Home Conditions Back Conditions
View All ADD/ADHDAllergiesArthritisAtrial fibrillationBreast CancerCancerCrohn s DiseaseDepressionDiabetesDVTEczemaEye HealthHeart DiseaseHIV AIDSLung DiseaseLupusMental HealthMultiple SclerosisMigrainePain ManagementPsoriasisPsoriatic ArthritisRheumatoid ArthritisSexual ConditionsSkin ProblemsSleep DisordersUlcerative Colitis View All Drugs Supplements Back Drugs SupplementsDrugsSupplementsPill IdentifierInteraction CheckerWell-Being Back Well-BeingAging WellBabyBirth ControlChildren s HealthDiet Weight ManagementFitness ExerciseFood RecipesHealth BalanceHealthy BeautyMen s HealthParentingPet HealthPregnancySex RelationshipsTeen HealthWomen s HealthSymptom CheckerFind a DoctorMore Back MoreNewsBlogsPodcastsWebinarsNewslettersBest HospitalsSupport Groups Subscribe Log In
Search
WebMD BlogsExpert BlogsDigestive HealthKids and Constipation
ByElizabeth Ward, MS, RDNNovember 27, 2024Registered dietitian nutritionist
When your child is struggling to poop on the regular, they aren’t the only one who’s miserable. As the mother of three, I know all about it. Constipation is common in kids of all ages, accounting for about 5% of all doctor visits, and it’s likely that even more kids don’t see a pediatrician for their pooping problems.
The Signs of Constipation in Children
If your child is constipated, they may have a hard, bloated belly, dry or lumpy stools, or fewer than two bowel movements a week. If they’re able, children may tell you that pooping is difficult for them.
What Causes Constipation in Children?
There are many reasons why a child gets constipated, including a diet that’s low in fiber and fluid. Some medications and dietary supplements, such as iron, can also cause constipation.
Certain medical conditions, including celiac disease, diabetes, a sluggish thyroid, and spinal abnormalities are linked to constipation. Infants born with Hirschsprung disease are unable to properly pass stool because their large intestine is missing some nerve cells that make pooping possible. Hirschsprung disease is usually corrected with surgery.
Older children can get constipated if they won’t poop when they have the urge. Kids may go through withholding bowel movements during potty training. When stool lingers in the colon, it loses fluid and becomes hard, dry, and painful to pass. Withholding bowel movements and then having painful ones can become a pattern that makes constipation worse.
How to Treat Constipation in Children
Most cases of constipation in children don’t last much past 2 weeks. A change of diet, a laxative, or an enema can help get your child’s bowel movements back on track. However, don’t give your child laxatives or enemas without getting the OK from their doctor first.
If your child is taking an over-the-counter or prescription medicine or dietary supplement, their doctor may advise stopping it, changing the dose, or switching to another medication. Talk with your child’s doctor first before changing any medicines or supplements.
Children going through potty training may benefit by taking a break. Speak with your doctor to see if this is right for your child.
When constipation goes on for longer than a couple of weeks, take it seriously. Dealing with constipation early on helps head off long term problems such as fecal impaction, which happens when stool builds up in the rectum and colon and must be removed, usually with laxatives over a period of weeks.
Always call the doctor right away no matter how long your child has been constipated if they have unexplained weight loss, constant bloating and abdominal pain, blood in their stool, or are bleeding from their rectum.
How to Prevent Constipation in Children
Diet and lifestyle habits go a long way to preventing most cases of constipation in children. Give these a try:
Serve fiber-rich foods on a regular basis. Fiber helps to bulk up stools, making them softer and easier to pass. Whole or dried fruit (for kids over 4 years), vegetables, and whole grains are examples of higher-fiber foods. Try to offer age-appropriate servings and types of fruits or vegetables at meals and snacks and include whole wheat bread and enriched whole grain cereals in your child’s eating plan.
Encourage fluid. Fluid works with fiber to lessen constipation. However, too much fluid can fill up small tummies so that they have little appetite for fiber-rich foods. Encourage plain water and milk, but don’t overdo it. Fruits and vegetables are also fluid sources.
Promote physical activity. Moving around increases blood flow to the gut, which can help ease constipation and encourage regular bowel movements.
Photo Credit: E+/Getty Images
ShareShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on PinterestTell us what you think of this post
reactions
Tell us what you think of this post?0Like
0Sad
0Cheered up
0Empowered
0CareDisclaimer
More blog posts from Elizabeth Ward, MS, RDN Follow Read Full Bio
All About Hemorrhoids
I distinctly remember the nurse’s reaction to my question. A few weeks after giving birth to my first child, I asked when my hemorrhoids would go away. She could barely hold back a laugh when she said...
By Elizabeth Ward, RD, MSOctober 25, 2024Read More
What Is Gastroparesis?Gastroparesis is a disorder that affects the nerves and muscles in your stomach and stalls the movement of food to the small intestine. Under normal conditions, muscles in your stomach help to...
By Elizabeth Ward, RD, MSSeptember 27, 2024Read MoreView AllExplore Expert blog posts by topicChildhood ADHDDiet NutritionDigestive HealthEye HealthHeart HealthMental HealthPain ManagementPet HealthSkin Care