Constipation in Children

A mild bout of constipation in children is common, and usually lasts only a few days. Many children strain to pass a large or hard stool now and then. It is of little concern, so long as a normal pattern soon returns. As with constipation in adults prevention is often better than cure. Give your child a diet with plenty of fibre, lots to drink, and prune juice which is a good source of Sorbitol.

How can I tell if my child is constipated?

Don't gauge it by how many trips your child makes to the toilet. Some children need to move their bowels twice a day; others go only once every two or three days. Unless four or more days have passed since your child's last bowel movement, you probably don't need to worry. The important thing is how easily he or she goes, not how often. If he has large or hard stools that cause him discomfort, he is constipated and needs your help.

The following behavioural changes and/or symptoms may indicate that your child is constipated:

  • You may also notice some changes at meal times. If your child is constipated, he or she may often have a small appetite or not eat much at a single sitting. In addition, his or her appetite may increase after a large bowel movement, then quickly fade.
  • You may see your child crossing their legs or acting a little strangely. All this of course might be actions to help resist the feeling of needing to go to the toilet.
  • Heavily soiled underwear can be another sign of constipation: liquid stools can slip past the blockage in the lower intestine and catch a child by surprise. The child has no control of this leaking and soiling.

What are the main causes of Constipation in Children?

Mild constipation in Children is quite common and is usually caused by a number of factors including:

  • Holding it in
  • High Fat / Low Fibre diet
  • Dehydration

Holding it in

“Holding stools in” is a common cause of constipation in children. This means the child has the feeling of needing the toilet, but resists it. This is quite common. The stool then gets bigger, and even more difficult to pass out later.  Why does a child “Hold it in”? There are a number of reasons such as:
A previous stool that they passed may have been painful. So, the memory of this makes them try and put off doing it again.
They may have a dislike of unfamiliar toilets, such as at school or on holiday. The child may want to 'put things off' until they get home.

Some kids might go to the toilet every day but they don’t take the time to completely empty their lower colon resulting in a build-up of hard stools.

High Fat / Low fibre diet

Children who don’t take fibre (roughage) in their diet are more prone to suffering from constipation. Fibre helps keep you regular by “bulking up” and softening loose stools. Regularly eating high fat foods like sugary snacks and pastries or eating lots of dairy products, especially cheese, can also contribute to constipation.

Dehydration

Dehydration, which often follows a bout of diarrhoea or other illness, can also harden stools leading to constipation in children. Some children get into the habit of only drinking fizzy drinks or milk to quench their thirst. These may fill them up, and make them less likely to eat proper meals with food that contains plenty of fibre.

Learn more about treating constipation in Children