Blog95: Guide for Managing Constipation in Children

Constipation can be painful, stressful and embarrassing for children and it takes a toll on parents, too. If your child is struggling with constipation, they're not alone. Constipation is a common problem that affects many children. Healthy eating and exercise habits can help prevent it.

What Is Constipation?

Constipation is defined as having infrequent bowel movements or hard, dry stools or you can say having difficulty "pooping." 

Children might have constipation if they:

• have fewer than three bowel movements in a week.
• have trouble having a bowel movement.
• have stool (poop) that's hard, dry, and unusually large.
• have abdominal pain that is relieved by passing a stool.
• have poop that is very large and hard or that looks like individual or clumped little round balls.

Talk with your pediatrician if your child's constipation lasts longer than two weeks or is accompanied by a fever, vomiting, swelling of the abdomen or blood in the stool.

What Causes Constipation?

• Children are afraid to go number toilet, embarrassed to go to an unfamiliar place such as a public bathroom or friend's house, or they simply don't want to stop what they're doing to go. Repeatedly delaying the urge causes the stool to become hard and difficult to pass.
• Eating fewer fruits and vegetables, moving less and drinking more sweetened beverages, which can have the opposite effect in helping digestion.
• Not drinking enough water also can cause constipation because adequate hydration helps move food through the digestive tract.
• Behavioral issues like a child’s desire for control can make them want to hold in their stool.
• Short-term illness can cause diarrhea and often constipation can occur after.
• Lack of physical activity, which slows down the digestive process.

What Can You Do?

• Make sure your children are adequately hydrated. Water is best for hydration and serves an important role in softening stools.
• Fiber gives stool bulk, making it easier for the digestive tract to move it along. Look for foods that include whole grains, vegetables, and fruit, all of which contain insoluble fiber.
• Try a warm beverage or warm whole-grain cereal in the morning that may stimulate the "urge" a bit more. Try to leave plenty of time after breakfast for your child to use the bathroom before heading out the door. Sometimes children don't have the urge to go until 30 to 60 minutes after their meal.
• Encourage at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Exercise not only benefits your child's overall health, but it also may improve digestion.
• Remind your child that holding their poop causes pain and it’s better to let it out.

These small changes help most kids feel better and get the bowels moving the way they should. I hope these tips offer you and your child some relief and that constipation won’t be a (painful) issue in the future. 

Also Read: 10 Healthy Eating Habits For Your Child

Thank You!