Lifestyle changes are changes that children and families can make to daily routines and habits. They are often an important part of treating and managing GI conditions.
The lifestyle changes recommended for your child will depend on their age, symptoms, and GI disorder. Your child’s health care provider can help you decide which changes may be helpful.
What Lifestyle Changes May Help?
Examples of lifestyle changes that may be recommended include:
- Making nutrition and dietary changes
- Changing meal size, meal times, or how often your child eats
- Developing healthy bowel habits
- Getting enough sleep
- Finding ways to manage stress
- Getting regular physical activity
- Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight, when appropriate
Lifestyle changes usually cost little or nothing. However, they may require changes in daily routines for both children and parents. Making new habits can take time, so work with your child’s health care provider to determine which changes are appropriate.
Healthy Bowel Habits
Healthy bowel habits can help treat or prevent constipation and other bowel problems.
Children may develop constipation when they regularly hold in stool. This can happen for many reasons. For example, a child may ignore the urge to have a bowel movement because they are playing, feel uncomfortable using a public bathroom, or are afraid of having a painful bowel movement.
A child with constipation may also have stool leakage or soiling. This can happen when liquid stool passes around hard stool that is stuck in the rectum. This is not something the child does on purpose, and they may not realize it is happening.
A health care provider can help your family develop a bowel routine based on your child’s medical history, diet, symptoms, and daily routine.
Three Steps for Healthy Bowel Habits
- Keep stools soft and easy to pass.
The goal is to have a formed, soft stool that is easy and comfortable to pass. Your child’s health care provider can recommend ways to improve stool consistency. - Set a regular toilet time.
Encourage your child to sit on the toilet at about the same time each day. After meals can be a good time because eating naturally stimulates the digestive system. Choose a time when your child does not feel rushed. - Make bowel movements a positive experience.
Encourage your child and avoid punishment for accidents or soiling. Children may become fearful of using the toilet after experiencing painful bowel movements, so creating a calm and supportive routine is important.
Once bowel habits have improved, continue healthy routines to help prevent constipation from returning.
Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is an important part of overall health. Sleep problems are common among children and adolescents with chronic pain and functional GI disorders. Studies have found sleep problems in up to 45% of children with functional GI disorders.
Children may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling rested during the day. Poor sleep can affect a child’s mood, school, activities, and overall quality of life.
Getting enough sleep may support the body’s natural healing and pain-relief processes.
Six Tips for Better Sleep
- Keep a regular sleep schedule. Encourage your child to go to bed and wake up at about the same time each day, including on weekends.
- Include regular physical activity. Exercise during the day can support healthy sleep.
- Limit caffeine. Caffeine can remain in the body for several hours and may make it harder to fall asleep.
- Avoid large meals and too many beverages close to bedtime. Eating or drinking late at night may worsen reflux or cause your child to wake up to use the bathroom.
- Create a relaxing bedtime routine. Give your child time to wind down before going to sleep.
- Create a comfortable sleep environment. Keep the bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable. Limit distractions such as televisions, computers, phones, bright lights, and loud noises.
If your child continues to have trouble sleeping or does not feel rested during the day, talk with their health care provider.
Remember
Small changes can make a big difference. Work with your child’s health care provider to identify the changes that are most appropriate for your child and family. Focus on making healthy habits part of your child’s regular routine rather than trying to change everything at once.
Adapted from IFFGD Publication: Strategies for Establishing Bowel Control #302 by Mary K. Plummer, OTR, WI.