Blueberry Prune Constipation Smoothie For Toddlers

Constipation can be a common challenge among toddlers and young children, and when they feel backed up, it can affect their appetite, mood, and overall comfort. This Blueberry Prune Constipation Smoothie For Toddlers brings together fibre-rich ingredients that can gently help keep things moving, while still tasting familiar and kid-friendly from the blueberries and ripe banana. This recipe supports digestion gently through whole foods.

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It can be so stressful as a parent to see your little one struggling with constipation. For mild constipation, focusing on fibre-rich foods and enough fluids can often help get things moving along. Fibre and fluid work together to support softer, easier-to-pass stools. However, for more chronic or severe constipation, please speak with your child’s healthcare provider.

Jump to:

• What Makes A Constipation Smoothie?
• Ingredients for Kid-Friendly Blueberry Prune Constipation Smoothie
• Instructions
• Substitutions
• Variations
• Equipment
• Storage
• Toddler Tip
• FAQ
• Recipe
• Related

What Makes A Constipation Smoothie?

A constipation smoothie combines a variety of fibre-rich foods with ingredients that naturally help soften stool (like prunes or kiwi), and enough fluid to help the fibre work. And since this smoothie is geared towards kids, it should taste good and be something they’ll actually enjoy drinking!

If you’re looking for other high fibre foods to help with constipation in toddler, check out this Banana Chia Pudding, Blueberry Chia Baked Oatmeal, and these Prune & Apple Baby Muffins.

Ingredients for Kid-Friendly Blueberry Prune Constipation Smoothie

With constipation, we often think about including “P” foods, such as prunes and pears, as they contain sorbitol, which helps pull fluid into the colon and soften stools. This smoothie includes prunes, along with other key ingredients, which can gently help support regular bowel movements.

• Blueberries – Make this smoothie a fun colour and tasty flavour while also providing two types of fibre (soluble and insoluble), which helps with constipation.
  
• Prunes – Contain fibre and naturally occurring sorbitol, which helps draw water into the stool and is one of the most well-supported whole foods for constipation.
  
• Dates – Support the overall taste and provide fibre. While not as well studied as prunes, many families find they help support regularity.
  
• Ripe banana – The ripe banana really helped with the flavour of this smoothie. Very ripe bananas contain soluble fibre, which can help support softer stools. *Note: There is some mixed evidence that underripe bananas may be more binding for some children, and therefore this smoothie uses ripe bananas.
  
• Chia seeds – High in soluble fibre, which absorbs water and forms a gel-like texture that can help soften stool when paired with adequate fluid.
  
• Coconut oil – Adds fat and helps make the smoothie creamier. There isn’t a lot of research to support coconut oil and constipation, but some people do find it helpful.
  
• Unsweetened plain almond milk or water – Adds fluid, which is essential when increasing fibre intake. Fibre works best when paired with enough hydration to help keep stools soft.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

This smoothie is super easy and quick to make.

Hint: I tried to keep this smoothie fairly simple, as some children may not be used to some of these foods like prunes or chia seeds. If we go crazy adding in a ton of ingredients and leafy greens and flax, and hemp hearts as well, it may become a bit overwhelming. I have other smoothie options that contain these foods!

Substitutions

• Milk – I used an unsweetened almond milk, but you can swap for any other plant-based alternative beverage or water.
• No coconut oil – swap for a tablespoon of peanut butter (will give it a slightly different taste)
• No chia seeds – Chia seeds is best but you can swap ground flax or hemp hearts

Variations

• Green boost – Although I suggested keeping this smoothie fairly straightforward, you can add a handful of fresh spinach if you like.
• Colder/thicker – Use frozen ripe banana instead
• Popsicle version – As an alternative, freeze this smoothie recipe into popsicle molds for a fun frozen popsicle option!

Equipment

• High speed blender

Storage

This smoothie is best enjoyed immediately, but since it makes ~2 servings, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Give it a stir or shake before serving. It may thicken as it sits since the chia seeds absorb liquid, so you can add a splash of water to thin it out if needed.

A Note on Chronic Constipation in Toddlers

This smoothie is designed to gently support digestion and help keep things moving. It can be a helpful part of a fibre- and fluid-rich eating pattern, especially for mild or occasional constipation.

If your child has chronic constipation, meaning ongoing difficulty passing stool, pain, stool withholding, or symptoms lasting more than two weeks, reach out to your child’s healthcare provider.

FAQ

Recipe

Related

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