What Is Constipation?
Kids might have constipation if they:
- have fewer than three bowel movements (BMs) in a week
- have trouble having a bowel movement
- have stool (poop) that's hard, dry, and unusually large
Constipation is a very common problem in kids. It usually isn't a cause for concern.
Healthy eating and exercise habits can help prevent it.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Constipation?
Different kids have different bathroom habits. A child who doesn't have a bowel
movement every day isn't necessarily constipated. One child might go three times a
day, while another might go once every 1–2 days.
Generally, signs of constipation in kids include:
- going less than usual
- having trouble or pain when going to the bathroom
- feeling full or bloated
- straining to poop
- seeing a little blood on the toilet paper
It's also common for kids with constipation to sometimes stain their underwear
with bits of stool.
What Causes Constipation?
Constipation can be due to a diet that doesn't include enough water and fiber,
which help the bowels move
as they should. Kids who eat lots of processed foods, cheeses, white bread and bagels,
and meats may become constipated fairly often.
Sometimes, medicines like antidepressants and those used to treat iron deficiencies
can cause constipation. Constipation can happen in babies as they move from breast
milk to baby formula, or from baby food to solid food. Toddlers who are toilet
training sometimes can become constipated, especially if they're not ready.
Some kids avoid going to the bathroom, even when they really have the urge to go.
They might ignore internal urges because they don't want to use a restroom away from
home, stop playing a fun game, or have to ask an adult to be excused to go to the
bathroom. Ignoring the urge to go makes it harder to go later.
Stress also can lead to constipation.
Kids can get constipated when they're anxious about something, like starting at a
new school or problems at home. Research has shown that emotional upsets can affect
how well the gut functions and can cause constipation and other conditions, like diarrhea.
Some kids get constipated because of irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS), which can happen when they're stressed or eat certain trigger
foods, which often are fatty or spicy. A child with IBS may have either constipation
or diarrhea, as well as stomach pain and gas.
In rare cases, constipation is a sign of other medical illnesses. So talk to your
doctor if your child continues to have problems or if the constipation lasts for 2
to 3 weeks.