Constipation
Although rarely seen in breast fed babies, it is not abnormal for breast fed babies to have bowel movements as infrequently as one in seven days. Treat breast fed infants for constipation only if the child appears to have pain and cries during the bowel movement. The indications for treatment in bottle fed babies or young children include:

• Painful passage. Pain during bowel movement is abnormal and in some cases trauma to the anal canal can lead to anal fissure. This is confirmed by finding bright red blood around anus or on toilet paper.
• Inability to pass stools. Children who feel the need to have a bowel movement and are unable to do so. The exception is infants less that 12 months of age who grunt push, or strain, and become flushed in the face during bowel movements. This is normal behavior as long as the episode is not accompanied by pain.
• Infrequent movements, going more than four days for young children.

• Increase intake of water.
• Increase fruits and vegetables particularly raw foods with peels such as figs, raisins, pears, apricots, beans, celery, cucumber, lettuce, apples.
• Increase fibre by using whole grain cereals or making bran muffins.
• Decrease constipating foods, e.g. dairy products, white rice, bananas, cooked carrots, white flour.
• Use Psyllium seed preparations in children over two years of age.
• Flavored cod liver oil.

Diarrhea
The number and consistency of stools varies a great deal. Loose stools are normal in the breast fed infant. If baby is vomiting and having more than 8 watery stools there is danger of dehydration and loss of electrolyte balance. Refer the child if there is blood in the stool, abdominal pain causing crying for over two hours, or signs of dehydration such as lack of turgor, depression of the anterior fontanel, or dry mucous membranes.

Consider it diarrhea if the number and fluid content of the stools has dramatically increased or exceeds 10 per day in the child under one year of age. Infection with Shigella, Salmonella and Campylobactor will often result in blood flecked diarrhea. Ampicillin will sometimes result in diarrhea, however the most common cause is mild viral infection.

A number of the astringent remedies are particularly suitable for children. Possibly the most useful is Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria). Unfortunately whilst available it is not widely stocked in North America. Tell your herb supplier they need to carry it! These herbs are also helpful for children :

Geranium maculatum (Cranesbill)
Euphrasia spp. (Eyebright)
Solidago virgaurea (Golden Rod)
Verbascum thapsus (Mullein)
Plantago media (Plantain)
Rubus spp. (Raspberry)
Rosemarinus officinalis (Rosemary)
Potentilla tormentilla (Tormentil)
Achillea millefolium (Yarrow)

¹/4 oz. Rosemary
1 cup water

1. Combine Rosemary with the water in a covered pot, bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Take the pot off the heat and steep the herb for 15 minutes.
3. Thoroughly strain out the herb through cheesecloth and discard it.
4. You may see some essential oil floating on top. Stir this back in and cool the tea to tepid before serving. Do not sweeten. Refrigerate the unused tea and reheat with each use. Discard remaining tea after 3 days.