Useful Tips for Healthy Bowel Movements

Eat more fruits & vegetables

Include a variety of fruits and vegetables in your child's diet to ensure that the nutrients requirements are met, including dietary fibre which helps to facilitate good bowel movements. For children below 2-11 years old, give at least 2 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits daily.¹

Stay hydrated

Ensure that your child drinks enough of plain water daily. It is recommended that children aged 2 to 3 years old drink 1300 mL/day, while children aged 4-8 years old drink 1600 mL/day throughout the day.² 

Cycling, playing in playground - be physically active

Make exercise fun for your child. Encourage your child to be physically active for 60 minutes or more each day, with activities ranging from informal, active play to organized sports.³

Consume foods/drinks with prebiotics

Prebiotics are known as the "food" that stimulates the growth and/or activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Prebiotics can be obtained from various food sources⁴ such as chicory root, banana, asparagus, leek, onion and fortified milk like Mamil Gold^® growing up milk.

Set up a regular toilet routine

Reference:

1 The Singapore Family Physician Vol 35 No4 Oct-Dec 2002: 09

2 EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition, and Allergies (NDA); Scientific Opinion on Dietary reference values for water. EFSA Journal 2010; 8(3):1459. [48 pp.]. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1459.

3 Making Physical Activity a Part of a Child's Life | Physical Activity | CDC

4 Mashfegh et al. Journal of Nutrition 1999, 129 (7 suppl): 14075-14115