Constipation (Children)

The problem is Constipation if one or more of the following are true:

• Fewer than 3 bowel movements (poops) per week.
• Stool (poop) is hard, dry & bigger than normal.
• Have a hard time having a bowel movement (poop).

Causes:

• Your child does not drink enough milk, water, or fruit juice.
• Your child does not eat enough food that has fibre in it. Foods high in fibre include: cereal, grains, fruits, & vegetables. If your child eats baby food for too long or your child's diet is high in meat, fatty foods or refined sugar (candy & desserts), they probably are not getting enough fibre.
• Changing from breast milk or formula to cow's milk can be constipating.
• Not going to the bathroom when they feel like they have to go.
• Too busy playing and they do not want to take time to go to the bathroom.
• They don't like to use bathrooms other than those in their own home because of lack of privacy, dirty bathroom, or no toilet paper available.
• After being sick or taking certain medications.

Treatment:

• Try not to give your child too many foods that are high in sugar or fat to eat.
• Give them lots of water and juice to drink.
• Make sure they get exercise every day.
• Make sure they try to go to the bathroom as soon as they (you) feel like they have to go.
• Try to have then sit on the toilet every day at about the same time, like after breakfast. Have them sit there for at least 10 minutes. You could look at a book with them or give them a favorite toy to play with.
• Try to have them drink at least 2 extra glasses of water every day.
• Add fruit, vegetables, and food high in fibre like whole wheat bread, bran cereal, beans, or prunes to what they eat every day.

For babies & children under 2 years:

• Be sure that you are following the directions exactly when you make your baby's formula.
• You could give 1 to 2 ounces (30-60ml) of water before feedings. Breastfed babies do not usually need extra water.
• Breastfed babies do not usually get constipated. Breast milk is absorbed more easily and used better than formula, so your baby may not have as many poops as a formula fed baby. It is not uncommon for a breastfed baby to go a few days without having a poop. Some staining on their diaper may be all that they'll have. If the baby is happy, then their pattern of poops is probably normal for them.
• If your baby has trouble having a poop and is 6 months old or older, you could give prune juice starting with ½ ounce (2.5ml) and slowly give more up to 2 ounces (60ml). When they are 9 months old you could add 1.5 to 3 tablespoons (25 to 45ml) of strained prunes every day.

Return to the Emergency Department or see your Family Doctor IF:

• They are still having problems going to the bathroom after 1 week of following the above suggestions.
• If you see a lot of blood (you might see a small amount of bright red blood), if you see dark red or blackish, or if the blood is mixed in the poop.
• If you see blood in your child's poop more than 2-3 days after they have had an easier time to have a poop or if bleeding happens more than 1 time.
• If they have sharp or really bad pains in their belly.
• If their constipation or the change in how they usually go to the bathroom lasts longer than 2 weeks and you do not know why.
• If they have poop stains in their underpants not due to not wiping themselves well enough.