Your little one eats, feels “too full” soon after, misses the following meal or even claims stomach ache from time to time. And, of course, you become concerned and wonder whether his or her digestion is too slow.
Fortunately, some minor changes in the digestion process are quite normal for kids. They depend on various factors, such as their eating habits, activity level, sleeping time and even emotions. In most cases, it is sufficient to follow simple healthy routines to ensure the normal digestive process.
Many parents turn to the Internet searching for advice on how to digest food faster, wanting to find the easiest way out. Although there is no safe way to significantly accelerate digestion, there are a few simple daily routines that will keep your little one’s digestion comfortable and regular.
What is “Slow Digestion”?
Digestion is the natural process of decomposition of food to extract nutrients and is rather long. It differs depending on an individual.
The symptoms of slow digestion include:
- Feeling full rapidly.
- Constipation.
- Bloating after meals.
- Slow eating as a consequence of feeling full.
- Irregular bowel movements.
These symptoms individually or collectively being experienced once in a while are nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, if the symptoms persist or hinder normal eating and development, then you need to take your child to a pediatrician.
Common Reasons Digestion May Seem Slow
There are several factors that could affect digestion on a daily basis.
Eating Food Too Fast
Kids tend to eat food fast so that they could go back to playing. This may result in swallowing additional air and feeling very full after the meal.
What you should do:
Teach your kid to chew food well and take small sips of water while eating.
Insufficient Intake of Fiber
Fiber is useful for proper bowel movements and digestion.
Food sources of fiber:
- Apples
- Pears
- Oranges
- Carrots
- Cucumbers
- Oatmeal
- Wholegrain bread
- Beans
Give fiber gradually and provide your child with lots of liquid to prevent constipation.
Not Drinking Enough Water
Water helps many physiological processes including digestion. Make water easily available for kids all day long. Buy your child a reusable bottle with their favorite design.
Too Much Time Spent Watching TV
Being stationary for a long time may cause constipation in some children. Make sure that there is a balance between watching screens and physical activity.
Can You Learn How to Digest Food Faster?
Parents usually ask about how they can digest their food faster; however, digestion should not be speeded up artificially. The process of digestion should proceed according to nature.
To promote normal digestion, pay attention to the following points:
- Convince your children to follow regular mealtimes.
- Give them a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein.
- Convince them to exercise regularly.
- Your kids should drink enough water.
- Convince your kids to eat calmly.
All these tips will help you in promoting normal digestion.
Encourage Daily Exercise
Exercise can help you to promote normal function of bowels. Kids at the age of 7 should engage in active exercises daily.
These simple exercises are:
- Cycling
- Playing football
- Skipping rope
- Dancing
- Sport running
- Playing on the playground
- Regular family walks
Even 30 – 60 minutes of exercises can be helpful for your health and proper digestion.
Create Calm Environment during Meals
Children tend to eat their food while watching TV or tablet etc. It becomes rather difficult to control hunger feeling.
Here are some suggestions you can try:
- Turn off all electronics during mealtime.
- Eat as a family whenever you can.
- Make sure there is conversation.
- Do not rush the meals.
Family meals that are relaxed will foster good eating habits in the future.
Add Gut-Friendly Foods
A varied diet will help maintain digestive health.
Based on your child’s age and nutritional needs, you may want to include foods like:
- Yogurt
- Bananas
- Oatmeal
- Brown rice
- Healthy fruits
- Vegetables
- Lentils
- Whole grains
No super food exists that will quicken digestion; however, a healthy diet and routine will help maintain the health of the digestive system in the long run.
Pay Attention to Portion Size
Sometimes, children feel uncomfortable since the portion size is too much.
Instead of providing big meals, try to:
- Use smaller portions
- Give healthy snacks between meals
- Let your child eat until comfortably full
- Avoid forcing children to “clean their plate.”
Sleep Matters Too
Kids require adequate sleep for proper development and general wellbeing. Insufficient sleep may interfere with eating habits, energy levels, and digestion. Set an appropriate bedtime routine, which will ensure your kid gets sufficient sleep based on age recommendations.
Keep a Food Diary
Where there are frequent digestive issues, maintaining a food diary may help.
Note:
- Eating habits.
- Drinking water amounts.
- Levels of physical activities.
- Bowel movements.
This will help you detect certain patterns and will be useful in case you have to consult your pediatrician.
When to Consult a Doctor?
It is natural for your kids to experience occasional digestive issues, but it is recommended to consult a doctor if:
- Your child has constipation even after attempting home remedies.
- Experiencing severe abdominal pain.
- Having continuous vomiting.
- The presence of blood in stools.
- Sudden weight loss.
- Failure to gain weight or grow.
- Swallowing issues.
- Continuous symptoms for weeks.
Conclusion
If you have been looking for a way to digest food faster for your kid, it is necessary to forget about quick tricks and concentrate on promoting healthful digestion instead. Digestion system of the kids is still under development, and a healthy lifestyle is the best thing you can do to improve it. The best solution would be to contact a pediatrician who will identify the problem and recommend proper therapy.
