Your child also may tell you that he or she feels that not all stool has passed.
Some children have more bowel movements than others, so what’s normal for one child may be different from another child. Also, as children get older, their bowel movement patterns may change. Even an infant’s bowel movements change a lot in the first few weeks and months of life. Learn when to see a doctor for your child’s constipation.
Constipation is not a disease but may be a symptom of another medical problem. In most cases, constipation in children lasts a short time and is not dangerous.
How common is constipation in children?
Constipation is common in children of all ages. Almost 1 of every 20 visits children make to a doctor are because of constipation.1
Constipation is common in children of any age.
What are the complications of constipation in children?
Children who have constipation that lasts for a short time usually don’t have complications. However, avoiding or delaying a bowel movement may lead to
Children most often get constipated from holding in their stool to avoid or delay having a bowel movement. When stool stays too long in the colon, the colon absorbs too much fluid from the stool. Then the stool becomes hard, dry, and difficult to pass. Learn more about the digestive system and how it works.
Your child may delay or avoid a bowel movement because he or she
feels stressed about potty training
feels embarrassed to use a public bathroom
does not want to interrupt playtime
fears having a painful or an unpleasant bowel movement
Children most often get constipated from holding in their stool.
Certain medicines
Medicines and dietary supplements that can make constipation in children worse include
Are there streaks of blood on the toilet paper when he or she wipes?
What is your child’s daily routine, including potty training, physical activity, and day care?
What are your child’s eating habits?
What medicines does he or she take?
You may want to track your child’s bowel movements and what his or her stools look like for several days or weeks before the doctor’s visit. Write down or record the information so you can share it with the doctor.
Physical exam
During a physical exam, a doctor may
check your child’s blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate
During a physical exam, a doctor may check your child’s abdomen for swelling or tenderness.
What medical tests do doctors use to find the cause of constipation in children?
Doctors don’t normally need medical tests to diagnose constipation in children. However, in some cases, your child’s doctor may use medical tests to help find the cause of constipation.
Lab tests
Your child’s doctor may look for signs of certain diseases and conditions that may be causing your child’s constipation or are related to your child’s constipation. The doctor may use one or more of the following lab tests.
If your child’s constipation doesn’t improve with nutrition changes, your child’s doctor may use bowel function tests, including colorectal transit studies. These tests help a doctor see how well stool moves through your child’s colon.
Imaging tests
In some cases, your child’s doctor may use imaging tests of your child’s abdomen to look for problems that may be causing his or her constipation. Imaging tests include
Your child’s doctor may suggest a rectal biopsy. The rectal biopsy is the best test to diagnose or rule out Hirschsprung disease. A rectal biopsy is a procedure that involves taking small pieces of tissue from the rectum and examining them with a microscope. The doctor will look at the tissue for signs of medical problems.
Have your child drink plenty of water and other liquids to help prevent constipation.
Change your child’s behavior
Changing your child’s bowel movement patterns and behaviors may help treat constipation.
Ask your potty-trained child to use the toilet after meals to build a routine.
Use a reward system when your child uses the bathroom regularly.
Take a break from potty training until the constipation stops.
How do doctors treat constipation in children?
Your child’s doctor may recommend giving your child an enema or laxative to help treat his or her constipation. Most laxatives are over-the-counter medicines taken by mouth until your child’s bowel movements are normal. Your child’s doctor may recommend stopping the laxative once your child has better eating and bowel habits. You should not give a child a laxative unless told to do so by a doctor.
If your child is taking an over-the-counter or prescription medicine or supplement that can cause constipation, your child’s doctor may recommend stopping it, changing the dose, or switching to a different one. Talk with your child’s doctor before stopping any medicines.
How can I treat my child’s constipation complication?
making changes in his or her diet to prevent constipation
using an over-the-counter enema or laxative suggested by your child’s doctor
having him or her take warm tub baths to soothe the area
Changing your child’s bowel movement patterns and behaviors may help treat constipation.
How do doctors treat the complications of constipation in children?
Doctors may be able to treat complications of constipation in children during an office visit. Your child’s doctor may recommend at-home treatments, too.
For a child age 2 or older, your doctor may recommend giving mineral oil. Your child will take the mineral oil by mouth or through an enema.
Your child’s doctor may be able to treat rectal prolapse during an office visit by manually pushing the rectum back through the child’s anus. Helping a child prevent constipation is the best way to prevent rectal prolapse.
How can I prevent my child from becoming constipated?
You can help prevent constipation in your child with the same things that treat constipation
provide enough fiber in your child’s diet
have your child drink plenty of water and other liquids
make having a bowel movement part of your child’s routine
What should my child eat and drink if he or she is constipated?
Have your child eat enough fiber. Have him or her drink plenty of liquids to help the fiber work better.
Fiber
Depending on your child’s age and sex, he or she should get 14 to 31 grams of fiber a day.2 Fiber guidelines are not available for infants less than 1 year old. Your child’s doctor can tell you what kinds of foods your infant should eat and whether you can try making changes to his or her formula or breast milk.
Talk with your child’s doctor to plan meals with the right amount of fiber for your family. Be sure to add fiber to your family’s diet a little at a time so everyone gets used to the change.
Good sources of fiber are
whole grains, such as whole wheat bread and pasta, oatmeal, and bran flake cereals
legumes, such as lentils, black beans, kidney beans, soybeans, and chickpeas
fruits, such as berries, apples with the skin on, oranges, and pears
vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, green peas, and collard greens
nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, and pecans
Plenty of water
If your child is dehydrated, have your child drink plenty of water and other liquids, such as naturally sweetened fruit and vegetable juices and clear soups, to help the fiber work better.
Drinking enough water and other liquids also helps avoid dehydration. Staying hydrated is good for a family’s overall health and can help avoid constipation. Ask your child’s doctor how much liquid your child should drink each day based on his or her size, health, activity level, and the climate where your family lives.
Have your child eat enough fiber and drink plenty of water and other liquids.
What should my child avoid eating or drinking if he or she is constipated?
To help prevent or relieve constipation, your child should avoid foods with little to no fiber, such as
chips
fast food
meat
prepared foods, such as some frozen meals and snack foods
processed foods, such as hot dogs or some microwavable dinners
Reference
Clinical Trials
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support basic and clinical research into many diseases and conditions.
What are clinical trials and what role do children play in research?
Clinical trials are research studies involving people of all ages. Clinical trials look at safe and effective new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving quality of life. Research involving children helps scientists
identify care that is best for a child
find the best dose of medicines
find treatments for conditions that only affect children
treat conditions that behave differently in children
understand how treatment affects a growing child’s body
Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.
What clinical trials are open?
Clinical trials that are currently open and are recruiting can be viewed at ClinicalTrials.gov.
This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
The NIDDK would like to thank Carlo Di Lorenzo, M.D., Nationwide Children's Hospital
