A good technique to help the intestinal motility (peristalsis) is a gentle, circular massage on your child’s tummy. Whether the child is constipated or not that day, a massage will be beneficial to the intestinal health and will also help your child relax.
How to do the tummy massage with your hands:
- use only the tips of your fingers of your both hands
- use a clock-wise motion
- start on your child’s right side of tummy, just above the right hip bone
- go up and then follow the ribs to the child’s left side of the tummy
- go down to the child’s left side of the tummy, just above the left hip bone
- repeat 7-10 times
The motion has to be circular (clockwise), gentle, and relaxing.
Do a tummy massage in the morning when your child wakes up and in the evening just before they go to sleep. Make sure you also follow these three main constipation relievers.
Image courtesy of Praisaeng at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
is this something that you should use a lotion or oil to do?
You can use oil or lotion to help your fingers move smoother on your child’s skin. But they are not mandatory :).