Constipation in Children: Care Instructions
Overview
Constipation is difficulty passing hard stools and passing fewer stools. How often your child has a bowel movement is not as important as whether the child can pass stools easily. Constipation has many causes in children. These include medicines, changes in diet, not drinking enough fluids, and changes in routine.
You can prevent constipation—or treat it when it happens—with home care. But some children may have ongoing constipation. It can occur when a child does not eat enough fibre. Or toilet training may make a child want to hold in stools. Children at play may not want to take time to go to the toilet.
Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if your child is having problems. It's also a good idea to know your child's test results and keep a list of the medicines your child takes.
How can you care for your child at home?
For babies younger than 12 months
- Breastfeed your baby if you can. Hard stools are rare in breastfed babies.
- If your baby is only on formula and is older than 6 months, try giving your baby a little apple or pear juice. Babies can't digest the sugar in these fruit juices very well, so more fluid will be in the intestines to help loosen stool. Don't give extra water. You can give 30 mL (1 oz) of these fruit juices a day, up to 120 mL (4 oz) a day.
- When your baby can eat solid food, serve cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
For children 1 year or older
- Give your child plenty of water and other fluids.
- Include high-fibre foods like fruits, vegetables, beans, or whole grains in your child's diet each day.
- Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think your child is having a problem with a medicine.
- Make sure your child gets daily exercise. It helps the body have regular bowel movements.
- Tell your child to go to the toilet when they have the urge.
- Do not give laxatives or enemas to your child unless your child's doctor recommends it.
- Make a routine of putting your child on the toilet or potty chair after the same meal each day.
Working with your child’s doctor
If your child’s constipation doesn’t get better with home treatment, talk to your child’s doctor.
Your child’s doctor may recommend the following to treat and manage constipation:
- Education: Learning about constipation—including why your child is constipated and how to help your child to have soft stools they can pass easily without pain—is the first step to managing it. See the resources below for more.
- Cleanout of stool from your child’s body: Your child may need this if they have been constipated for some time. A cleanout may be done with medicine that brings water into the bowel to soften stool (osmotic laxatives). Or your child may need an enema to flush out stool. Follow the instructions from your child’s doctor.
- Long-term treatment with osmotic laxatives: Your child may need to use medicine for a longer time while the cause of their constipation is treated. Your child’s doctor will monitor your child while they are using the medicine. Be sure your child takes their medicine as directed.
- Support for your child: This includes helping your child not to be afraid to pass stool, making it easier for your child to pass stool, and encouraging your child to use the toilet any time they feel the urge. It is important not to punish your child if accidents happen.
- Diet: Your child’s doctor may recommend adding more fibre to your child's diet after constipation has been treated successfully. This is important to keep their bowels healthy and prevent constipation. Follow the instructions from your child’s doctor on how to increase fibre gradually with vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Increasing fibre too quickly can make your child uncomfortable and cause bloating and gas. Make sure your child is drinking enough fluids.
Treating chronic constipation in children takes time. It takes at least several months to:
- Allow all these steps to work.
- Set up new and healthy habits.
- Prevent constipation from coming back.
Always follow the instructions from your child’s doctor. Never stop medicines suddenly, because your child needs to wean off medicines gradually. If you have any questions about the medicines your child is taking, ask your child’s doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more
See the following resources to learn more about constipation:
The tools below will help on your child’s journey to get better:
Learn more about increasing fibre in your child’s diet:
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- There is blood in your child's stool.
- Your child has severe belly pain.
- Your child is vomiting.
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:
- Your child's constipation gets worse.
- Your child has mild to moderate belly pain.
- Your baby younger than 3 months has constipation that lasts more than 1 day after you start home care.
- Your child age 3 months to 11 years has constipation that goes on for a week after home care.
- Your child has a fever.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter A586 in the search box to learn more about "Constipation in Children: Care Instructions".
Adaptation Date: 12/09/2024
Adapted By: Alberta Health Services
Adaptation Reviewed By: Alberta Health Services
