to a child in the morning - this allows parents to track the child’s body’s reaction to complementary foods.
- Broccoli should be given in small portions - start with ½ teaspoon, gradually increasing the portion.
- In order not to disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, it is recommended to give broccoli puree to children no more than 2 times a week.
- It is best to prepare puree for complementary feeding yourself, as the canned product may contain allergenic synthetic additives.
Broccoli is a tasty and healthy vegetable that is one of the first to be introduced into baby food. It saturates the body with useful substances necessary for the full growth and development of the child. But in some cases, broccoli can cause allergies. If a child develops an allergy to broccoli in the form of skin rashes, redness, upset stool and other unpleasant symptoms, parents should not hesitate and immediately contact a pediatrician to prescribe treatment.
Constipation in infants
In medicine, it is believed that a baby up to three months old should have bowel movements two to four times a day. And constipation is a condition when there is no stool for more than two days. But here everything is individual. Sometimes it happens that a breastfed baby completely absorbs mother's milk. And he has a bowel movement every 3-5 days. Before panicking and giving the baby medication, the mother needs to find out what symptoms accompany constipation in the baby. Komarovsky says that if the baby is developing well and gaining weight, is cheerful and sleeps normally, and bowel movements do not cause him discomfort, then rare bowel movements are normal. We can talk about the disease when, in addition to constipation, the child has other symptoms: gas formation, pain, bloating, loss of appetite. In addition, it is very important to pay attention to the condition of the stool. In infants, it should be mushy, soft, and yellowish. If a child is constipated, his stool will be dark in color, have an unpleasant odor, and be hard.
Constipation in a newborn and a child up to one year old - what to do?
Constipation is a bowel movement that occurs with difficulty or occurs less frequently than 2-3 days. The frequency of bowel movements depends on the age of the child and on individual characteristics. Newborn babies who are breastfed have bowel movements twice (maybe more) a day. Infants' stools have a thin consistency, with grains resembling mustard. In children who are bottle-fed, the stool is thicker and bowel movements occur less frequently (once a day).
How does emptying occur:
Food passes through the intestines and all the necessary nutrients and water are absorbed from it, and the remaining undigested waste is excreted from the body in feces. In order for the stool to remain soft and easy to pass, there must be enough water left in it, and the muscles in the lower intestine must contract and relax normally. Then the feces are well formed and come out easily. If any of the above works poorly, constipation appears.
Why does a child cry when he poops or refuses to poop? For a constipated child, pooping is painful. Hard stool causes pain. So he starts holding it in, and the longer he holds it in, the denser the stool becomes and the more difficult it is to remove. Feces accumulate in the intestine in large quantities and it begins to stretch, and muscle tone becomes weaker. Plus, when hard feces come out through a narrow passage, small cracks appear in it and blood may appear. This is another reason why a child refuses to poop or cries during bowel movements.
