You can give your baby up to three tablespoons of strained, stewed prunes or apricots, three times a week, or give them prune juice diluted with water. If your baby is under 12 months old and you think they are constipated, you should consult your GP or Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Your GP may recommend a laxative treatment. Children who have been constipated for many months are likely to need laxative medications for several months, in addition to being encouraged to have healthy bowel habits. Laxatives are available over the counter at pharmacies, but it is not recommended children take laxatives without medical advice.
Generally, it is OK if children have poo that is coloured anywhere from yellowy-brown through to dark green. It is common for children under six months of age to strain before passing a soft bowel action. We acknowledge the input of RCH consumers and carers. To donate, visit www. This information is intended to support, not replace, discussion with your doctor or healthcare professionals.
The authors of these consumer health information handouts have made a considerable effort to ensure the information is accurate, up to date and easy to understand. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies, information perceived as misleading, or the success of any treatment regimen detailed in these handouts. Information contained in the handouts is updated regularly and therefore you should always check you are referring to the most recent version of the handout.
The onus is on you, the user, to ensure that you have downloaded the most up-to-date version of a consumer health information handout. The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Breastfed babies may have a poo following each feed, or only one poo each week. Bottle-fed babies and older children will usually have a poo at least every one to three days.
Signs and symptoms of constipation Constipation can cause: stomach cramps the pain tends to come and go your child to feel less hungry than usual irritable behaviour anal fissures small splits of the skin around the anus that cause pain and bleeding when doing a poo — they can be caused by straining to pass a large, hard poo holding-on behaviour, such as squatting, crossing legs or refusing to sit on the toilet. What causes constipation?
Some possible reasons include: Natural tendency — some children have slow gut movement, which causes constipation. Bowel habits — such as ignoring the urge to have a poo. Many young children are too busy playing and put off going to the toilet. The poo then becomes harder and larger. Toilet time should be set aside three times a day, every day, to allow for regular, undisturbed visits to the toilet. Holding on further hardens the poo, and makes the next bowel movement even more painful.
Change in toilet environment — such as new or undesirable school toilets, or being told to hold on when they feel the urge to go typically at school. Diet — a diet high in processed foods and low in fresh fruit and vegetables may lead to constipation. Children who drink large amounts of cow's milk each day may also become constipated.
Disease — in a very small number of children, diseases such as the absence of normal nerve endings in parts of the bowel, defects of the spinal cord, thyroid deficiency and certain other metabolic disorders can cause constipation. All of these are rare, but your doctor will check your child for them. Care at home You only need to worry about the firmness or frequency of your child's poo if it seems to be causing a problem.
Healthy bowel habits If your toilet-trained child is constipated, it is important for them to develop the habit of sitting on the toilet regularly. Was this helpful? Yes No Tell us more. Check all that apply. Wrong topic—not what I was looking for. It was hard to understand. It didn't answer any of my questions. I still don't know what to do next. All rights reserved.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. Patient Education. Fecal Impaction Child A normal stool is soft and easy to pass. Fecal impaction can cause symptoms like: Inability to pass stool Passing only pea-sized stool Uncontrolled watery diarrhea if the bowel is not completely blocked Swollen and painful abdomen Refusal to eat Problems holding in urine Painful bowel movements Postures or behavior that show discomfort Stool in child's underwear Bloating Vomiting Painful bowel movements Itching, swelling, bleeding, or pain around the anus Fecal impaction from constipation can have many causes, such as: Eating a diet low in fiber Eating too many dairy foods or processed foods Not drinking enough liquids Lack of exercise or physical activity Stress or changes in routine Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement or delaying bowel movements Medicines like prescription pain medicine, iron, antacids, certain antidepressants, and calcium supplements Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea Underlying illness Fecal impaction can also be caused by a child holding in stool on purpose.
Some fruit juices, like pear and prune, can also be helpful. Make sure your child eats less meat and processed foods. Make sure your child drinks more water. Be patient and make diet changes over time. Most children can be fussy about food. Help your child have good toilet habits. Make sure to: Teach your child not wait to have a bowel movement. Read a book or keep your child company, if that helps. Call Call if your child has any of these symptoms: Firm belly that is very painful to the touch Trouble breathing Confusion Loss of consciousness Rapid heart rate.
Yes No. Call your child's healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about your child's bowel habits or patterns. Talk with your child's provider if your child:. Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Signs that a child has constipation include: Having fewer bowel movements than normal. Constipation is often defined as having fewer than 3 bowel movements a week.
The number of bowel movements may be different for each child. But a change in what is normal for your child may mean there is a problem. Passing stool that is hard and sometimes large Having bowel movements that are difficult or painful to push out What causes constipation? Stool gets hard and dry when the large intestine colon takes in absorbs too much water. Some common diet and lifestyle causes include: Diet Eating too many foods that are high in fat and low in fiber.
These include fast foods, junk foods, and soft drinks. Not drinking enough water and other fluids Having a change in diet. This includes when babies change from breastmilk to formula, or when they start eating solid foods. Exercise helps move digested food through the intestines.
Emotional issues Not wanting to use public bathrooms. Children may then hold in their bowel movements, causing constipation. Going through toilet training. This can be a difficult time for many toddlers. Having power struggles with parents. Toddlers may hold in their bowel movements on purpose. This can happen when children are too busy playing. They forget to go to the bathroom. Constipation can also be a problem when starting a new school year. They have to change their bowel routine.
Underlying physical problem In rare cases, constipation can be caused by a larger physical problem. These physical issues can include: Problems of the intestinal tract, rectum, or anus Nervous system problems, such as cerebral palsy Endocrine problems, such as hypothyroidism Certain medicines, such as iron supplements, some antidepressants, and narcotics such as codeine What are the symptoms of constipation?
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child. They may include: Not having a bowel movement for a few days Passing hard, dry stools Having belly abdominal bloating, cramps, or pain Not feeling hungry Showing signs of trying to hold stool in, such as clenching teeth, crossing legs, squeezing buttocks together, turning red in the face Small liquid or soft stool marks on a child's underwear The symptoms of constipation can be like other health conditions.
How is constipation diagnosed? Depending on how old your child is, you might be asked questions such as: How old was your baby when he or she had their first stool? How often does your child have a bowel movement?
Does your child complain of pain when having a bowel movement? Have you been trying to toilet train your toddler lately? What foods does your child eat? Have there been any stressful events in your child's life lately? How often does your child poop in his or her pants? These tests may include: Digital rectal examination DRE. The provider will feel for anything abnormal.
Abdominal X-ray. This test checks how much stool is in the large intestine. Barium enema. This is an X-ray exam of the rectum, the large intestine, and the lower part of the small intestine. Your child will be given a metallic fluid called barium.
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